Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 lb macaroni (uncooked)
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk or 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons cream of chicken soup
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 4 ounces cream cheese
• 6 cups finely shredded sharp and monterey jack cheese
• 8 ounces sargento six-cheese italian cheese blend
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons cajun spices
• 2 teaspoons seasoning salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon old bay seasoning, seasonsing
• crushed ritz cracker
• 2 tablespoons butter

Recipe

• 1 set cheeses, butter, milk, and sour/cream cheese to room temperature.
• 2 cook pasta according to package directions or until al dente 5-6 minutes in lightly salted water.
• 3 when al dente, drain and season the pasta with another pinch of salt and set aside.
• 4 in a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter & stir or whisk in the flour. stir the entire time for about 1-2 minutes.
• 5 slowly stir in 1 cup of half-and-half, then the rest of the half-and-half and evaporated milk. then add the seasonings listed.
• 6 increase the heat to medium-high so the mixture is steaming. stir until the mixture is combined and thick enough to coat your spoon so about 10-20 minutes.
• 7 remove from heat and add in 4 cups of sharp (2 cups) and monterey jack(2 cups) cheeses and stir until smooth. add in cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cream cheese and stir until combined.
• 8 pour your pasta into the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• 9 butter a pan and pour half of the mac n cheese into it. top with 1 cup of sargento shredded cheeses, 1 cup monterey, and 1 cup sharp. layer the rest of the pasta and top with another 1 cup of all cheeses. melt butter into crushed ritz crackers and sprinkle onto macaroni.
• 10 set oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25-35 minutes or until the crackers are golden brown.
• 11 let cool for about 10 minutes. enjoy!