Baked Mac and Cheese

Prep: 10 min

Cook: 35 min

Serves: 4

Difficulty:

Cuisine:

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Easy baked Mac and Cheese recipe that's packed with flavour using a perfect cheese blend in the sauce and the crunchy topping.

Credit: Whisk Media Group

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Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

500 g macaroni

60 g (3 tbsps.) Western Star Original Butter

¼ cup plain flour

3 cups (750 ml) milk, warmed

2½ cups (135 g) Perfect Italiano™ Perfect Bakes cheese

2 tbsps. oregano leaves, chopped

1½ cups panko breadcrumbs

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Salad, to serve, optional

Method:

Preheat oven to 200°C / 180°C fan-forced. Grease a 2 litre (8 cup capacity) ovenproof dish
Cook pasta in a large saucepan according to packet instructions for 12 minutes or until tender. Refresh under cold water. Drain well
Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly add the flour, whisking until combined. Add the milk in batches and continue to stir until the sauce becomes thick and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in 1 ½ cups of Perfect Bakes cheese
Add cooked pasta and oregano to the sauce, stir to combine. Spoon into the prepared dish
Place panko and remaining 1 cup of Perfect Bakes cheese in a medium bowl. Pour in the oil and use your hands to mix until well combined. Scatter crumb mix over the pasta and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a simple salad of your choice

Tips & Hints:

To pack in more flavour, stir through 1 large tablespoon of Dijon mustard into the cheese sauce once it has boiled and thickened.
For a more garlicky version, add 1-2 teaspoons of garlic salt to the panko crumb mixture.