Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Elevate your mac & cheese with this homemade version using Prairie Farms Cream Cheese and Heavy Cream to create a silky, perfectly cheesy sauce.
Servings 16
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Cavatappi Pasta
- ½ cup Prairie Farms Butter divided
- 1 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1½ tsp Smoked Paprika
- ¾ tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 lb Colby Jack Cheese shredded
- 8 oz Smoked Gouda shredded
- 1 lb Sharp White Cheddar shredded
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan
- 16 oz Evaporated Milk
- 2 cups Prairie Farms Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 Small Yellow Onion grated
- 4 cloves Minced Garlic
- 3 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a large 1 qt. baking dish by coating with butter. Set aside.
- Melt 4 tbsp butter in small skillet over medium heat. Add panko, and cook til crumbs are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a small bowl. Toss with parmesan, set aside.
- Cook 16 oz pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stir occasionally, until al dente. Take out just before completely done, about 2 minutes before doneness. Drain pasta and let cool. Set aside.
- Add grated cheeses to a large bowl, toss to combine. Set aside. Add the salt, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to a small bowl. Stir then set aside.
- In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt remaining 4 tbsp butter. Add grated onion and minced garlic, cook and stir til fragrant and begin to soften. Add half of the spices to let bloom and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the flour, stir and cook for about 3 minutes. Once flour has cooked, slowly add the evaporated milk while whisking. Whisk in the Heavy Cream and remaining spices.
- Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly until sauce is thickened and doesn’t feel grainy, about 6-8 minutes.
- Slowly add about half of the cheese. Stir until melted and sauce is smooth.
- Remove pot from heat and stir in cooked pasta. Transfer half of the mixture to a 1 qt. baking dish. Top with remaining cheese, then transfer the rest of the noodles on top. Evenly spread toasted bread crumbs on top.
- Bake for 10 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around edges. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
