🧀 Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Macaroni and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, celebrated for its rich, creamy sauce and golden, bubbly topping. This recipe guides you through creating a perfect, comforting classic.

📜 History & Background

The concept of pasta and cheese is centuries old, but this dish gained prominence in the US through **Thomas Jefferson**, who encountered it in Paris and had his enslaved cook, **James Hemings**, prepare it for state dinners in the early 1800s. It later became a universal staple, cemented by commercial products like Kraft Dinner, though the baked casserole remains the traditional favorite.

📝 Ingredients

• 8 oz Elbow Macaroni (cooked al dente)
• 2 cups Shredded Cheese (Sharp Cheddar recommended)
• 1/2 cup Milk (Whole Milk for richness)
• 1/4 cup Heavy Cream
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt (or to taste)
• Black Pepper and Paprika (optional, for seasoning)

👩‍🍳 Instructions & Method

This recipe uses the **Mornay Sauce** method (béchamel + cheese).

1. Prep Pasta: Cook the macaroni in salted water until **al dente**. Drain and set aside. *Do not rinse.*
2. Make the Roux: In a large saucepan, melt the **2 tablespoons of butter** over medium heat. Whisk in the **2 tablespoons of flour**. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1-2 minutes to form the roux (the thickener).
3. Form the Béchamel: Slowly whisk in the **1/2 cup of milk** and **1/4 cup of heavy cream** until smooth. Cook until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 5-7 minutes). This is your béchamel base.
4. Make the Mornay Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Gradually stir in the **2 cups of shredded cheese** until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the **salt** and any optional seasonings (like pepper).
5. Combine: Stir the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce until every piece is coated.
6. Bake: Pour the mixture into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Preheat the oven to **375°F (190°C)**.
7. Finish: Bake for **20-25 minutes**, or until the sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

🔬 Benefits & Formation

The formation of the creamy sauce relies on the science of **emulsification** and **starch thickening**:

• Roux: The flour and butter create a **roux**, a stable fat/starch mixture that absorbs liquid to prevent the sauce from being watery.
• Mornay: The slow addition of cheese to the hot béchamel ensures the milk proteins and fat are evenly suspended, resulting in a **stable, velvety emulsion** rather than a gritty, separated sauce.

💖 Conclusion & Lovers

Baked Mac and Cheese is beloved by a wide spectrum of people—from families seeking an easy weeknight meal to gourmet cooks experimenting with high-end cheeses. It is a cornerstone of American Soul Food and a definitive dish of culinary comfort, embodying warmth, tradition, and satisfaction.