Simple Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe

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Easy Homemade Mac And Cheese

Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese: Easy Recipe (Fast Bake)

This Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is made with 8 ingredients in 15 minutes on the stovetop ! Time to ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this irresistibly creamy, smooth & cheesy homemade recipe!

I have six kids and a husband with a taste palate of a 12-year-old-boy, which means we eat a lot of mac and cheese in our house. A lot of mac and cheese.

So naturally I created this easy homemade mac and cheese recipe so that we could consume less of the boxed varieties. Because I really care about feeding my family healthy meals that they actually enjoy! And did I mention that they love mac and cheese?!

Once you taste this homemade mac and cheese you and your family will say “goodbye” to powdered cheese forever, and say “hello” to this creamy dreamy real-cheese version again and again!

This homemade mac and cheese recipe is made with only 8 ingredients in 15 minutes! That’s the same amount of time it takes to make the boxed varieties, but with no preservatives or artificial ingredients!

Former Spoiled Grandkid In Me

I found this recipe when trying to determine ingredient portions while duplicating my grandmothers recipe. I knew she only used Cabot Seriously Sharp and made a roux. This recipe with a couple tweaks below is exactly the Mac & cheese I grew up with in 70s/80s. I sort of thought of it as merely standard & made it for my company pot luck Christmas lunch. I was blown away with how folks went crazy for it. All kinds of special homemade dishes and everybody was talking about this!? About a dozen people told me they made it for their families after getting the recipe here. My grandmother only used hunter plaid, lined ziti and Ritz crackers instead of bread crumbs. Try this!

Tips For The Best Mac & Cheese

  • Freshly grated cheese dont use pre shredded. They have anti caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.

  • No bloated overcooked pasta Cool macaroni slightly and lightly coat in butter. This stops the macaroni from absorbing more liquid while baking, resulting in bloated overcooked pasta and less sauce.

  • To avoid lumps in your sauce, stir constantly as you slowly pour the milk in and keep stirring once the milk is all added. If necessary, switch to a whisk to get rid of stubborn little lumps!

  • Plenty of sauce Because I like my Mac and Cheese saucy, not dried up so you can cut it like cake!

  • Can you make Mac and Cheese ahead of time? Most recipes are not suitable for making ahead, but this recipe is! The best way is to cool pasta then toss with sauce and adding breadcrumb topping. Cool, refrigerate or freeze then bake on the day of .

  • How long can Mac and Cheese stay in the fridge? Unlike most, this Macaroni Cheese recipe is good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Most Mac and Cheese will not keep well because theres not enough sauce so it gets absorbed by the pasta and youre left with dry, sauceless pasta.

  • Freezing? Yes! Assemble, cool, do not bake, just freeze it. Thaw then on the day of, bake per Note 5 in the recipe.

  • Add ins? This recipe is great as it is, but theres tons of add-in options. Add shredded chicken, sautéed onion and bell peppers/capsicum, bacon, hot sauce , dried herbs of choice.

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Variations Of Mac And Cheese

  • Bacon if you love bacon, feel free to add some crispy, crumbled bacon to the topping, or even inside the mac and cheese as well!
  • Stovetop if youd prefer not to bake this mac and cheese, you dont have to! Make sure you boil your pasta until al dente , and youll only need about 3 3 1/2 cups of cheese total. No need to layer the pasta and cheese, just add all the cheese to the sauce, then combine with the pasta.
  • Different Toppings Im a huge fan of the cheese layer on top, since it gets nice and crispy, but we also love tossing 1 cup of panko with 2 Tbsp of melted butter and using that as a topping. 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers with 2 Tbsp of butter work amazingly well too!
  • Different Baking Times the recipe calls for a lower baking temperature and time, but most of the time I find myself adjusting that based on my familys tastes. I like to bake this mac and cheese at 350 F degrees for 30 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes to get that glorious cheesy crust.

The Best Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese

Easy Baked Mac and Cheese

The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top. Love cheesy recipes? Make sure to try this Lazy Day Lasagna and Cheesy Kielbasa Rice and Broccoli Skillet next week for dinner!

This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media.

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The Best Easy Macaroni And Cheese

This easy version of macaroni and cheese is made with lots of extra sharp Vermont cheddar, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a crispy topping made from Japanese panko breadcrumbs.

Note: Panko is a crunchy, flaky bread crumb from Japan, available in Asian markets and most grocery stores. If you cant find panko, make your own bread crumbs using day-old French or Italian bread. Place bread in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse three or four times or until bread turns to fine crumbs. Spread on a baking sheet. Bake at 300° 6 to 8 minutes, or until crumbs are dry and crisp. Do not brown.

Total Time: 25Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 7 tablespoons salted butter, divided
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 8-ounce package ziti, macaroni, or your favorite pasta
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch crushed red-pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces extra-sharp Vermont cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Delicious Baked Mac And Cheese Variations To Try

You can try a different mix of cheeses to create a new version of this classic recipe. Mozzarella, Colby, gouda, goat’s cheese, and parmesan are all wonderful in this recipe. Don’t use drier cheeses like feta because they won’t melt as well.

Add chopped bacon, cooked sausage, or pancetta for an even tastier homemade mac and cheese.

Or toss in some fresh veggies like peas, broccoli florets, or leeks.

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Tips For The Best Macaroni And Cheese Youll Ever Eat

Feel like you may still need some help? If you have time, jump over to this post for the juicy details: 18 Secrets to the Richest, Creamiest Mac and Cheese Youll Ever Eat or focus on these tips:

Never stop stirring your milk once it hits the pan. If your skillet is too hot or you walk away and for a minute you could scorch the white sauce and it will curdle. It doesnt really hurt the taste, but it will look sort of clumpy. Some readers have called it grainy. It only takes 5 minutes. Just hang out and stir until that sauce is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon.

Use good cheese in your baked macaroni and cheese. That means avoiding bagged, pre-shredded cheeses because they contain cellulose that can in some cases cause your cheese not to melt as it should. -And speaking of cheese, you have so many options! My favorite is sharp cheddar and Swiss.

-Try to choose a melting cheese and a flavor cheesefor the best flavor and texture in your baked macaroni and cheese.

Do taste as you go. Taste your cheese sauce before you add your pasta. Is it bland? That can be because of the cheese you used or even the kind of salt you seasoned with. If it doesnt have enough flavor, add a pinch more salt, stir it in and taste it again until it suits you.

-Feel free to add more pasta if you want to. Some people say that this recipe doesnt have enough noodles in it, but Ive never had that problem. And yes, you should cook your pasta before adding it to the cheese sauce.

Easiest Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Baked Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Rachel GurkPosted:

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Easiest ever baked macaroni and cheese this is a go-to recipe of many of my readers and it will become the same for your family!

No, really.

This is the easiest ever macaroni and cheese! And so delicious!

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How To Make Oven

Cook the pasta until tender and then drain it.

Mix all of the dry ingredients together and then set them aside.

Spray an oven-safe bowl or dish with cooking spray. Place half of the cooked macaroni inside.

Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the top.

Then top it with half of the butter slices.

Sprinkle 1+1/2 cups of shredded cheese over the top.

Repeat the layering process again.

Pour milk over the entire macaroni and cheese casserole.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Everything Ive ever wanted in oven-baked mac and cheese is pictured right there!

A lot of people view this as a side dish but I confess, its been the entire meal on more than one occasion.

At this point, my son came in and said Ma, when is the macaroni and cheese gonna be done?.

I showed him this and his eyes got big as dollars as my grandmother would say!

Oh to be a kid again :).

What Type Of Cheese

This classic mac and cheese recipe is made with cheddar cheese. I particularly love medium or sharp cheddar cheese but any type will do. If you want a more luxurious mac and cheese or youre really trying to impress a crowd, you could use a combination of different cheeses. Just be sure to select a type of cheese that is good for melting, like white cheddar, smoked gouda, gruyere, brie, goat cheese, mozzarella, or fontina.

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Gather & Measure The Ingredients

This easy mac and cheese recipe is super fast-paced once you start cooking, so it’s important to have all the ingredients measured and ready to go! As you can see there are only eight, common ingredients in this recipe that most of us have on hand at all times! We will discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions later in this post .

How To Make Mac And Cheese

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

If youve never made homemade mac and cheese before, it can seem a bit daunting. But dont worry, well break it down and take it step by step!

  • Boil the pasta, drain.
  • Make the cheese sauce by combining a fat , and starch , then whisking in the milk products.
  • Cook the sauce until its nice and thick.
  • Add in shredded cheeses, stir well.
  • Combine cheese sauce with cooked pasta.
  • Transfer half of the mac and cheese to a baking dish, sprinkle with more shredded cheese.
  • Top with the rest of the mac and cheese, top with more shredded cheese.
  • Bake and prepare to thoroughly enjoy!

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How To Make Baked Macaroni And Cheese

As we decided to keep this recipes ingredients fairly basic, you may already have these ingredients. You will need the following:

We like to prepare our ingredients beforehand. As such I would recommend that you get the cheeses prepared before cooking. This way youre not in a panic trying to get that done before the pasta is ready.

Grate both the cheddar and sharp cheddar cheeses and combine together in a bowl.

Divide the cheeses into three groups.

  • One group will make up the sauce 3 cups
  • Another group will be added in between layers of the macaroni and cheese 1 1/2 cups
  • And the last group will top the dish 1 1/2 cups.

Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot.

Add the pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 1 minute less than the package directs to cook pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease a 3-quart baking dish and set it aside.

Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly add the flour in and whisk to combine. Continue to whisk and cook for about a minute.

Combine the milk and half and half into a large measuring cup.

Slowly pour in 2 cups of the half and half / milk mixture, whisking constantly. Whisk until smooth.

Slowly pour in the remaining half and half and the whole milk, whisking constantly, until smooth.

Whisking very often, continue to cook until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add salt and pepper.

Easy Baked Macaroni And Cheese

The key to this baked macaroni and cheese is the rich and velvety cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar and smooth cream cheese. Topped with breadcrumbs and baked for a wonderfully crisp and textured finish, this is comfort food at its best.

If youve been in a dinner rut lately, you likely need a boost of motivation with a simple strategy. Heres what I do and youre welcome to borrow it: prepare a new-to-you dinner recipe just once a week. When Im bored in the kitchen, I use this easy and manageable one-night-a-week commitment to keep dinnertime creative, interesting, and satisfying.

The latest and greatest dinner recipe in my kitchen is baked macaroni and cheese. Its certainly nothing new and unique, but it makes a terrific meat-free meal alongside something healthier like fresh salad or steamed green beans.

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Cheesy Baked Macaroni Recipe

Cheesy Baked Macaroni is a good dish to prepare this holiday season. It is delicious, cheesy, and a sure crowd pleaser. This can be prepared during Christmas dinner, or you can bring this along for your potluck parties.

My entire family loves pasta the richer and cheesier, the better. Cheesy Baked Macaroni is one of our favorite pasta dishes. We love it with a toasted sliced of loaf bread with butter, or even garlic bread.

This has similarities with the previous baked macaroni recipe that I posted. The main difference is the type of cheese used and the amount of bell peppers, which I think helps gives this dish a unique overall taste. Both are great recipes that I am really proud of.

I hope that you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. Cheers!

Try this Cheesy Baked Macaroni Recipe. Enjoy!

Macaroni And Cheese Variations

Baked Macaroni & Cheese || Easy Original Recipe

This recipe is easy to adapt to other variations. Here are some of our favorites:

Baked Mac and Cheese: Once the pasta and cheese sauce are combined, add it to a baking dish and bake with a little more cheese and breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. We shared this Baked Macaroni and Cheese a while back.

Garlic Mac and Cheese: Fresh garlic and roasted garlic are excellent in this recipe. Add either to the butter just before adding the flour. For fresh, Id use 2 to 3 cloves. For roasted garlic, you can increase to 6 cloves or more. See our recipe for making roasted garlic.

Use a Variety of Cheeses: Cheddar isnt the only cheese to use. Try easy melting Gruyere, Fontina or Monterey Jack. For more flavor, a bit of parmesan or pecorino cheese is lovely, and for a more adult dish, try blue cheese!

Spiced Macaroni and Cheese: Mustard , nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper are classic additions to the cheese sauce. Smoked paprika is also delicious.

Broccoli Mac and Cheese: A kid favorite! Stir roasted broccoli or steamed broccoli into the pot before serving. Heres how we make roasted broccoli.

Lighter Mac and Cheese: Swapping half of the cheese sauce for pureed cauliflower cuts calories and still tastes incredible.

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How To Make The Creamiest Macaroni And Cheese

Youre only looking at six ingredients . Itcan even be made in under 30 minutes .

I love that you can keep this as a quick stovetop mac and cheese or slide it into the oven to get bubbly and browned. I love it both ways.

Were going to call this our basic mac and cheese not because it isnt incredibly delicious, but because its the perfect base for other variations. Take a look below for some suggestions.

To make our go-to macaroni and cheese, you will need the following:

Pasta: The shape and size are entirely up to you. Look for pasta that will hold onto the creamy sauce. Elbow macaroni and shells are great options.

Butter and Flour: Its the combination of butter and flour that thicken the sauce. We like to use unsalted butter for this and then adjust salt to taste when making the sauce. That said, salted butter will work if that is all that you have.

Cheddar cheese: Whenever we make macaroni and cheese, we reach for sharp white cheddar cheese. Its flavorful and melts beautifully. For more cheese suggestions see our notes below. Whatever cheese you use, its best to grate it yourself. I know its extra prep time, but hand-grated cheese melts so much easier into the sauce.

Cream cheese: The mac and cheese would be excellent with just cheddar cheese added, but to make it ultra creamy, well stir in some cream cheese. It adds a lovely silky texture, and since it has a little zinginess, it brightens up the flavor a bit.

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