Ingredients
- 1/2 pound noodles (2 cups) (spiral is my favorite but use your favorite)
- 2 cups of milk
- 1 cup of chicken stock or vegetable
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 12 ounces (3 cups) of a mix of cheeses like Gruyere, Fontina, cheddar, Gouda, Gorgonzola, Parmesan.
- 3/4 cup of diced ham
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup bread crumbs https://grandmaingrids.com/frommykitchen/index.php/2020/04/20/croutons-bread-crumbs/
- 3/4 cup of Parmesan
Directions
In a pasta pot cook noodles until they still have a bite. They will keep cooking while it bakes. I cooked my noodles for 5 minutes while the package says to cook for 10 minutes. While pasta is cooking make your sauce. In a sauce pot add 3 tablespoons of butter and melt. Add in diced ham if adding. Saute it with the butter a little bit. Season with granulated garlic, smoked paprika and pepper Add in flour and mix well. Cook for about 1 minute to cook the flour taste out. Pour in milk and chicken broth mix well until fully mixed. Bring to a boil then simmer until thick. Turn off heat and add cheese to pot and mix until creamy. In baking dish add drained noodles then pour cheese sauce over noodles and mix. It will seam soupy but you want it this way so it doesn’t dry out. In small bowl mix bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons melted butter and Parmesan mix well then put over mac and cheese. Bake at 400° F for 20 minutes.
