Romantic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Preparation Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Macaroni Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Cheese Sauce In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly for 1 minute to make a roux.

Cheese Sauce Gradually whisk in the milk, then cook and stir until the sauce thickens and comes to a simmer.

Cheese Sauce Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.

Assembly Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce and mix until well-coated.

Assembly Transfer the macaroni and cheese to a greased baking dish.

Breadcrumb Topping In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the macaroni and cheese.

Baking Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbly.

Serve Let the baked macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!