Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese, any approach you serve it, is on the very prime of my favorites listing!

This baked mac and cheese is simple to make with pasta in a wealthy tacky do-it-yourself sauce (and plenty of it) baked till bubbly beneath a golden crumb topping.

cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese in the dish with a spoon

Further cheese sauce ensures it’s tremendous saucy, creamy, and tacky.
With two kinds of cheese, it’s flavorful and scrumptious!
This recipe is straightforward to make and could be ready forward of time.
It’s the final word consolation meals.

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

What You Have to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Pasta: I like elbow macaroni for mac and cheese. Elbows could be changed with any medium or small shapes. Ridges or holes maintain the sauce finest—strive shells or cavatappi.
Butter/Flour: Butter and flour create a roux which thickens the sauce.
Dairy: I take advantage of a mix of milk and cream to make it good and creamy.
Cheese: Sharp shredded cheddar provides a daring cheese taste to make one of the best mac and cheese. You possibly can substitute 1 cup of cheddar for Swiss or Gruyere cheese.
Topping: Panko has a pleasant crunch, however you need to use crushed cracker crumbs (saltines or Ritz) as a substitute.

Shredding cheese from a block makes the smoothest sauce however pre-shredded cheeses will work simply effective on this recipe.

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

melting flour with butter to make roux for Baked Mac and Cheese

Learn how to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Prepare dinner pasta: Prepare dinner the pasta al dente (recipe under).
Prepare dinner sauce: Prepare dinner butter, flour, and seasonings and whisk in milk and cream.
Add cheese: Stir in cheeses and whisk till easy—stir in pasta.
Bake: Sprinkle the crumb topping over the mac and cheese and bake. Simple peasy!

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

As soon as heated by, the macaroni is completed!

creamy cheese sauce to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked Mac and Cheese in a dish to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Holly’s Professional Ideas for Good Mac and Cheese

Don’t overcook the pasta because it cooks extra within the oven; it must be al dente (agency).
If time permits, shred your 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. Oveheating cheese may cause it to separate or turn into grainy.
Don’t overbake: As soon as the macaroni is scorching and effervescent on the sides, 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: Maintain leftover baked mac and cheese in a lined container within the fridge for as much as 5 days or freeze parts in zippered luggage for 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 (maintain the topping separate) and maintain it lined within the fridge for as much as 2 days. Let the mac and cheese relaxation at room temperature for about 45 minutes. Stir in 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 under!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

5 from 130 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, 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

Prepare dinner Time 35 minutes

Complete Time 50 minutes

Prepare dinner ModeStop your display screen 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 nicely. Put aside.
Carry a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook dinner in response to the bundle instructions till al dente. Drain nicely, run beneath 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. Prepare dinner for two minutes whereas stirring.
Step by step 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 prime 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: Prepare dinner the pasta simply till al dente (agency), as it’s going to cook dinner extra because it bakes.
Baking: If the mac and cheese is overcooked, it gained’t be creamy. Prepare dinner simply till scorching, and the topping is browned. Cool for 10 minutes earlier than serving.
Topping: Including bread crumbs to the topping is elective, this mac and cheese could be topped with simply cheese if you happen to want.

Make Forward: Put together this baked Mac and Cheese as much as 2 days prematurely and maintain 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 realize a creamy texture. Add the topping, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or till browned.

Leftovers: Maintain lined 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 info offered is an estimate and can fluctuate primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.

Course Casserole, Major Course, Pasta, Aspect Dish

Delicacies American

Eating regimen Vegetarian

© 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.