Sheet Pan Mac Cheese Recipe 455

EXTRA-CRUNCHY SHEET-PAN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the macaroni, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
• Heat the half-and-half, cream cheese, and reserved pasta water in a large pot over medium heat, stirring until the cream cheese is completely melted and the mixture just comes to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce, whisking until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Add the macaroni to the pot and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will absorb some of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if desired. Spread the macaroni mixture on an 18-by-13-inch sheet pan.
• Toss the panko, butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl and sprinkle evenly over the pasta. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are brown and crisp, rotating halfway through, 20 to 25 minutes.

SHEET PAN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat, about 1 minute. Whisk flour into butter to form a roux. Add milk and cream, stirring to blend. Add Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and grated Cheddar cheese. Stir until melted, 1 to 3 minutes. Drain macaroni and add to the saucepan. Mix until combined. Spread mixture out onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Combine panko bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt in a bowl. Sprinkle mixture over the macaroni and cheese on the baking sheet. Place remaining butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat in a microwave oven until melted, about 1 minute. Drizzle melted butter over the macaroni and cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.

SHEET-PAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 18x13x1-inch sheet pan with cooking spray. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.
• While macaroni is cooking, melt 1/2 cup butter in 5-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper and red pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly, then cook 1 minute longer. Stir in mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring frequently. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in cheese until melted.
• Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce. Pour into sheet pan; spread evenly.
• In medium bowl, mix melted butter and bread crumbs; sprinkle evenly over pasta mixture. Bake 32 to 36 minutes or until sauce is absorbed and bread crumb mixture is golden brown and crispy.

SHEET PAN MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a half-sheet pan in the oven to heat.
• Place a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the evaporated milk, processed cheese, 1 cup of the Cheddar, 1 cup of the Gruyere, the dry mustard, hot sauce and salt, then whisk until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat and combine.
• In a small bowl, toss together the Parmesan with the remaining 1 1/2 cups Cheddar and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere.
• Remove the sheet pan from the oven and carefully spray with the cooking spray. Pour the mac and cheese from the saucepan into the sheet pan and spread evenly.
• Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the top. Bake until the cheese topping is fully melted and the mixture is bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, then garnish with the basil and serve.