"INSTANT" MAC AND CHEESE

No-boil, no-bake, one-pan mac and cheese is not just possibly simple, but simply possible! On top of producing awesome taste and texture, the whole procedure only took a few minutes longer than the boxed stuff; not to mention we avoided about a dozen ingredients we probably shouldn't be eating. Just make sure to grate your own (high-quality) Cheddar and turn off the heat as soon as the cheese melts, and the process should go smoothly.

Provided by Chef John

Categories Everyday Cooking Vegetarian Side Dishes

Time 28m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1 pinch dried mustard
1 very small pinch ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 cup elbow macaroni
½ cup panko bread crumbs
1 cup freshly shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup freshly shredded white Cheddar cheese

Steps:

Bring milk, salt, cayenne, mustard, nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon butter to a simmer in a pot over medium heat. Stir in macaroni. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until firm yet tender to the bite, about 8 minutes. Do not undercook.
Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add bread crumbs and toast until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir cheeses into the cooked macaroni. Reduce heat to low and stir just until melted. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 3 minutes. Uncover, stir, and season to taste.
Spoon mac and cheese into warm serving bowls; sprinkle toasted breadcrumbs on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 539.4 calories, Carbohydrate 35.8 g, Cholesterol 100.9 mg, Fat 34.6 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 24.6 g, SaturatedFat 21.4 g, Sodium 987.1 mg, Sugar 6.6 g