Baked Mac & Cheese

Let's cook

1. 1

   Undercook the pasta

   Boil the macaroni 2 minutes short of al dente. It absorbs more sauce and continues cooking in the oven.

   💡

   Fully cooked pasta turns to mush after 25 minutes of baking.

2. 2

   Make the roux

   Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, and cook 2 minutes until it smells biscuity but has not coloured.

3. 3

   Build the béchamel

   Add the warm milk in four stages, whisking hard until smooth after each. Simmer 5 minutes until it thickly coats a spoon.

4. 4

   Melt the cheese off the heat

   Take the pan off the heat before adding the cheese in handfuls, stirring until each melts. Add the Dijon, paprika, nutmeg, salt, and white pepper.

   💡

   Cheese added to a boiling sauce splits and goes grainy. Off the heat, every time.

5. 5

   Combine and top

   Fold the pasta into the sauce — it should look far too saucy — and tip into a buttered dish. Toss the panko with melted butter and scatter over.

6. 6

   Bake

   Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes until bubbling at the edges and deep golden on top. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition & Safety