1-Gather and Prepare Your Ingredients: First, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3-quart baking dish. This step ensures your baked mac and cheese comes out perfectly golden. Measure out all ingredients like the pasta, butter, and cheeses to make the process smooth and efficient.

2-Cook the Pasta: Next, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 1 pound of dried elbow pasta for one minute less than the package instructions for al dente results. Drain the pasta and toss it with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. This keeps your baked mac and cheese from becoming too soft during baking.

3-Prepare the Cheese Sauce: Shred the cheeses and divide them: about 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping. In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup unsalted butter over medium heat, then whisk in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and cook for about 1 minute. Gradually add 2 cups of the half and half, whisking until smooth, then incorporate the remaining half and half and 1 1/2 cups whole milk.

4-Thicken and Season the Sauce: Cook the mixture over medium heat, whisking frequently, until it thickens to a diluted condensed soup consistency. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese until smooth. Add another 1 1/2 cups of cheese and stir until fully melted for that creamy baked mac and cheese texture.

5-Assemble and Bake: Combine the pasta with the cheese sauce in a large bowl, then pour half into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese on top, add the remaining mixture, and finish with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly and lightly golden. Let it rest a bit before serving to enhance the flavors of this baked mac and cheese recipe.