This one-pot wonder has humble beginnings: just milk and macaroni. As the pasta cooks, the starch released helps thicken the milk to make the perfect base for a sauce. The cheeses and seasonings are stirred in at the very end, and everything comes together magically.
Directions for: One-Pot Mac 'n' Cheese
Ingredients
4 cups whole milk
lb(s) elbow macaroni (about 3 cups)
8 oz mild Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)
3 oz part-skim mozzarella, shredded (about 1 cup)
2 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Large pinch cayenne pepper
Large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
kosher salt
Directions
1. Put the milk and macaroni in a medium saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping, then cook, stirring frequently, until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese, butter, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Serve hot. (The dish will thicken as it cools; thin it out with a little hot water if desired.)
Tips and Substitutions
Cook's Note:Be sure to buy blocks of cheese and shred it yourself. The preshredded cheese that comes in bags is often tossed with starchy cellulose, which can give this mac 'n' cheese a clumpy texture.
Source and Credits
Copyright 2015 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.
Courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
See more: Cheese, Comfort Food, Main, Pasta