Baked Mac Cheese with Creamy Sauce and Crispy Topping - Quickie Recipe

Ingredients

• 12 oz (340 g) elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
• 1/4 cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) whole milk, warmed
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream, warmed
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 oz (225 g) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
• 6 oz (170 g) Gruyere cheese, freshly shredded
• 4 oz (115 g) Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded
• 1 cup (55 g) panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup (25 g) finely grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional