Baked mac and cheese is an extra rich and cheesy pasta casserole that is baked to perfection with a buttery and crunchy topping.

Click here to view a demonstration of this recipe. 

Servings: 6

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
8 oz. elbow macaroni, dry

Seasoned Breadcrumbs Ingredients

2 T butter
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 shredded cheddar cheese

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. 
2. To a sauce pan, add the chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. 
3. Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium and allow the mixture to simmer for 7 minutes, whisking often, to reduce. Remove the sauce from the heat. 
4. In a separate bowl, combine the cheeses. Reserve about 1/4 cup to use as a layer in the casserole dish. Add the remaining cheeses to the sauce a handful at a time, whisking until fully melted before adding more. Continue whisking in the cheese until all of it has been added and the sauce is smooth. Set the sauce aside (whisk occasionally to prevent a skin from forming).
5. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the macaroni. Once boiling, add the macaroni and boil just until tender (about 7 minutes). Drain the macaroni in a colander. 
6. While the macaroni is boiling, make the breadcrumbs. Mix melted butter with the Panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Set aside. 
7. Stir the drained macaroni into the cheese sauce until well combined. 
8. Grease an 8 by 8 inch baking dish. Layer half the macaroni into the baking dish. Sprinkle the reserved cheese mixture over the macaroni. Layer the second half of the macaroni over the cheese. 
9. Top with the remaining 1/4 shredded cheddar cheese and bread crumbs. 
10. Bake the macaroni and cheese in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling up around the edges and the breadcrumbs on top are golden brown. Allow the mac and cheese to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.