There is nothing better on a blah day then a little home style mac – n Cheese. well, maybe chili…but Mac – N – Cheese is a close 2nd! This has been a go to recipe for me for personal parties (Christmas, Turkey day, etc, and for catering to the masses for Graduation parties,and weddings. Tweak it, add to it, or let me know it is perfect the way it is.
Mac n cheese….. Home style
Ingredients
1 3/4 lbs: macaroni prefer shells.
3/4 c: butter
3/4 c: all-purpose flour
4 c: milk, divided
1 c: sour cream
1 1/2 tsp: mustard powder
1/2: sweet onion finely chopped
1 jalapeno seeded n finely chopped
salt and ground black pepper to taste
16oz: shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
16oz: shredded American cheese
1 1/2 tbsp: Worcestershire sauce
2 sleeves ritz style crackers
1 c: shredded Cheddar cheese
1/3 c: grated Parmesan cheese
butter-flavored cooking spray
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
Melt butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onion n pepper (sauté 4 minutes) add worsteshire sauce. Slowly add flour to butter, whisking constantly; cook until brown and the mixture no longer smells of flour, about 5 minutes. Pour 1 cup milk into the flour mixture, whisking continually until fully incorporated, about 45 seconds; repeat twice. Add remaining 1 cup milk and 1 cup sour cream to the mixture, whisking to incorporate. season with salt and black pepper.
Reduce heat to low. Cook sauce, whisking frequently, until it begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Add about 4 oz of cheese at a time less 6 oz of cheddar (used for topping) Once cheese is entirely incorporated, remove sauce from heat.
Stir drained macaroni into the cheese sauce to coat. Divide macaroni between two 9×13-inch baking dishes.
Mix crackers, 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Top the macaroni with the mixture evenly. Spray with olive oil or cooking spray (for browning look)
Bake in oven until the crust is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, 15 – 20 minutes. Remove from oven let rest 5 minutes.