How to Make Macaroni and Cheese

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Lower calorie option or more budget-friendly.

elbow macaroni

🥗Healthier: whole grain pasta

💰Cheaper: generic pasta brands

More nutritious or cost-effective.

Cook penne pasta for 7 minutes in boiling water; do not rinse after cooking.

In a saucepan, heat 3 cups of white sauce until it begins to boil.

Gradually whisk in 1 cup of shredded Gruyère cheese and 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.

Add Tabasco sauce to the cheese mixture for heat and tang; adjust quantity to taste or omit if desired.

Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked penne pasta in a buttered baking dish.

In a bowl, mix 1 cup of panko bread crumbs, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of fresh cracked black pepper, and 3 tablespoons of melted butter.

Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture evenly on top of the macaroni and cheese.

Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for about 20 minutes until golden brown and bubbling on the sides.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens