Creamy Baked Mac n Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 lb elbow macaroni pasta
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk — whole or 2% for best flavor
• 5 oz evaporated milk
• 1½ cups white cheddar cheese — save some for topping
• 1½ cups medium cheddar cheese — save some for topping
• 1 Tbsp onion powder
• ½ Tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp salt

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a pot of water to a vigorous boil and salt it.

   ▶ 0:04
2. 2

   Add 1 pound of elbow macaroni pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions.

   ▶ 0:11
3. 3

   In a separate pot, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.

   ▶ 0:30
4. 4

   Once the butter is melted, add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and mix well. Cook for 20-30 seconds to eliminate the raw flour taste.

   ▶ 0:33
5. 5

   Gradually add 3 cups of milk and 5 ounces of evaporated milk to the pot, stirring continuously.

   ▶ 1:00
6. 6

   Let the mixture cook for another minute before adding the cheeses.

   ▶ 1:10
7. 7

   Add 1.5 cups of white cheddar cheese and 1.5 to 2 cups of medium cheddar cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.

   ▶ 1:20
8. 8

   Lower the heat to medium-low and add the seasonings: 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 0.5 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of white pepper, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well to combine.

   ▶ 1:38
9. 9

   Transfer the cheese mixture to a baking dish and sprinkle additional cheese on top.

   ▶ 1:40
10. 10

    Bake in a preheated oven at 325°F for 25 to 30 minutes.

    ▶ 2:16