No-Boil Mac and Cheese

A creamy, no-boil macaroni and cheese casserole topped with crispy garlic-parsley panko breadcrumbs. This easy one-dish version skips the pre-boiling step by baking the pasta directly in a creamy cheese sauce.

8 servings
1 hr

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour; cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in milk and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, whisking often, until a very thin, glossy sauce forms, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Remove sauce from heat.

    15 min

  2. 2.

    Toss pasta and 1 1/2 cups cheese in a 13x9x2" or other shallow 3-quart baking dish. Pour sauce over (pasta should be submerged; do not stir) and cover with foil. Bake until pasta is almost tender, about 20 minutes.

    20 min

  3. 3.

    Meanwhile, melt remaining 1/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, panko, and parsley and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Remove foil from dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese, then panko mixture. Bake until pasta is tender, edges are bubbling, and top is golden brown, about 10 minutes longer. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

    20 min

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