Smokey Mac N Cheese
View Video Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow pasta
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese (shredded)
- 2 cups white cheddar cheese (shredded)
- For topping:
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 30 Ritz crackers (crushed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Boil the pasta according to directions. While pasta is boiling, use a heavy saucepan to make a rue, by melting the butter and then adding flour and stirring constantly for a minute or two. Slowly add in the heavy cream and milk, then cook for about 3 more minutes, while stirring constantly. Add in the salt, pepper, smoked paprika and onion powder. Then add in the cream cheese until it is melted and add in the shredded Monterey jack and the shredded white cheddar.
- Drain pasta completely and combine with cheese mixture. Pour into a lightly buttered 9 X 9 or 13 X 9 dish. Prepare melted butter and crushed cracker mixture and sprinkle on top of the mac and cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or just until the cracker topping is lightly browned.
- Double all ingredients for a large crowd.