Description
This Dutch oven mac and cheese is a staple in my home. I sometimes add burger meat or bacon to it to liven it up but it’s delicious enough on its own! Regularly served as the main course with just a veggie side, as it can be a bit heavy if you’re a mac and cheese lover who can’t resist seconds (like me).
Ingredients
- 1 (12 ounce) package seashell pasta
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded medium Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs, or as needed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon taco seasoning mix
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook
- stirring occasionally
- until tender yet firm to the bite
- about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Heat an oven-safe Dutch oven over medium heat. Melt butter and flour in the hot pot
- stirring
- until blended; pour in milk and heavy cream
- whisking continuously
- until mixture comes to a boil. Continue to boil
- stirring continuously
- for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; continue to stir until sauce thickens
- about 10 minutes.
- Slowly fold in cheeses until melted and smooth. It is okay to raise the heat if you have to
- just remember to keep stirring while the heat is on. Fold in cooked pasta until it is coated with cheese.
- Combine panko bread crumbs
- salt
- garlic salt
- black pepper
- onion powder
- and taco seasoning in a bowl. Sprinkle macaroni mixture with just enough of the bread crumbs to coat most of the surface; you should still see some pasta underneath the bread crumbs.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn on the oven’s broiler and continue to cook until crust is golden brown and crisp
- about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes before serving.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 8