Best Baked Macaroni Alfredotopped W Panko Recipes

THE BEST HOMEMADE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside.Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.
• Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl.
• Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce.
• Melt butter in a deep saucepan, dutch oven, or stock pot.
• Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden.
• Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper.
• Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick.
• Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.
• Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese.
• In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Or place it in a medium-size microwave-safe dish and heat until melted, about 15 seconds.
• Add panko and Parmesan to melted butter and stir until well combined. Set panko topping aside.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously.
• Meanwhile, in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter. Whisk in flour and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring, until flour is blond in color, about 4 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in milk. Increase heat to medium-high and let sauce come to a simmer, whisking frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and let sauce simmer for about 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken.
• Add cream, grated cheese, Parmesan, mustard, salt, and black pepper, stirring until everything is smooth. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and/or black pepper as necessary.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook until barely al dente (follow package directions, but stop a minute or two before pasta is completely tender). Set aside 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
• Whisk reserved pasta cooking water into cheese sauce, combining it thoroughly.
• Add pasta to cheese sauce and stir to combine.
• Heat oven to 400 F. Butter a shallow 4-quart baking dish.
• Spoon pasta mixture into prepared baking dish. There will appear to be a lot of sauce, but not to worry. Some of it will be absorbed into pasta as it cooks, and saucy is better than dry.
• Place baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any drips and sprinkle panko topping evenly over pasta. Bake until golden and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove pasta from oven. Let sit for a few minutes. Serve hot.

BAKED ALFREDO PASTA

Steps:

• Prepare tortellini or other favorite pasta slightly al dente in salted water. Drain.
• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Warm butter and cream in a sauce pan until butter is melted. Add parmesan cheese and spices.
• Pour pasta into a 2qt casserole dish with a lid. Pour alfredo sauce over pasta and stir to combine.
• Sprinkle shredded parmesan and bread crumbs over pasta and cover.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until top is brown and crusty.