Baked Mac and Cheese

By learen

Ingredients

• Topping:
• 1/2 lb elbow macaroni
• 3 T butter
• 3 T flour
• 1 T powdered mustard
• 3 c milk
• 1/2 c yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 t paprika
• 1 large egg
• 12 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 t kosher salt
• fresh black pepper
• 3 T butter
• 1 c Panko bread crumbs

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep stirring for about 5 min. Make sure its free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for 10 min and remove the bay leaf.

Add egg, stirring. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2 qt casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a sauté pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 min. Remove from oven and rest for 5 min before serving.