Description
The Best Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese — ultra creamy, rich, and loaded with cheese! 🧀✨ A golden, bubbly comfort dish everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Gruyère
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cream until the sauce is smooth and thickened.
- Reduce heat, then stir in cheeses, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until creamy.
- Combine pasta with cheese sauce and pour into prepared dish.
- Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the top.
- Bake 20–25 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
💡 Tip: Mix in crispy bacon, caramelized onions, or jalapeños for a flavorful twist. Perfect for holidays, potlucks, or cozy dinners!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Comfort Food, Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: homemade mac and cheese, baked macaroni, creamy mac and cheese, comfort food, cheese casserole