For a simple change of texture and appearance, replace the elbow macaroni with mini penne or small or medium shell pasta.Make it a little spicier with some finely chopped jalapeno pepper. elbow macaroni 4 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup flour 3 cups milk 1 cup heavy cream 4 cups (16 oz.) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 2 cups (8 oz. Use part or all pepper jack cheese in place of the cheddar. 1x 2x 3x 1 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni shells or cavatappi 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 3 tablespoons all purpose flour 2 cups milk not. This warm, comforting baked mac and cheese is rich and creamy with a buttery and crunchy Parmesan-panko breadcrumb topping. Spray a 13 by 9 or 12 by 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Then pour into 13x9 glass casserole dish. How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese: Preheat oven, prepare baking dish: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Add egg/milk mixture to pasta/cheese mixture and stir until well combined. For some Tex-Mex color and flavor, add about 1/4 cup of sliced ripe olives, a small can of chopped mild green chile peppers, and 1/2 cup of diced red bell pepper. Add cubed cheese and mix until partially melted.For a main dish option, add about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cooked diced ham to the macaroni and cheese mixture. Or brown about 1/2 pound of ground beef or pork sausage along with 1/2 cup of chopped onion.To make a mac-n-cheese with bacon, stir about 1/4 cup of diced cooked bacon into the sauce along with the cheese and macaroni.Make the roux (according to the instructions below). If you will bake the macaroni and cheese, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Baked Mac and Cheese Macaroni noodles are tossed in a creamy, cheesy sauce, topped with a buttery crumb mixture, and baked until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the casserole before it goes into the oven. How to make healthy mac and cheese: Cook your pasta according to the package directions in heavily salted water. Add a breadcrumb topping: Omit the extra 1/2 cup of cheese in this recipe and toss one cup of fine soft breadcrumbs with two tablespoons of melted butter.

Baked mac and cheese roux