Classic macaroni and cheese

31

PREP TIME

15 min

TOTAL TIME

55 min

Serves

8 to 10

Classic macaroni and cheese

Photo, Roberto Caruso.

There's nothing Canadians love more than a classic macaroni and cheese recipe. The secret to this savoury wonder is in choosing 2- to 3-year-old cheese.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups macaroni pasta
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 small onion , diced
  • 3 sprigs of thyme
  • 2 cloves of garlic , minced
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded old cheddar , divided
  • 1 cup shredded gruyère
  • 1 cup grated parmesan
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • PREHEAT oven to 425F.
  • COOK pasta following package directions less 2 min, until just tender. Drain and set aside.
  • MELT butter in a large pot over medium. Add onion and cook until softened, 3 min. Add thyme, garlic and salt and cook for 1 min. Stir in flour with a wooden spoon until golden, 1 min. Gradually add milk, 1/2 cup at a time, over 2 min, stirring constantly. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to stir until mixture has just come to a boil and is slightly thickened, 4 to 5 min. Remove from heat.
  • STIR in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar and the gruyère, parmesan and Dijon until smooth. Stir in pasta, then scrape into a 9 × 13-in. casserole dish and top with remaining 1 cup cheddar.
  • PLACE on a baking sheet and bake until sauce is bubbly and topping is golden, 15 min. Let macaroni and cheese stand 10 min before serving.

Chatelaine Quickies: French Onion Macaroni and Cheese

Nutrition (per serving)

  • Calories
  • 438,
  • Protein
  • 22 g,
  • Carbohydrates
  • 33 g,
  • Fat
  • 24 g,
  • Fibre
  • 1 g,
  • Sodium
  • 634 mg.
  • Excellent source of
  • vitamin B12

Kitchen Tip: The key to a good baked mac & cheese is using lots of sauce, so it absorbs into and thickens the noodles, and choosing 2- to 3-year-old cheddar for the best flavour. This macaroni and cheese recipe has both.

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