Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Essentials and Easy Swaps
Variations
How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese
Holly’s Helpful Hints
Love Your Leftovers
More Cheesy Baked Pasta

This easy baked mac and cheese recipe is at the very top of my list of favorite comfort dishes. It’s a breeze to make with macaroni in a rich and creamy cheese sauce (and lots of it!) baked until bubbly under a golden crumb topping.

cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese in the dish with a spoon

Flavor: Using two kinds of cheese and extra sauce makes the dish extra creamy, rich, and full of cheesy goodness.
Skill Level: This recipe is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated.
Swaps: Try this recipe with mixtures of different cheeses, such as mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Provolone, Gruyere, or Gouda.

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

Essentials and Easy Swaps

Pasta: Elbow pasta makes the creamiest mac and cheese, but any medium or small shapes with ridges or holes, like shells or cavatappi, work too.
Cheese: Sharp shredded cheddar adds a bold cheese flavor. You can replace 1 cup of cheddar with Swiss, Havarti, or Gruyere cheese.
Dairy: I use a combination of milk and cream to make it nice and creamy. Heavy cream will give the dish all the more richness.
Topping: Panko breadcrumbs have a nice crunch, but you can use regular breadcrumbs or crushed cracker crumbs (saltines or Ritz) instead.

Variations

Add extra protein that will complement the cheesy flavors. Bacon or sausage tastes wonderful in baked mac and cheese, and adds a smoky layer.
Broccoli, peas, or green beans are nice add-ins for adding nutrients and cutting through some of the cheesy richness.

Shredding cheese from a block makes a velvety smooth sauce, but pre-shredded cheeses can be used if time is of the essence.

If you have a food processor, use the shred blade to make quick work of shredding the cheese.

Baking mac and cheese is the classic Southern method, but if dinner needs to be on the table fast, you can skip the baking step and serve from the stovetop.

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

adding cheese to pot to make Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Cook pasta: Cook the pasta al dente (recipe below).
Make sauce: Cook butter, flour, and seasonings. Whisk in milk and cream, then stir in cheeses.
Add pasta: When the cheeses are melted, whisk the sauce until smooth and stir in the cooked pasta.
Bake: Spoon into a casserole. Sprinkle the bread crumb topping over the top and bake. Easy peasy!

Do not overbake this mac and cheese to keep it extra creamy. Everything is already cooked; heating it blends the flavors and gives it a browned topping.

Once heated through, the dish is ready to serve.

creamy cheese sauce to make Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe in a casserole dish

Holly’s Helpful Hints

Don’t overcook the pasta as it cooks more in the oven; it should be al dente (firm).
If time allows, shred your cheeses from a block for a smoother sauce. Pre-shredded cheeses will work, but they don’t melt as smoothly.
Remove sauce from the heat before adding cheese. Oveheating cheese can cause it to separate or become grainy.
Do not overbake: Once the macaroni is hot and bubbling on the edges, it’s ready.

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

Love Your Leftovers

Leftovers: Keep leftover baked mac and cheese in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze portions in zippered bags for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a little milk added to loosen the cheese sauce.
Make Ahead: Prep mac and cheese ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator without topping for up to 2 days. Let the mac and cheese rest at room temperature for about 45 minutes. Stir in ½ cup of warm milk after baking for 20 minutes. Add topping and bake until hot and bubbly.
Freezing: Assemble unbaked mac and cheese in a foil-lined dish, freeze, then wrap in plastic wrap to free up the dish.
To bake, return the casserole to the baking dish and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Let the mac and cheese rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Add topping and bake until hot and bubbly.

More Cheesy Baked Pasta

Did you make this Baked Mac and Cheese recipe? Leave a rating and comment below!

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

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well, run under cold water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, make the topping by combining Panko breadcrumbs, 2 teaspoons butter, 2 ounces cheddar and 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Mix well and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, onion powder, and garlic powder. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
Gradually add the milk and cream, whisking until smooth after each addition. Continue cooking over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer and let simmer for 1 minute.
Remove the sauce from the heat and add cheddar & Parmesan cheeses, mustard powder, seasoned salt, and pepper. Whisk until melted and smooth.
Toss the sauce with the drained macaroni and gently spoon it into a 9×13 casserole dish.
Sprinkle the Panko crumb mixture over top and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until bubbly and topping is browned. Do not overcook.

Cheese: Substitute Gruyère for ½ cup of the cheddar cheese if desired. Pre-shredded cheese works but doesn’t melt as smoothly. Remove the sauce from the heat before adding in the cheeses. Pasta: Cook the pasta (macaroni) just until al dente (firm), as it will cook more as it bakes. Baking: If the mac and cheese is overcooked, it won’t be creamy. Cook just until hot, and the topping is browned. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Topping: Adding bread crumbs to the topping is optional, this mac and cheese can be topped with just cheese if you prefer.

Make Ahead: Prepare this baked mac and cheese up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge, with the topping stored separately. Take it out of the fridge 45 minutes before baking. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and stir in up to ½ cup of warm milk or as needed to achieve a creamy texture. Add the topping, and bake uncovered for another 10 to 12 minutes or until browned.

Leftovers: Keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Add a splash of milk or cream and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop using low heat. Freeze for up to three months and thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Casserole, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

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