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Creamy Baked Penne Mac and Cheese with Gruyère and Smoked Paprika

A spoonful of creamy penne mac and cheese lifted from a baked casserole dish, topped with crispy breadcrumbs.
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Make this rich and cheesy penne dish by baking penne pasta in a homemade cheese sauce featuring Gruyère and a hint of smoked paprika for a comforting adult mac and cheese recipe.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk, warmed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 6 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  3. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to create a roux.
  4. Gradually whisk in the warm milk until the mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 to 7 minutes. Do not let it boil rapidly.
  5. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
  6. Add the shredded cheddar, Gruyère, and cubed cream cheese to the sauce. Stir until all the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. This creates your homemade creamy cheese sauce for penne.
  7. Fold the cooked penne pasta into the cheese sauce until every piece is coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  8. In a small bowl, toss the panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the pasta.
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving your best baked penne mac and cheese.

Notes

  • For an extra rich and cheesy dish, shred your own cheese; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
  • If you prefer a stovetop penne mac and cheese, skip steps 1, 4 (baking), and 7 (topping), and simply stir the pasta into the sauce and serve immediately.
  • To make this a quick weeknight penne and cheese, use a high-quality jarred Alfredo sauce as a base and stir in the shredded cheeses off the heat.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://pureplatepath.com/penne-mac-and-cheese-recipe-gruyere-paprika/