Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

Show: Good EatsEpisode: For Whom the Cheese Melts 2

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (894)

Cook Time:
45 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 20 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 45 min
Total:: 1 hr 5 min

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Ingredients

1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper

Topping:

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Brad Houston, TX 11-20-2009
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not so great
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I made this last night and I was not at all impressed. It wasn't very cheesy tasting, and it was kind of grainy. There really... isn't much flavor or good texture in this dish. The stovetop mac and cheese from the same episode is much better in my opinion. I would honestly rather eat kraft that this. It stinks to have to rate this dish poorly b/c I love Alton and Good Eats, but this is not one of his better recipes.Read more
recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Gail Gilmer, TX 11-19-2009
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A.B.'s at it again!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I think some of the problems that some people are having is the quality of the cheese. If you use cheddar, make sure it's... top quality or it will be grainy. I use about half American cheese or more when the grandkids come and otherwise I use some pepper jack also. A.B.'s stove top recipe is excellent too and is just as quick as the box stuff. GailRead more
recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Lena Anaheim, CA 11-19-2009
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Simple and Yummy!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was my first attempt at making baked mac + cheese, and it was easier than I thought... I added a little extra paprika... and cheese in the sauce, as well as some crispy bacon on top of the bread crumbs, and it was a hit! :)Read more
recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
David Fletcher, NC 11-19-2009
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Kid Modifications -- finally, something not out of a box
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My kids would only eat the box stuff -- not even a homemade stove-top mac-n-cheese would do. I got them to help me make... this, and I changed a couple of things. Instead of onion, I used a tsp onion powder, and instead of the mustard, I used 2 tsp garlic powder. Finally, instead of bread crumbs, I ground 1.5 cups of goldfish crackers in the food processor and sprinkled that, with some extra grated cheddar, over the top. They used whole goldfish to make a little pattern on top. They devoured it. Some notes: You have to use good cheddar -- store brands are bland. You do have to cook the roux 5 minutes, and you do have let the sauce simmer 10 minutes before you start adding the cheese. That's a lot of stirring, but the kids enjoy taking turns, and it really affects the final texture -- very creamy.Read more
recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
J grand junction, CO 11-18-2009
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too much mustard
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

looks great, sauce is nice, taste is awful - too much mustard. I usually love Alton's dishes, this one ended up in the... trash. :(Read more
recipe Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Nancy Dedham, MA 11-18-2009
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The Best Mac & Cheese I've Ever Made!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I'm 2 weeks post-op and finally getting my appetite back. I was craving Macaroni & Cheese, but my recipe always comes out... dry. So I looked up recipes on the Food Network website, looking for an easy recipe. I found Alton Brown's recipe and it seemed easy enough. I did not add the dry mustard, onion, bay leaf and paprika because I knew my family wouldn't like it. This was "THE BEST" Macaroni & Cheese I've ever made. It was rich and cheesy and very easy to make. It is a dish that i will make over and over again!! Read more