How To Make Baked Macaroni Cheese

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheddar cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Lower calorie option or more budget-friendly.

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Healthier fat source or cheaper alternative.

Start by making a roux with equal amounts of butter and plain flour in a pan.

Mix the butter and flour until the butter is melted.

Cook the flour for a minute or two to remove the raw taste and develop flavor.

Add a tiny bit of milk and whisk immediately to avoid lumps.

Continue adding milk gradually while whisking to achieve a smooth sauce.

Cook the sauce until it thickens, adjusting the thickness by eye.

Add plenty of cheddar cheese to the sauce and mix until melted.

Season the cheese sauce with black pepper and a pinch of salt, tasting as you go.

Add enough cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce to coat it well without stretching it too thin.

Add bacon to the macaroni cheese mixture, adjusting the amount to personal taste.

Nestle cooked tomatoes into the top of the macaroni cheese mixture.

Drizzle with the tomato oil and add more grated cheese on top.

Finish with freshly ground black pepper before baking.

Bake in a hot oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Check for nice brown bits on top before removing from the oven.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens