Tia’s Baked Mac and Cheese
Baked Mac and Chees
Yields: 10 servings
Ingredients:
1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter
4 blocks (8 ounces each) sharp cheddar cheese, such as Cracker Barrel, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 pounds elbow macaroni
4 ounces cream cheese, add room temperature, cut into small cubes
3/4 cup half n half, warmed
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 9x13 baking dish.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package. Drain pasta and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large skillet, over low heat. Add the cubed cheddar and melt until creamy, stirring constantly. Add the egg and stir until egg is mixed into the cheese. Add pasta to skillet and stir until combined. Stir in the half n half and cream cheese, until cream cheese has melted into the pasta.
Add half of the pasta mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and top with half of the ¼ cup of parmesan cheese. Add the remaining half of the pasta, followed by the remaining parmesan.
In a small bowl, mix together panko, olive oil and salt. Sprinkle the panko over the top. Bake for 40 minutes.
