Chef Joe's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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This is a "real baked Mac & Cheese". Yes...it's not creamy but I've made this recipe a few times and it's always been great! I started to add a few other cheeses(Smoked Gouda, Gruyere along with the cheddar and it's still awesome. I use panko bread crumbs because I love the crunch. My 18yr old son can't wait for it to come out of the oven to devour it. Like all baked Mac & Cheese, it's definitely best when first baked, although we've heated left overs the next day and it's good but not as good as the day prior.

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This recipe is absolutely amazing and a hit at every family gathering!!

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The only way to make mac and cheese. I use a combination of sharp cheddar and greyere. It is not a creamy type of dish, but is a traditional "baked" dish. Don't skimp on the cayenne...it makes the dish.

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I've been making this recipe for the last 7 years and it's always a hit with family and friends. Guests anticipate the dish and they are never disappointed. It has a delicious spicy flavor that fulfills all of my comfort food wishes. So easy. A definite keeper!

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As the title says, this is a BAKED mac and cheese recipe. If you're looking for the gooey, creamy style, this is not for you. If, like me, you were raised eating baked mac 'n' cheese, this is a top-notch recipe! The cayenne and paprika give it a bit of spiciness that mom's didn't have, and I like it! A friend who prefers "gooey-creamy" suggested that I substitute a 1/2c of the extra sharp cheddar with a goat cheese. I may try feta, or... maybe sub a 1/4c of blue, if I get crazy. I use the large elbow macaroni so that I can see them filled with the cheese mixture.
A bit of advice... I use a gas oven in my apt. and the knob is less than accurate. For my second batch (lesson learned!, I pulled mine out of the oven at 30 mins. I would suggest that you take a look at the color of the breadcrumbs and the edges at that point, instead of waiting 40 mins.
Other than adjusting the timing for my oven, this is an excellent recipe. I've discreetly stopped asking my mother for her recipe. *shhh*

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I have been making this mac and cheese since my husband and I were first dating. Mac and Cheese is his favorite and that's all he wanted for his birthday so I searched high and low for a recipe I thought he'd love. This mac and cheese might be why he married me! I make it yearly for a huge backyard bbq we throw with pulled pork, brisket, corn & black bean relish and cole slaw...the mac and cheese keeps them coming back, I never have leftovers! Even my mom and her sisters, who claim to "hate mac and cheese" (which I find impossible like it.

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very good..good ole southern mac and cheese. rnj82, just so you know this is how most southerns make mac and cheese, the creamier mac and cheese is really a northern etc version, and there is ALWAYS a debate on which is the best, I guess its how you were brought up to mac and cheese I like this recipe and yes I would rather at times have the creamier version, my husband and family on both sides like this version better than the creamier one..

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We love this recipe! We did a half batch and tweaked it by reducing the amount of spice and adding smoked gruyere cheese. Now we regret not making the full batch!

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WARNING:NOT CHEESEY OR CREAMY! Utterly disappointed because it's kinda dry. Although my bf seemed to think the flavoring was decent, he agreed w/me. Wish I had got past reading the 1st page of "5 star". Read some ppl threw theirs away completely...now it isn't THAT bad;it's definitely salvageable. HAVE HOPE!:I asked my come to the rescue bf, lol...if he could save/salvage it;he later tried just adding a lil milk, more cheddar+mozzarella! PRESTO!SAVED!!! Don't add too much milk, just cover the bottom, put added cheeses on top, a decent handful/to ur own liking, mix everything together, (easily heatable/EATABLE frm the microwave, u can try stovetop, but not really necessary. HOPE THIS HELPS!!! They should really put in the description of this recipe that this isn't the ooey gooey mac n' cheese some are envisioning and looking forward.

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I tried Alton Brown's recipe before this and it was decent but my rue didn't set up right. I chose this one for the ease of the recipe and I love it! I am making this again today with less pasta and adding asparagus, broccoli, green bell pepper, zucchini, and yellow squash. Also, the last time I made this I used butter but this time I am substituting olive oil.