CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE (AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN) RECIPE - (3.6/5)

Classic Macaroni and Cheese (America's Test Kitchen) Recipe - (3.6/5) image

Provided by abrocakes

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 Cups Panko breach crumbs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces (cold)
1 lb elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
5 cups milk
2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven over high heat. Add macaroni and 1 tablespoon salt; cook until pasta is tender; drain and set aside in colander. In now empty Dutch oven, heat butter over medium-high heat until foaming. Add flour, mustard, and cayenne and whisk well to combine. Continue whisking until mixture becomes fragrant and deepens in color, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; bring mixture to boil, whisking constantly (mixture must reach full boil to fully thicken). Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened to consistency of heavy cream, about 5 minutes. Off heat, whisk in cheeses and 1 teaspoon salt until cheeses are fully melted. Add pasta and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is steaming and heated through, about 6 minutes. Transfer mixture to broiler safe 9 by 13" baking dish and sprinkle evenly with bread crumb mixture. Broil until crumbs are deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes, rotating pan if necessary for even browning. Cool about 5 minutes, then serve.