Baked mac and cheese with Ritz cracker topping
This baked mac and cheese with Ritz cracker topping recipe is the best ever. With only 6 ingredients, it will quickly become a favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium pasta shells
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 8-10 Ritz crackers crushed
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a lot pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 300-degrrees (F).
- About four minutes before the pasta is finished cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan over medium/high heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of flour to the butter and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Drain the pasta and return it to its pot off the heat; set aside.
- Slowly add the heavy cream to the butter and flour mixture. Stir in about 1/4 cup at a time, waiting until it's completely mixed in to add more.
- Once the cream is all added, continue cooking over medium/high heat, stirring frequently, until the liquid starts to move. Do NOT let it come to a boil.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and smooth. Add a dash of salt and pepper. (If you use unsalted butter, you may need to add more salt.)
- Pour the cheddar cheese sauce over the cooked and drained pasta. Mix well so the sauce covers all the pasta.
- Spritz a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the pasta into the baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Crush the Ritz crackers by hand and sprinkle evenly over the top of the pasta.
- Bake for 12 minutes until heated through. Serve immediately, and enjoy!