Chef John's Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 0.25 cup butter
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.13 teaspoon white pepper
• 3 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 0.5 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the macaroni and set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat. Stir in flour when the butter begins to foam, cooking until the flour turns a pale yellow color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Stir in thyme, cayenne pepper, and white pepper; continue to cook and stir for another minute, then whisk in 1 cup of milk until smooth. Add the remaining milk and whisk thoroughly. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
5. Stir in salt, Worcestershire sauce, and nutmeg. Simmer over medium-low heat, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 8 minutes.
6. Remove from heat, then add 2 1/4 cups of Cheddar cheese; stir until the cheese is fully melted and well combined. Mix in Dijon mustard.
7. Transfer the cooked macaroni into an 8x8-inch casserole dish, then pour the cheese sauce over it; stir to ensure the pasta is completely coated with the sauce.
8. In a separate small bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
9. Evenly sprinkle the panko mixture over the macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
10. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown and bubbly, approximately 20 minutes.

Nutrition

• Calories: 695 kcal
• Fat Content: 32 g
• Fiber Content: 3 g
• Sugar Content: 8 g
• Sodium Content: 928 mg
• Protein Content: 29 g
• Cholesterol Content: 95 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 73 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g