Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese
Directions
- 1Preheat oven to 350°F.
- 2Grease a large baking dish with butter.
- 3Cook macaroni until just al dente.
- 4Drain and set aside the macaroni.
- 5In a large bowl, whisk cream cheese and evaporated milk until mostly smooth.
- 6Stir in whole milk, salt, Cajun seasoning, mustard powder, and nutmeg.
- 7Add half of the Swiss and cheddar cheeses; mix well.
- 8Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- 9Whisk in beaten eggs until fully incorporated.
- 10Add macaroni to the baking dish and gently stir in cheese sauce.
- 11Top with remaining Swiss and cheddar cheeses.
- 12Finish with black pepper.
- 13Bake for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- 14Broil for 2–3 minutes for a crusty top if desired.
- 15Rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp salted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 13 oz cans evaporated milk
- 3 cups whole milk
- 16 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
- 16 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tsp salt
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp dry mustard powder
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish
Equipment
large baking dishlarge bowl
Tips
- Stop cooking the macaroni when it’s al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy in the oven.
- Make sure your cream cheese is softened for easy blending to avoid lumps and keep the sauce smooth.
- Layer the cheese by adding half to the sauce and reserving the other half for the top to create a gooey, golden-brown crust.
- After baking, broil the mac and cheese for a couple of minutes to get that golden-brown top.
- Taste your sauce before baking and adjust the Cajun seasoning if you want it bolder or milder.
- Letting the dish rest helps it set for perfect slices.
- For extra richness, use the full 4 tablespoons of butter.
- Use freshly grated cheese as pre-shredded cheese often has anti-caking agents that can affect creaminess.
- For an even richer texture, replace 1 cup of whole milk with heavy cream.
- Pasta absorbs a lot of salt, so don’t hesitate to taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Experiment with toppings like crushed crackers or panko breadcrumbs for a fantastic crunchy topping.
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