Best Mac and Cheese Recipe | Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese (Macaroni and Cheese) is a classic and rich, creamy, and cheesy deliciousness topped with crunchy topping that will satisfy all your taste buds and cheese cravings. It is a perfect comforting dinner recipe or crowd-pleaser side dish for holiday dinner.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6
Calories: 741kcal
Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- 2 cups Elbow Macaroni (uncooked, approx 8 oz)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 3 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup All purpose flour
- 1 ½ cup Whole milk (cold)
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded (8 oz)
- ¾ cup Swiss cheese shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- Salt and Pepper , to taste
Mac and Cheese Toppings
- 2 tablespoon Butter melted
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- ¾ cup Panko crumbs
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Set aside 9-inch x 9-inch baking pan.
Combine cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, parmesan cheese and keep it aside.
2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, ¾ cup Swiss cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Cook the pasta 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions, drain and drizzle the pasta with olive oil, and stir to coat the pasta.
2 cups Elbow Macaroni, 1 tablespoon Olive oil
Making of simple creamy, cheesy mac and cheese sauce
Melt butter in a saucepan. Add all-purpose flour and whisk on medium heat for one minute until bubbly and light brown.
3 tablespoon Butter, ¼ cup All purpose flour
Add milk, cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, whisk and continue cooking on medium heat for another 2 to 4 minutes.
1 ½ cup Whole milk, 1 cup Heavy cream, ½ teaspoon Garlic powder, ½ teaspoon Onion powder, Salt and Pepper
Add half of the shredded cheese and whisk until smooth.
Add the cooked pasta and stir until the pasta is coated nicely in the cheese sauce.
Bake macaroni and cheese
Pour half of the mac and cheese onto the baking dish.
Top remaining shredded cheese followed by remaining mac and cheese.
In a small bowl, combine all the topping ingredients )butter, parmesan cheese, bread crumbs). Sprinkle all over the mac and cheese.
2 tablespoon Butter, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ¾ cup Panko crumbs
Bake this for about 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
- Block cheese works best for mac and cheese. For satisfying and rich flavors, always use a combination of different cheeses.
- Cook the pasta for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions (this is to make sure that you don't get soggy mac and cheese),
- Add seasonings of your choice. Try adding a pinch of nutmeg, which will enhance the flavor of your final dish.
- Use any tubular-shaped pasta.
- Add crispy bacon, sauteed onions, garlic, jalapeno, mushrooms or drizzle truffle oil for a unique taste.
- After adding cheese, whisk slowly until smooth to prevent from clumping.
- If you do not want to bake, you can still make the macaroni and cheese on your stovetop.
- Leftovers will not be creamy and cheesy like the ones when they are freshly baked. So add a splash of milk or cream before heating if desired.
Calories: 741kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 584mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1535IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 589mg | Iron: 1mg