Baked Mac and Cheese

This baked mac and cheese is one of the best.

This model has a decadent do-it-yourself cheese sauce (and many it) tossed with macaroni and baked till bubbly below a lightweight golden topping.

Baked Mac and Cheese in the dish with a spoon

It’s wealthy and creamy with one of the best taste.
I’ve added additional cheese sauce to verify it’s tremendous creamy each time.
The sauce is do-it-yourself and completely decadent – however it’s really straightforward to make!
It’s the final word consolation meals – simplicity at it’s easiest.

cream , flour , panko , macaroni , milk , cheese , butter and seasonings with labels to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Components for Baked Mac and Cheese

Pasta: I like elbow macaroni for mac and cheese, however you should utilize any form you want. Select medium or small shapes which have ridges or tubes so the sauce can cling and fill; penne, orecchiette, shells, and cavatappi are nice decisions.

Sauce: The sauce begins with a roux made with butter and flour whereas milk and cream make the bottom of the sauce. Onion powder, dry mustard powder, and seasonings add taste.

Cheese: Sharp Cheddar is daring and makes one of the best mac and cheese. Be at liberty to swap out about 1 cup of cheese for Gruyere or Swiss to alter it up. Shredding your personal cheese from a block makes a smoother sauce however pre-shredded cheeses will work simply high-quality.

Topping: Panko has a pleasant crunch however you should utilize crushed cracker crumbs (saltines or Ritz) in place.

adding flour and seasonings to butter to make Baked Mac and Cheese

How you can Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Cook dinner the macaroni (recipe beneath).
Cook dinner butter, flour, and seasonings and whisk in milk and cream.
Stir in cheddar, parmesan, and seasonings till easy.
Toss sauce with pasta and pour right into a ready casserole dish.
Sprinkle topping over mac and cheese and bake. Simple peasy!

Don’t overbake this mac and cheese to maintain it additional creamy. The whole lot is already cooked; heating it blends the flavors and offers it a browned topping.

As soon as heated by way of, the macaroni is finished!

creamy cheese sauce to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Holly’s Suggestions for Creamy Mac and Cheese

Cook dinner pasta to an ideal al dente to keep away from mushy noodles.
If doable, shred your personal cheese for a smoother sauce. Pre-shredded cheeses will work, however they don’t soften as easily.
Take away sauce from the warmth earlier than including cheese to maintain it from separating or getting grainy.
Don’t overbake (or the mac and cheese can be dry). As soon as the macaroni is effervescent and heated and the topping is browned, it’s prepared.
Mac and cheese could be ready as much as 2 days forward of time (see notes for prep forward).

a pan of baked mac and cheese with a bread crumb and cheese topping

Storing Baked Mac and Cheese

Leftovers: Preserve leftover baked mac and cheese in a coated container within the fridge for as much as 5 days or freeze parts in zippered baggage as much as 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or within the microwave with a bit milk added to loosen the cheese sauce.
Make Forward: Prep mac and cheese forward (hold the topping separate) and hold it coated within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Let the mac and cheese relaxation at room temperature for about 45 minutes. Stir in a ½ cup of heat milk after baking for 20 minutes. Add topping and bake till scorching and bubbly.
Freezing: Freeze unbaked mac and cheese (with out the topping) by assembling it in a foil-lined casserole dish. As soon as frozen, elevate the casserole out and wrap it in plastic wrap (so the casserole dish can be utilized elsewhere) and freeze. To bake, return the casserole to the baking dish and thaw in a single day within the fridge. Let the mac and cheese relaxation at room temperature for about half-hour. Add topping and bake till scorching and bubbly.

Extra Tacky Baked Pasta

Did you make this Baked Mac and Cheese? Depart us a remark and a ranking beneath!

serving baked mac and cheese with a spoon

5 from 129 votes↑ Click on stars to charge now!
Or to go away a remark, click here!

This baked mac and cheese recipe has additional sauce for the proper combine! It is all topped with a buttery crumb combination, and baked till scorching and bubbly.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook dinner Time 35 minutes

Complete Time 50 minutes

Cook dinner ModeForestall your display from going darkish

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a small bowl, mix Panko bread crumbs, butter, cheddar cheese, and parmesan cheese and blend properly. Put aside.
Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook dinner based on the package deal instructions till al dente. Drain properly, run below chilly water, and put aside.
In the meantime, soften butter in a medium saucepan over medium warmth. Stir in flour, onion powder, and garlic powder. Cook dinner for two minutes whereas stirring.
Steadily add the milk and cream, whisking till easy after every addition. Proceed cooking over medium warmth till the combination involves a simmer and let simmer for 1 minute.
Take away the sauce from the warmth and add cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Whisk till melted and easy.
Toss the sauce with the drained pasta and gently spoon it right into a 9×13 casserole dish.
Sprinkle the crumb combination over high and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or till bubbly and topping is browned. Don’t overcook.

Cheese: Use 3 ½ cups of cheddar cheese as directed within the recipe, or substitute ½ cup of the cheddar cheese for Gruyère if desired. Pre-shredded cheese works however doesn’t soften as easily. Take away the sauce from the warmth earlier than including within the cheese.
Pasta: Cook dinner the pasta simply till al dente (agency), as it should cook dinner extra because it bakes.
Baking: If the mac and cheese is overcooked, it received’t be creamy. Cook dinner simply till scorching, and the topping is browned. Cool for 10 minutes earlier than serving.
Topping: Including bread crumbs to the topping is non-compulsory, this mac and cheese could be topped with simply cheese should you want.

Make Forward: Put together this baked Mac and Cheese as much as 2 days prematurely and hold it within the fridge, with the topping saved individually. Take it out of the fridge 45 minutes earlier than baking. Cowl with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, take away the foil and stir in as much as ½ cup of heat milk or as wanted to attain a creamy texture. Add the topping, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or till browned.

Leftovers: Preserve coated within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Add a splash of milk or cream and reheat within the microwave or on the stovetop utilizing low warmth.

Vitamin data offered is an estimate and can differ primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Casserole, Primary Course, Pasta, Facet Dish

Delicacies American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content material and pictures are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is each inspired and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.