Baked One Pot Mac and Cheese

• 份量: 4 servings
• 准备时间: 5 minutes
• 总时间: 30 minutes

配料

2 tbsp butter or olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups (200g) elbow macaroni

2 cups (480ml) chicken or vegetable stock (or water)

1 cup (240ml) evaporated milk (or regular milk or heavy cream)

2 tsps salt (adjust to taste)

½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp chili flakes (optional and adjust to taste)

2 cups (200g) shredded cheese blend (I'm using cheddar and Colby jack)

¼ cup (25g) Parmesan cheese, grated

½ cup panko breadcrumbs

1 tbsp butter, melted

步骤

Sauté the Aromatics:

Heat butter or olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent.

Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.

Cook the Macaroni in One Pot:

Add uncooked macaroni to the pot and stir to coat with the butter and aromatics.

Pour in stock (or water) and evaporated milk.

Season with salt and black pepper. Stir well. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.

Simmer Until Al Dente:

Simmer and let the macaroni cook. Stir occasionally, for 7-8 minutes or until just al dente.

Turn off the heat immediately to prevent overcooking—the pasta will continue cooking in the residual heat. The sauce will still be quite liquidy; this is perfectly fine, it will thicken as it cools.

Stir in the Cheese:

While the pasta is still hot, add most of the cheese blend, leaving about 1/2 a cup aside. Add Parmesan and chili flakes as well, if using.

Stir until all of the cheese melts. The sauce will begin to thicken and become creamy. The mixture may look slightly soupy at this stage - this is perfect! It will thicken further as it cools.

Prepare the Crispy Panko Topping:

Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter until evenly coated.

Bake till Golden

Transfer half of the mac and cheese to an oven-safe casserole dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the mac and cheese layer.

Layer on the rest of the mac and cheese over the cheese layer.

Evenly sprinkle the buttery panko topping over the surface.

Two methods to finish: - a. to oven-bake: Bake or broil for 8-10 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy.- b. to air fry: Air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 5 minutes, or until the top is crisp.

Serve and Enjoy!

Option to garnish with finely chopped parsley or basil.

Spoon mac and cheese into serving plates. Serve immediately and enjoy!