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comfort food essentials: creamy mac & cheese

Andy59 avatar
Recipe by
Andy Anderson !
@Andy59
Wichita, KS

This is a simple mac & cheese recipe with one singular difference… Instead of boiling the pasta in water, I’m cooking it in whole (full fat) milk. I also like to use white pepper because it has an almost sweet heat. I like my mac & cheese to have just a hint of heat, and the spices in this recipe are spot on. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

yield 4 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 20 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For comfort food essentials: creamy mac & cheese

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • 3 c
    milk, full fat
  • 8 oz
    pasta, i’m using fusilli
  • 2 Tbsp
    sweet butter, unsalted
  • 8 oz
    sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/4 tsp
    white pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
  • 1 pinch
    cayenne pepper, or to taste
  • 1 pinch
    nutmeg, freshly ground, or to taste
  • 4 slice
    provolone cheese
  • OPTIONAL ITEMS
  • smoked paprika, for garnish
  • butter-toasted panko breadcrumbs, for topping

How To Make comfort food essentials: creamy mac & cheese

  • 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • 2
    Gather your Ingredients (mise en place)
  • 3
    Add the milk to a saucepan, over medium heat.
  • 4
    When the milk begins to steam, add the pasta.
  • 5
    Bring up to a light simmer, and allow to cook until the pasta is al dente.
  • 6
    Chef’s Note: You should still have about 1/2 cup of milk in the pot that has not been absorbed by the pasta.
  • 7
    Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 350 (175c).
  • 8
    As the pasta is cooking, add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat.
  • 9
    After the butter melts, and the foaming subsides, add the cheese, white pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg.
  • 10
    Reduce heat to medium low, and stir until the cheese is fully melted.
  • 11
    Chef’s Note: Don’t forget to taste for proper seasoning.
  • 12
    Add the sauce to the cooked pasta.
  • 13
    Gently fold the pasta into the cheese sauce... YUM.
  • 14
    Chef’s Tip: If the sauce appears a bit too thick, add a bit more milk until you achieve the desired consistency.
  • 15
    Add the ingredients to an ovenproof dish.
  • 16
    Add the provolone cheese to the top.
  • 17
    Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly and begins to brown in spots, about 15 – 18 minutes.
  • 18
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • 19
    Serve on the side with your favorite foods, or be decadent, fill a bowl, and tuck in. Enjoy.
  • 20
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
  • 21
    OPTIONAL ITEMS
  • 22
    Take a quarter cup of panko breadcrumbs, and toast them in a hot pan with two tablespoons of butter, until they brown. When the mac & cheese comes out of the oven, sprinkle them on top before serving.
  • 23
    Adding a sprinkle of smoked paprika creates a nice visual appearance, and adds another level of flavor.
  • 24
    Reheating Tip: If you have leftovers, and want to reheat them the next day, put them into a saucepan over medium-low heat, and as they begin to warm up, add some additional milk (a tablespoon at a time), until they are nice and creamy.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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