Chef John's Baked Mac and Cheese

Name: Chef John's Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 0.25 cup All-Purpose Flour; 0.25 cup Butter; 0.25 tsp Cayenne Pepper; 1 tsp Dijon Mustard; 0.25 tsp Dried Thyme; 1 pinch Ground Nutmeg; 16 oz Macaroni; 3 cups Milk; 0.5 cup Panko; 1 tsp Salt; 3 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese; 0.13 tsp White Pepper; 0.25 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

Side Dish 🥗Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 American High-Protein 💪Sugar-Free Vegetarian 🥦Halal 🕌Comfort-Food Pescatarian 🐟

Chef John's Baked Mac and Cheese is rich and ultra-creamy, with a sharp Cheddar sauce layered with Dijon, thyme, and a warming hint of cayenne and nutmeg. A golden panko topping adds a crisp, buttery contrast to the tender elbows, making every bite balanced and comforting. Ideal for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or holiday sides when you want classic, crowd-pleasing comfort.

Prep15 mins
Cook45 mins
Serves6
DifficultyEasy

1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
3

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter begins to foam and bubble, stir in the flour; cook over medium heat until the flour turns pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes.
4

Add thyme, cayenne, and white pepper; cook and stir for another minute, then whisk in 1 cup milk until smooth.
5

Pour in the remaining milk and whisk again. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
6

Stir in salt, Worcestershire sauce, and nutmeg. Simmer over medium-low heat, whisking often, until thickened, about 8 minutes.
7

Turn off the heat, then add 2 1/4 cups Cheddar cheese; stir until melted and combined. Mix in Dijon mustard.
8

Transfer the macaroni to an 8x8-inch casserole dish, then pour in the cheese sauce; stir to thoroughly coat the pasta with the sauce.
9

In a small bowl, mix together panko bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter.
10

Sprinkle the mixture over the macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
11

Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, about 20 minutes.