Baked Macaroni & Cheese

This is great on its own, but if you like to gild the lily, try one of the add-ins below.

Yield:

Serves six to eight.

Ingredients

1. Kosher salt
2. 6 Tbs. unsalted butter
3. 1 medium onion, finely diced
4. 6 Tbs. all-purpose flour
5. 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
6. 1 quart whole milk, heated
7. 1 large sprig fresh thyme, plus 1 tsp. chopped thyme leaves
8. 1 bay leaf
9. 8 oz. (2 packed cups) grated extra-sharp white Cheddar (the sharpest you can find)
10. 4 oz. (1 packed cup) grated Monterey Jack
11. 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
12. 1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce
13. Freshly ground black pepper
14. 1 lb. elbow macaroni or other small pasta, such as pipette or small shells
15. 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil; more for the baking dish
16. 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
17. 1-1/2 oz. (1/2 lightly packed cup) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and put a large pot of well-salted water on to boil over high heat.
2. Meanwhile, in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and 1/2 tsp. salt and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until slightly darker, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the mustard.
3. Switch to a whisk and gradually add the milk, whisking constantly. To avoid lumps, go slowly at first, whisking until the mixture is smooth before adding more milk. Once about half the milk is in and the mixture still isn’t very thick, you can add the rest more quickly.
4. When all the milk is in, switch back to the spoon and stir in the thyme sprig, bay leaf, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Let come to a bare simmer, and cook, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes to meld the flavors (reduce the heat to medium low or low as needed to maintain the bare simmer).
5. Discard the thyme sprig and bay leaf. Add the Cheddar and Jack cheeses, stirring until melted, and then add the Worcestershire and Tabasco. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm, stirring occasionally.
6. For individual servings: choose small baking dishes that hold 1-1/2 to 2 cups each. You can fill them to within about 1/2 inch of the rim. The number of servings will, of course, depend on the volume of your baking dishes. Without any of the add-ins, this recipe yields about 9 cups.
7. Cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente. Pour into a colander and shake it a few times to drain really well. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce, and stir until well combined. Generously season to taste with salt and pepper. Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread the pasta in the dish.
8. In a medium bowl, toss the breadcrumbs, Parmigiano, olive oil, chopped thyme, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Scatter the crumbs evenly over the pasta.
9. Bake in the center of the oven until the crumb topping is golden, about 15 minutes. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pancetta or bacon: Sauté 1/4 lb. pancetta or bacon (finely chopped if using pancetta) until crisp and golden. Drain on paper towels, leaving the fat in the pan. Crumble the bacon. Substitute the fat for part of the butter so that you have about 6 Tbs. total, and proceed with the recipe. Add the pancetta or bacon to the sauce along with the pasta.Ham: Brown 2 cups of small-diced smoked ham in the butter over medium-high heat. Drain on paper towels and proceed with the recipe, reducing the heat to medium to cook the onion. Add the ham to the sauce along with the pasta.Hot chiles: Cook 2 Tbs. minced fresh serrano chiles along with the onions. Or add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes with the mustard.