Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this recipe for the best homemade baked mac and cheese. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection, it’s a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Cheese Sauce:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 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 the Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Macaroni: Cook the macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk and cream. Season with spices and melt in cheeses until smooth.
- Combine and Bake: Mix cooked macaroni with cheese sauce, transfer to a baking dish. Toss breadcrumbs with oil, sprinkle on top. Bake until golden and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the mac and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crunch, broil the top for 2–3 minutes after baking.
- Enhance with cooked bacon, sautéed spinach, or diced jalapeños for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
