Curried Cheddar Baked Mac and Cheese
Curried Cheddar Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
For the Macaroni
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Cheese Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
For the Topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Cook the macaroni according to package directions in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, prepare the cheese sauce. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the 1/4 cup of unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until a smooth paste (roux) forms and smells slightly nutty.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Gradually whisk in the whole milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Stir in the yellow curry powder, ground turmeric, cayenne pepper (if using), 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and Gruyere cheese to the sauce, stirring until completely melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently until all the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter. Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mac and cheese is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown and crispy. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Curried Cheddar Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
For the Macaroni
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Cheese Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon yellow curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded
For the Topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Cook the macaroni according to package directions in a large pot of generously salted boiling water until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, prepare the cheese sauce. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the 1/4 cup of unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until a smooth paste (roux) forms and smells slightly nutty.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Gradually whisk in the whole milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Stir in the yellow curry powder, ground turmeric, cayenne pepper (if using), 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and Gruyere cheese to the sauce, stirring until completely melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently until all the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter. Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the mac and cheese is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown and crispy. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375