Baked Mac and cheese with bread crumbs

 

This yummy cheesy pasta, topped with crispy bread crumbs is really a treat! It is super easy and can easily be made before hand and put in the fridge until ready to use, if you are to do that, make sure it gets extra time in the oven! You can easily use less cheese, 3 cups is a lot and it makes the pasta VERY  cheesy, but you can decrease the cheese by 1/2 cup for a less cheesy but still cheesy Mac and cheese! What I especially love about this pasta is the addition I added of the paprika! Paprika and cheese just go so well together, it really brings this dish to life! The roux is also very important and no matter how long it takes to get its amber color, it can effect the thickness and flavor of this dish, as the roux is the base. Enjoy this yummy dinner! Happy cooking!

1 pound package of macaroni 

1/4 cup bread crumbs

2 tablespoons butter 

2 tablespoons flour

1 teaspoon paprika 

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups milk

3 cups cheese, or less

Cook the pasta as the instructions say in the package, I cooked mine for 6 and a half minutes. Dump the pasta in a drainer and set aside. In the same pot you used to make the pasta, and on medium low heat, add the butter, and melt, and then add the flour. Stir every few minutes until you get a nice dark amber color. Ad the paprika,salt,pepper and stir to combine. Add the milk a little at a time, add the cheese and stir frequently until the top starts to bubble and the cheese melts, add in the pasta and stir until fully coated.

Turn the oven to 350. Spray a 9 by 11 pan and poor the pasta mixture in. Evenly spread the bread crumbs around the top. Flatten with a spoon. Put into the oven for 20 minutes. Take out and enjoy!