Auntie Linda’s Baked Mac N Cheese
Aunt Linda was the one who cooked Thanksgiving dinner for Nyesha’s whole family. They especially looked forward to her baked macaroni and cheese with an ultimate, essential, crunchy cheese topping.
EQUIPMENT
- 1 whisk
- 1 large sauce pan
- 1 4qt casserole dish
INGREDIENTS
- 1 stick butter (unsalted, plus more for baking dish)
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 1 yellow onion (peeled and small dice)
- 3 tbsp AP flour
- 3 cups whole milk (warmed)
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper (or white pepper)
- 1 pinch nutmeg (dried or freshly grated)
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
- parmesan (grated for topping)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Butter a 4-quart casserole dish and set aside.
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook until just al dente, according to the package directions. Drain but do not rinse and set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are soft and translucent.
- Add the remaining butter and flour and stir to coat the onions. Cook, whisking constantly, until the flour turns golden brown and smells nutty in the air, about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the warmed milk, continuing to cook until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in 3 cups of the cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until well combined.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring constantly, until the cheese melts and the sauce reaches the consistency of pancake batter. About 5 minutes.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Transfer the macaroni mixture to the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and Parmesan evenly over the top.
- Bake uncovered until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly, about 18 to 20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
NOTES
- For extra crunch, you can add a layer of breadcrumbs mixed with a little melted butter on top of the cheese before baking.
- The dish can be assembled a day ahead, cooled, covered, and refrigerated before baking. Adjust the baking time as needed if baking from cold.
Tried this recipe?Mention @nyeshajoyce or tag #nyeshaarrington!
