Description
Rich, creamy, and ultra-cheesy — this is the BEST homemade baked mac and cheese you’ll ever make! Perfect for family dinners or holiday feasts. 🧀✨
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 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
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Optional: crispy bacon, caramelized onions, or extra cheese for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in flour 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 creamy.
- Combine pasta with cheese sauce and pour into prepared baking dish.
- Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle evenly on top.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden, bubbly, and irresistible. Serve hot!
Notes
💡 Tip: Use a blend of cheeses for maximum flavor and creaminess. This baked mac and cheese is perfect for family dinners, holidays, and special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Comfort Food, Family Recipes
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: best baked mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta