This best baked mac and cheese recipe cooks perfectly every time with the perfect amount of creamy cheese. Great as a holiday side or weekday main dish. Kids and adults alike will devour it!
Why This Recipe Works
This is going to sound crazy, but my mom makes THE BEST mac and cheese on the planet. Every time I say that out loud it seems odd because isn’t all mac and cheese delicious?
Yes, this is true, but hers contains that mom magic and it is above and beyond the average batch. This is one of the recipes I ask her to make any time I see her.
Of course I’ve never been able to replicate hers (because MOM MAGIC!), but I have tried. Read on for a handful of my favorite attempts and also some of the most popular content on my blog.
Macaroni and cheese is a hit in nearly every family and for every holiday meal. You can’t beat it, with all of that dreamy cheese and pasta. It’s a warm, heaping bowl of comfort food.
50+ Make-Ahead Recipes For Your Holiday Table
Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about planning a holiday menu? Then you anticipate the exhaustion that comes after the meal has been eaten?
Within each recipe in this ebook are tips for making the recipe ahead of time to open up space for the people you’re excited to spend the holiday with. Sample menus included, along with mouth-watering photos and tried-and-tested recipes!
Recipe Ingredients
Macaroni – Have fun selecting your favorite pasta shape if you don’t wan tot .
Cheeses – No need to stick with the types of cheeses mentioned in the recipe card, but try to stick as close to the amounts as possible. Great cheese options include: sharp cheddar, white cheddar, Parmesan, American, Velveeta, colby jack, monterey jack, mozzarella, Gruyere and provolone.
How To Make The Best Baked Mac and Cheese
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add elbow pasta and cook 2 minutes shy of until al dente. Drain, rinse and add the cooked pasta to the prepared pan in a single layer.
Step 2
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until combined. Pour in 3 cups milk to add to the butter and flour then whisk until mixture is creamy and thickened, approximately 3 minutes.
Toss in 2 cups cheddar, 2 cups Gruyere or mozzarella, salt, pepper and paprika to the pan and stir until cheese has melted.
Step 3
Pour the cheese sauce over the top of the pasta in the pan. Mix it slightly with a spoon and top with reserved cheddar and Gruyere/mozzarella. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is very lightly golden brown around the edges. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
- Shredding cheese just before adding it to the recipe is always the tastiest option.
- This makes a large batch of mac and cheese! It will easily feed 8 hungry people as a main dish or 12 people as a side dish or party food. This is a great dish for pot lucks!
- Add cooked ham or bacon pieces to add flavor and when serving as a main dish!
- Add fresh, minced garlic (or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder) to the butter before adding the flour for an added punch of flavor.
What To Serve With Macaroni and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a comfort food favorite! But what goes with it?! This roundup provides 16 delicious ideas about sides to serve with macaroni and cheese to create a complete, satisfying meal!
Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!
Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious best mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.
More Delicious Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – Healthify this comfort food by adding cauliflower! Kids won’t suspect a thing and you’ll secretly be adding nutrition to a favorite comfort food.
- Make these baked mac and cheese bites for a fun and perfect finger food to serve to kids and adults.
- Add pumpkin to your next batch of cheesy pasta so it’s more delicious and more creamy. This pumpkin mac is 100% kid-friendly and done in 30 minutes!
- This chili mac recipe is the perfect marriage of two of the most comforting comfort foods of all time. Delicious way to use up leftover chili!
How Long Does Macaroni and Cheese Last
If you have leftovers and you are wondering whether to toss or eat, read this article for information about how long mac and cheese lasts.
How To Reheat Mac and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese leftovers are inevitable since most recipes make huge batches. Learn how to reheat macaroni and cheese, while retaining moisture and flavor!
Substitute For Milk in Mac and Cheese
Whether you are looking for a different flavor in your next creamy pasta dish or you just don’t have milk on hand, learn what to substitute for milk in macaroni and cheese!
Can I Make This Recipe In My Crock Pot
Yes! This recipe is one of the top recipes on this website FOR GOOD REASON. Head over to this Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe for details.
Can I Make This Recipe In My Instant Pot
Yes! This recipe is one of the top recipes on this website FOR GOOD REASON. I’ve made the Instant Pot version a handful of times and I could rave about it forever. Head over to my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe for the details!
FAQ About Mac and Cheese
You can definitely freeze mac and cheese! Place in a freezer resealable bag or air-tight container and store in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. When defrosting it, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours before heating and serving.
Mac and cheese can be made ahead of time. Make the recipe in its entirety the day before, then reheat until hot and serve.
There are approximately 395 calories in 3/4 cup of mac and cheese.
Easy Comfort Foods Warm You and Fill You Up
- The Best Meatloaf – You need to make this classic meal. It is my mother’s delicious recipe with an added touch of delicious sauce. This dinner recipe will quickly become a favorite family meal!
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole – Creamy vegetables and chicken baked into a buttery crispy crust that is comfort food perfection especially during the fall and winter months.
- Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole boasts flavor and creaminess over a bed of steaming egg noodles. This casserole is just like your mom’s recipe but so much more!
- Instant Pot White Turkey Chili – Packed with turkey meat, white beans and veggies, this comfort food is super flavorful and delicious.
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole combines all of the tastiest flavors you will ever eat in a single bite. Bacon, chicken, creamy alfredo sauce and pasta all make dinner a hit in less than 30 minutes!
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Best Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, reserve 1/2 cup for topping
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, or gruyere cheese, reserve 1/2 cup for topping
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes shy of until al dente. Drain, rinse and add the cooked pasta to the prepared pan in a single layer.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until combined. Add milk and whisk until mixture is creamy and thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Add 2 cups cheddar, 2 cups Gruyere or mozzarella, salt, pepper and paprika to the pan and stir until cheese has melted.
- Pour the cheese mixture over the top of the pasta in the pan. Mix it slightly with a spoon and top with reserved cheddar and Gruyere/mozzarella. Top with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is very lightly golden brown around the edges. Serve immediately!
Notes
- No need to stick with the types of cheeses mentioned in the recipe card, but try to stick as close to the amounts as possible. Great cheese options include: sharp cheddar, white cheddar, Parmesan, American, Velveeta, colby jack, monterey jack, mozzarella, Gruyere and provolone.
- Shredding cheese just before adding it to the recipe is always the tastiest option.
- This makes a large batch of mac and cheese! It will easily feed 8 hungry people as a main dish or 12 people as a side dish or party food. This is a great dish for pot lucks!
- Add cooked ham or bacon pieces to add flavor and when serving as a main dish!
- Add fresh, minced garlic (or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder) to the butter before adding the flour for an added punch of flavor.
This is very yummy. Per my wife’s request will add some blue cheese in for a little extra adult tang.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing that.