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recipe creamy baked cheddar mac and cheese
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: General
Description
Indulge in this comforting baked cheddar mac and cheese featuring a vibrant roasted red pepper swirl for a touch of sweetness and smokiness. This recipe elevates the classic dish to a new level of flavor and richness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g (9oz) Elbow Macaroni: slightly undercooked
- 300g (10.5oz) Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Halal-Certified): good quality
- 250ml (1 cup) Whole Milk: for richness
- 125ml (ยฝ cup) Heavy Cream: for a velvety texture
- 30g (2 Tbsp) Unsalted Butter: for the roux
- 30g (2 Tbsp) All-Purpose Flour: to thicken the sauce
- 100g (ยพ cup) Roasted Red Pepper Puree: adds sweetness and smokiness
- 1 tsp (5ml) Smoked Paprika: enhances smoky flavor
- 1 tsp Salt: balances flavors
- ยฝ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper: adds spice
- 60g (ยฝ cup) Panko Breadcrumbs: for a crispy topping
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil: for golden breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, Finely Chopped: for color and flavor
Instructions
- Preheat & Grease: Preheat oven to 190ยฐC (375ยฐF) and grease a baking dish.
- Cook Macaroni: Boil macaroni for 6 minutes, drain, and set aside.
- Make Roux: Melt butter, whisk in flour for 1 minute.
- Create Sauce: Whisk in milk and cream, simmer until thickened.
- Infuse Flavor: Stir in red pepper puree, cheddar, salt, and pepper.
- Combine & Transfer: Add macaroni to sauce, transfer to baking dish.
- Prepare Topping: Combine panko, oil, paprika, and parsley.
- Bake: Sprinkle topping, bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Rest & Garnish: Let rest for 5 minutes, swirl with puree, garnish with parsley.
Notes
For a smoother sauce, use freshly grated cheese. Feel free to experiment with different cheese blends.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg