one454 gram boxdry cavatappi pasta (elbow can be used as well)
Cheese Béchamel Sauce
¼cupbutter
¼cupall-purpose flour
3cupswhole milk
½teaspoononion powder
½teaspoonmustard powder
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonground black pepper
8ounces Velveeta
2-3cupsgrated sharp cheddar cheese
Panko Topping
1cuppanko crumbs
3tablespoonssalted butter melted
1teaspoonparsley
1/4 cupshredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F
Butter a 9x13 baking pan and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Once boiling add the pasta and cook to al dente according to the package directions. Start the cheese béchamel sauce while the pasta is cooking.
Cheese Béchamel Sauce
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk into the melted butter until smooth. Cook, stirring, until the butter mixture turns golden brown, around 5 minutes.
Slowly whisk in one cup of the milk, adding very slowly to avoid clumps, whisking continuously. Once combined, whisk in the rest of the milk slowly, until all of the milk is whisked into the mixture.
Whisk in the onion powder, mustard powder, salt and pepper.
Bring to a low simmer, not boiling, stirring, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue simmering for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning on the bottom, until the mixture is smooth and the flour is no longer gritty in the mixture. The mixture should coat the back of a spoon when done.
During this cooking time for the sauce, the pasta will be done. Drain the pasta well and place into a large bowl and set aside for a few minutes.
Take the sauce off the heat and stir in the cubes of Velveeta, slowly letting it melt into the sauce. Add in the sharp cheddar, slowly, by handfuls, until it's all melted into the sauce.
Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta in the large bowl stirring to coat the pasta completely.
Spoon the pasta and sauce into the prepared 9×13 baking pan in one layer.
In a medium bowl, combine the Panko, parsley and Parmesan. Once mixed, pour the butter on top of the Panko mixture and mix gently until well combined.
Sprinkle the panko topping on top of the mac and cheese. Bake the mac and cheese in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, until warmed through.
Remove from the oven, cool for 5 minutes to let the sauce set, then serve
Notes
This is great with or without the Panko topping. I like a thick layer of topping, if you prefer less simply make half of the batch.