Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 630 votes

Baked Mac and Cheese

Life is too short for sad sides, which is why you definitely need to bookmark this recipe for Baked Macaroni and Cheese! With a sublimely creamy sauce and a delightfully crisp bread crumb topping, this make-ahead mac and cheese is a shoo-in for every meal from Easter and the 4th of July to Thanksgiving and Christmas (and everything in between!).

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 10 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 803 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni (454g)
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (141g)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
  • 3 cups whole milk (720mL)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (240mL)
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (283g)
  • 10 ounces gruyere cheese shredded (283g)
  • ½ cup Panko bread crumbs (60g)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook according to package instructions but about 1 minute less than the full cook time so it’s al dente. Drain well. Place in a large mixing bowl. You can drizzle the pasta with a bit of olive oil to keep it from sticking if desired.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, melt ½ cup of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk while it cooks until nutty in smell, about 2 to 3 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk and cream in while whisking and cook until it bubbles and thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  3. Reserve 1/2 cup of each cheese for the topping. Stir in the remaining cheese, salt, and pepper. Pour the sauce over the pasta and stir until the pasta is well coated.
  4. Grease a 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray and pour the pasta and sauce into the prepared dish.
  5. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs. Cook while stirring until the breadcrumbs are light golden brown. Season with salt and pepper to taste if desired.
  6. Sprinkle the top of the pasta with the reserved cheddar and gruyere cheese and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Shred Your Own Cheese – While pre-shredded cheese seems like a great time-saver, resist the temptation! To keep those individual shreds from glomming together into a cheesy mass in the bag, manufacturers dust them with a starchy coating that prevents them from melting properly.
  • Salt Your Pasta Water! (And save some, too.) You only get one shot to season the actual noodles, so don’t miss your chance. Oh, and do yourself a favor and don’t toss all that starchy goodness down the drain! I like to keep a tupperware of pasta water on hand to help revive my sauces whenever I reheat leftovers. It’s also great for helping to add some seasoned thickening power to stews and soups, or for making bread.
  • Slightly Undercook The Pasta. I suggest you read the package instructions for your noodles and spot the minimum cook time. Drain your pasta about 1 minute before the allotted time; this will ensure the noodles stay perfectly al dente after baking.
  • Feel Free To Spice It Up. Try adding a few shakes of garlic powder to the cheese sauce for some mild allium sweetness, or a few rasps of nutmeg to dress it up for sweater season.

Nutrition Information

Calories 803kcal (40%) Carbohydrates 57g (19%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 50g (77%) Saturated Fat 30g (150%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 13g Trans Fat 0.5g Cholesterol 150mg (50%) Sodium 778mg (32%) Potassium 370mg (11%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 1632IU (33%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 765mg (77%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 803

% Daily Value*

Calories 803kcal 40%
Carbohydrates 57g 19%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 50g 77%
Saturated Fat 30g 150%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 13g 65%
Trans Fat 0.5g 25%
Cholesterol 150mg 50%
Sodium 778mg 32%
Potassium 370mg 8%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 1632IU 33%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 765mg 77%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.