Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese

Name: Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 oz elbow macaroni; 2 tbsp salted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish; 2 large eggs, beaten; 2 13 oz cans evaporated milk; 3 cups whole milk; 16 oz Swiss cheese, shredded; 16 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded; 16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature; 3 tsp salt; 2 tsp Cajun seasoning; 1 tsp dry mustard powder; 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg; Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

55m

Serves 8

https://smokinandgrillinwitab.com/ultimate-baked-mac-and-cheese/

Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese

https://smokinandgrillinwitab.com/ultimate-baked-mac-and-cheese/

55m

Serves 8

Directions

1Preheat oven to 350°F.
2Grease a large baking dish with butter.
3Cook macaroni until just al dente.
4Drain and set aside the macaroni.
5In a large bowl, whisk cream cheese and evaporated milk until mostly smooth.
6Stir in whole milk, salt, Cajun seasoning, mustard powder, and nutmeg.
7Add half of the Swiss and cheddar cheeses; mix well.
8Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
9Whisk in beaten eggs until fully incorporated.
10Add macaroni to the baking dish and gently stir in cheese sauce.
11Top with remaining Swiss and cheddar cheeses.
12Finish with black pepper.
13Bake for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
14Broil for 2–3 minutes for a crusty top if desired.
15Rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Ingredients

16 oz elbow macaroni
2 tbsp salted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish
2 large eggs, beaten
2 13 oz cans evaporated milk
3 cups whole milk
16 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
16 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded
16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tsp salt
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp dry mustard powder
0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

Equipment

large baking dishlarge bowl

Tips

Stop cooking the macaroni when it’s al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy in the oven.
Make sure your cream cheese is softened for easy blending to avoid lumps and keep the sauce smooth.
Layer the cheese by adding half to the sauce and reserving the other half for the top to create a gooey, golden-brown crust.
After baking, broil the mac and cheese for a couple of minutes to get that golden-brown top.
Taste your sauce before baking and adjust the Cajun seasoning if you want it bolder or milder.
Letting the dish rest helps it set for perfect slices.
For extra richness, use the full 4 tablespoons of butter.
Use freshly grated cheese as pre-shredded cheese often has anti-caking agents that can affect creaminess.
For an even richer texture, replace 1 cup of whole milk with heavy cream.
Pasta absorbs a lot of salt, so don’t hesitate to taste and adjust the seasoning.
Experiment with toppings like crushed crackers or panko breadcrumbs for a fantastic crunchy topping.

Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese

Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese

Directions

Ingredients

Equipment

Tips

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