Dinner for 6

Baked Colby Jack Macaroni

Name: Baked Colby Jack Macaroni
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow pasta; 1 tsp salt; 2 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth; 1 1/2 cups heavy cream; 2 1/2 cups colby jack; 3/4 tsp salt; 3/4 tsp black pepper; 1 cup colby jack or cheddar; 2 1/2 tbsp toasted panko bread crumbs; 1 tbsp parsley

$5.95for 445 minServes 6

Elbow pasta is coated in a creamy Colby Jack sauce, topped with cheese and crumbs, then baked until bubbling.

Baked Colby Jack Macaroni with its ingredients

What it costs

Pick your city to see which ingredients are on sale

Ingredient	Amount	Cost
	Pasta, 8.75 oz$0.10/oz typical	8.75 oz	$0.88Typical price
	Butter, 1 oz$0.40/oz typical	1 oz	$0.40Typical price
	Broth, 8.25 oz$0.07/oz typical	8.25 oz	$0.58Typical price
	Heavy cream, 12 oz$0.22/oz typical	12 oz	$2.74Typical price
	Cheddar and shredded cheese, 14 oz$0.30/oz typical	14 oz	$4.20Typical price
	Sandwich bread, a little$2.49 each typical	a little	$0.04Typical price
	Fresh herbs (cilantro, a little$1.49 each typical	a little	$0.05Typical price
Total for the servings shown		$8.92

Swaps

Swap cheddar and shredded cheese for mozzarellaabout the same price
Swap heavy cream for evaporatedabout $0.08/oz less at typical prices
Swap butter for margarine and vegan butterabout $0.15/oz less at typical prices
Swap pasta for egg noodlesabout $0.04/oz more at typical prices

Pantry staples you likely have

FlourSalt and pepper

Not included in the cost.

45 minstart to table
Mediumdifficulty
6servings as written
$typical cost tier

American Kid-friendly Budget Family Dinners

Typical price

$1.49 per serving$5.95 for 4

City Store

Typical price: Salefork's estimate of an everyday US shelf price for each ingredient. Pick your city to price it from this week's ad.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow pasta
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 cups colby jack
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp black pepper
1 cup colby jack or cheddar
2 1/2 tbsp toasted panko bread crumbs
1 tbsp parsley

Steps

Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking oil.
Boil salted water in a large pot, cook the elbow pasta until just tender, and drain it.
Melt the butter in the pot over medium heat, whisk in the flour, and cook for 1 minute.
Whisk in the chicken broth and heavy cream, then simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Stir in 2 1/2 cups of Colby Jack, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Fold in the pasta, spread it in the baking dish, and top with the remaining cheese, panko, and parsley.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until hot and bubbling, then rest for 5 minutes.