Bittman Basics

Fast, Luxurious Macaroni and Cheese That’s Not From a Box

Creamy, beautifully browned, and crunchy on top

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Here’s an all-American comfort food dish we’d like to snack on any time.

Most macaroni and cheese recipes start by making a cheese sauce; you can’t just toss melting cheese with pasta and expect it to become creamy and not stringy. This shortcut technique saves a step and creates a luxurious sauce as the noodles bake.

Shortcut Macaroni and Cheese

Time: About an hour
Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• Salt
• 2½ cups milk
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pound rigatoni, elbow, or other cut pasta
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 1½ cups)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup bread crumbs, preferably fresh

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking…