Description
Creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection — this Homemade Baked Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food for any occasion! 🧀✨
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for 1–2 minutes to make a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cream until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until melted and creamy.
- Mix pasta with cheese sauce and pour into the baking dish.
- Combine melted butter with panko breadcrumbs and sprinkle on top.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Serve hot!
Notes
💡 Tip: Add crispy bacon, caramelized onions, or extra cheese on top for an indulgent twist. Perfect for family dinners and holidays!
- 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: 530mg
- 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, cheesy pasta, comfort food, creamy mac and cheese