Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
This homemade baked mac and cheese is a creamy, cheesy comfort food classic that’s easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners. Featuring a rich cheese sauce made with cheddar and mozzarella, it’s baked to golden perfection with a crispy buttery breadcrumb topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set it aside.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a large pot, melt ¼ cup of unsalted butter over medium heat. Stir in the ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and cook for about 1 minute to create a roux. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, stirring constantly until the mixture becomes smooth and thickens. Add 3 cups of shredded cheddar and all of the shredded mozzarella cheese, stirring until everything melts into a creamy sauce. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste.
- Combine and Bake: Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir well to coat evenly. Transfer the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. In a small bowl, mix 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese. Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
Notes
- For creamier mac and cheese, use whole milk and full-fat cheese.
- You can substitute panko breadcrumbs with crushed crackers or regular breadcrumbs.
- Make sure not to overcook the pasta initially since it will cook further in the oven.
- Feel free to add cooked bacon, jalapeños, or a dash of hot sauce for extra flavor.
Keywords: baked mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta, cheddar mac and cheese, baked pasta casserole
