4.8 from 18 votes
Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
A classic recipe for baked macaroni and cheese
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 540 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta - I used cavatapi but macaroni noodles are great
- 6 cups shredded cheddar cheese 4 cups extra sharp white cheddar + 2 cups sharp yellow cheddar ***for a smooth sauce, grate this by hand instead of buying pregrated.
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1 tsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil pasta until al dente.
- While the pasta boils, grate the cheese. Mix the white cheddar and yellow cheddar together and then separate into 4 cups of cheese for the sauce and 2 cups of cheese for topping the casserole.
- Drain cooked pasta and pour into a greased 9x13 casserole dish.
- Heat a large pot over medium-low heat and place butter inside. Once butter is melted, mix in the flour, salt, mustard powder, black pepper and smoked paprika. Mix until a smooth paste remains.
- Slowly whisk in the milk mixing constantly until a smooth even sauce remains. Stir in the hot sauce.
- Reduce heat to low and pour 4 cups of shredded cheese into the pot. Continue mixing constantly until the cheese is completely and a smooth sauce remains.
- Pour cheese sauce over the noodles in the casserole dish and toss to coat the noodles evenly. Top with 2 cups shredded cheese. *** If you are freezing this dish or making ahead of time, stop cooking here. Cover and place in fridge or freezer.
- Bake at 375F covered with foil for 30 minutes, remove the foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- *** To bake from refrigerated, bake at 375F covered with foil for 45 minutes, remove the foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes. To bake from frozen, bake at 375F covered with foil for 1 hour and 15 minutes, remove the foil and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- hand grated cheese will make the sauce smoother and creamier
- extra sharp white cheddar cheese adds lots of flavor to this dish
- omit the hot sauce if you do not like spice
- use any kind of noodle, but I like cavatapi or macaroni noodles best
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
540kcal
(27%)
Carbohydrates
41g
(14%)
Protein
24g
(48%)
Fat
31g
(48%)
Saturated Fat
18g
(90%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
7g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
88mg
(29%)
Sodium
945mg
(39%)
Potassium
231mg
(7%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
967IU
(19%)
Vitamin C
0.4mg
(0%)
Calcium
549mg
(55%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 540
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 540kcal | 27% |
| Carbohydrates | 41g | 14% |
| Protein | 24g | 48% |
| Fat | 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 88mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 945mg | 39% |
| Potassium | 231mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 967IU | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 549mg | 55% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.