Island Comfort Food: Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese | No Talk, Just Comfort

Описание: Creamy, baked mac & cheese with a little twist 🌿
I sautéed diced yellow onion and red bell pepper with Italian herbs and black pepper before adding the milk — gives the sauce extra flavor!
Everyone makes theirs a little differently, so feel free to make it more cheesy or creamier to your taste 🧀✨

💛 Perfect for cozy days or Sunday dinners 🍽️!

🧀 Baked Mac & Cheese with Seasoned Cheese Sauce (Inno’s Style)

Ingredients

For the pasta:

2 cups elbow macaroni (or other short pasta)

Salt (for boiling water)

For the seasoned cheese sauce:

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp all-purpose flour

2½ cups milk (whole or evaporated)

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

¼ cup diced yellow onion

¼ cup diced red bell pepper

½ tsp Italian herbs

¼ tsp black pepper

Salt to taste

For topping (optional):

½ cup shredded cheese

A light sprinkle of paprika

🍳 Instructions

Cook the pasta:
Boil pasta in salted water until just tender (al dente). Drain and set aside.

Sauté the seasonings:
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
Add diced onion and red bell pepper. Sauté until soft and fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.

Make the roux:
Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, mixing continuously so it doesn’t brown too much.

Add the milk:
Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Let it cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened.

Season:
Stir in Italian herbs, black pepper, and a little salt.

Add cheese:
Lower the heat and add shredded cheeses. Stir until smooth and creamy.
(Taste here and adjust salt or herbs if needed.)

Combine:
Mix in the cooked pasta, ensuring everything is well-coated in that seasoned cheese sauce.

Bake:
Transfer to a greased baking dish, top with extra cheese and a dash of paprika.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.

🌿 Notes

For extra creaminess, add more cheese or cream to the sauce.

You can sprinkle a little breadcrumb topping for texture if you like.

This version has a subtle flavor from the onion, bell pepper, and herbs — cozy, homey, and perfectly seasoned.

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