Ultra-creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

From Cook's Country Best Potluck Recipes

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

Unlike many macaroni and cheese recipes, our Best Potluck Macaroni and Cheese is creamy, sturdy, and rich. We prevented our recipe’s sauce from separating and clumping when baked by using evaporated milk and American cheese—the stabilizers in these ingredients kept the sauce from breaking, so that it emerged from the oven satiny smooth. Homemade bread crumbs, enriched with melted butter and Parmesan cheese, created a flavorful topping for our macaroni and cheese recipe, a nice crunchy contrast to the soft casserole.

Serves 8 to 10

Total time:

Use block American cheese from the deli counter—prewrapped slices of American cheese will result in a drier mac and cheese.

INGREDIENTS

• 3–4slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into large pieces
• 8tablespoons unsalted butter, 4 tablespoons melted
• 1/4cup grated Parmesan cheese
•  Salt
• 1pound elbow macaroni
• 5tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3(12-ounce) cans evaporated milk
• 2teaspoons hot sauce
• 1/8teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1teaspoon dry mustard
• 2cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 1/4cups shredded American cheese, (about 5 ounces)
• 3/4cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse bread, melted butter, and Parmesan in food processor until ground to coarse crumb. Transfer to bowl.
• 2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and macaroni to boiling water and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup macaroni cooking water, then drain and rinse macaroni in colander under cold running water. Set aside.
• 3. Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in now-empty pot over medium-high heat until foaming. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture turns light brown, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in evaporated milk, hot sauce, nutmeg, mustard, and 2 teaspoons salt and cook until mixture begins to simmer and is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Off heat, whisk in cheeses and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water until cheese melts. Stir in macaroni until completely coated.
• 4. Transfer mixture to 13 by 9-inch baking dish and top with bread crumb mixture. Bake until cheese is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
• Make Ahead: The macaroni and cheese can be made in advance through step 3; since the pasta continues to absorb moisture, adjustments must be made to avoid a dry filling. To do so, increase amount of reserved pasta cooking water to 1 cup. Pour filling into 13 by 9-inch baking dish, lay plastic wrap directly on surface of pasta, and refrigerate for up to 1 day. The bread crumb mixture may be refrigerated in airtight container up to 2 days. When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap, cover macaroni mixture with foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle bread crumbs over top, and bake until topping is golden brown, about 20 minutes longer.