Tasty Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 package elbow macaroni , 16 ounce
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.75 cups salted butter , softened - divided
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese , softened
• 1 package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese , 8 ounce
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
• 1 cup milk
• 1 package shredded mild Cheddar cheese , 8 ounce

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until almost cooked through and firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle macaroni with 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir 1/2 cup butter into the pasta.

3. 3

   Mix 1/4 cup butter, sour cream, cream cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese, and egg yolk together in a bowl. Stir flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and milk into the sour cream mixture.

4. 4

   Spread 1/4 cup sour cream sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Stir remaining sour cream sauce into macaroni. Pour macaroni into baking dish atop sauce layer; sprinkle mild Cheddar cheese over the casserole.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and cheese topping has melted, about 15 minutes.