The Best Mac and Cheese Bake

Alicia Calvo, MPH, RDN, CDCES, CEDRD

Yield: 4 Prep time: 12 minutes Cook time: 15 mintues minutes Total Time: 30 minutes

Mac and Cheese is a classic comfort food.  It is usually made with elbow noodles, but other pasta shapes can also be used.  Here we combine mozzarella, Monterey jack, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses for a creamy sauce and add red pepper flakes for a bit of a kick. 

Ingredients:

8 oz. pasta, elbow, rigatoni, penne, or any favorite shape

6 oz. shredded 3 cheese blend, mozzarella, Monterey jack and cheddar cheese

4 oz. shredded pepper jack cheese

¼ cup milk, 2%

½ tsp. red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

¼ cup bread crumbs

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2.     Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Add a pinch of salt to boiling water while the pasta is cooking. Drain the pasta and set aside in a greased Pyrex, 7” x 11”.

3.     Add shredded cheeses to pasta.  Pour milk over the pasta mixture and sprinkle top with red pepper flakes. 

4.     Pour melted butter over pasta mixture and top with bread crumbs.

5.     Bake for 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and the top of the pasta is slightly crispy.

6.     Serve with roasted brocolini.

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Nutrition Facts:

Serves: 4

Serving size: 1 - 1 1/2 cups

Calories: 520

Total Fat: 25 g

Total Carbohydrates: 34 g

Protein: 21 g

Equivalents: 3 medium fat proteins, 2 starches, and 2 fats