Homemade Baked Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

• • 16 oz of pasta, elbow shape is typical but you can use any
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon of paprika powder
  • ¾ cup of butter
  • 3 cups of either heavy cream or milk
  • 3 cups of cheese (you can use more or less than 3 cups, and the type(s) of cheese you use is completely up to you)
  • Breadcrumbs

Cooking Instructions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While you cook the pasta, your oven will be heating which speeds up the process.
2. Grab a medium or large size pot, fill it with water, and start boiling it. You need to make sure there’s an even pasta-to-water ratio. Don’t forget to SALT YOUR PASTA WATER.
3. Add the pasta to the water. It should cook within 8-12 minutes depending on the type of pasta and your stovetop. Stir the pasta occasionally to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Since we’re baking the mac & cheese after cooking it, you need to take the pasta out and strain it a minute or two before you would typically take it out. (You take it out earlier because the pasta cooks slightly when it’s put in the oven). 
4. After you’ve strained the pasta, add it back into the pot you cooked it in and set your heat to low. Now add in the milk or heavy cream, butter, seasonings, and cheese. (If the cheese you’re using is in slices, rip it into small pieces and then add it in. If your cheese is a block, grate or slice it, then add).
5. Grab a 3 or 4-quart baking dish that is lightly greased. Add in your mac & cheese and on top sprinkle a layer of bread crumbs and cheese (it can be as thin or as thick as you want, and you don’t have to add extra cheese). Bake the mac & cheese until it’s golden brown and bubbly, around 30 minutes.
6. Take it out of the oven, let it cool for a minute or two, serve, and enjoy!!

Extra Tips for This Recipe

• If your pasta seems too dry, try adding a little extra butter. 
• If your pasta isn’t mixing smoothly, add a little extra milk or heavy cream.
• Don’t be afraid to over-season your pasta. It is going to be thick and cheesy, it will need the seasoning to overpower the flavor of cheese. Always make sure to taste whatever you’re making, and always season it to your taste.
• If you wanted to add another component to this mac & cheese, you could use bacon, sausage, broccoli, cauliflower, and so much more.