Baked Mac and Cheese

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and prepare a 3 qt baking dish (9x13").  Set aside.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Season well with salt. Cook macaroni until it is 3/4th cooked (when you bite into pasta, it should still be a little raw in the middle). Drain and run pasta under cold water to stop it from cooking further.

Step 3

In a bowl, add breadcrumbs, melted butter, parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and keep aside.

Step 4

In another bowl toss all three cheeses (by mixing you can easily divide cheese mixture into two portions. One part you will add to the sauce and the rest to sprinkle on top)

Step 5

In a large saucepan (that can hold 4 cups of milk and 3 cups of cheese) add butter and melt.

Step 6

Stir in flour and cook on low heat for about 30 seconds (without browning it)

Step 7

Slowly add 2 cups of milk little by little, while continuously whisking with the other hand. The mixture will start to thicken. Make sure there are no lumps. Add rest of the milk and simmer for a couple of minutes for the mixture to thicken a little further( keep whisking in between to avoid lumps)

Step 8

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, dijon mustard. and hot sauce (if using).

Step 9

Stir in 3 cups of cheese mixture in 2-3 batches. Mix until all the cheese has melted and the mixture is thick and creamy.

Step 10

In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully. Carefully pour the pasta and sauce mix into prepared baking pan.

Step 11

Sprinkle the rest 1 cup of cheese followed by breadcrumb parmesan mixture evenly on the top.

Step 12

Bake for 15 minutes, until topping is bubbly and lightly golden brown.