Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this recipe for the BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese. Creamy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni:
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping:
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook macaroni: Cook macaroni until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk and cream. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Simmer until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in cheeses until melted.
- Combine macaroni and cheese sauce: Mix cooked macaroni with cheese sauce until evenly coated. Transfer to a baking dish.
- Add topping and bake: Combine panko breadcrumbs with olive oil or butter, sprinkle over the mac and cheese. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for optimal melt and texture.
- Enhance with cayenne, bacon, or sautéed onions for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
