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.
Servings: 6
Calories: 741kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
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
Instructions
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!
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
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