This baked macaroni and cheese is the ultimate cheesy recipe complete with a crunchy panko topping. Perfect for cookouts, holidays, or any occasion, this side dish is sure to be a hit!
This baked macaroni and cheese recipe is pure comfort food.
While I love a good serving of greek yogurt mac and cheese, this is by no means a lightened up pasta dish.
This macaroni recipe features two kinds of cheese, a homemade thick cheese sauce, and a crunchy topping that makes every bite delicious!
If you need a big casserole to bring to Thanksgiving or a cookout, this baked macaroni is the perfect one to bring.
Ingredients to make baked mac and cheese
- elbow macaroni
- butter
- all purpose flour
- whole milk
- white sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- yellow sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- salt
- panko style bread crumbs
How to make baked macaroni and cheese
Step 1: Cook pasta to 1 minute lower than al dente, then drain immediately. You do not want to over cook the pasta since it will also be baking in the oven.
Step 2: Get started on the cheese sauce while the macaroni noodles are cooking.
Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk 1-2 minutes constantly, until browned. Pour the milk in gradually, whisking until smooth.
Whisk the milk and roux until the sauce thickens, around 7-8 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the salt and 3 cups of the cheese until smooth.
Mix the pasta into the cheese sauce until the noodles are all coated in yummy cheese sauce.
Step 4: Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish and spread out half of the mac and cheese into the bottom of the dish.
Step 5: Top with 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
Add the last half of the pasta over the cheese, then top with the remaining cheese.
Cover the casserole with the panko bread crumb mixture.
Step 6: Bake the macaroni and cheese at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
What is the best cheese to use for macaroni and cheese?
You want good quality cheese when you are making macaroni and cheese from scratch.
Do not skip grating it fresh for the best flavor. We like using a white sharp cheddar and a yellow sharp cheddar for this recipe.
More Side Dishes
- Easy Roasted Mushrooms
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Roasted Broccoli and Mushrooms
- Brussel Sprout Chips
- Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli
- Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
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Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This baked mac and cheese recipe is a classic favorite comfort food!
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 8 oz white sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 8 oz sharp cheddar, freshly grated
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
For the Topping
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni for 1 minute less than al dente, then drain immediately
- While the pasta is cooking, start on the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk 1-2 minutes constantly, until browned
- Pour the milk in gradually, whisking until smooth
- Continue whisking until the sauce thickens (7-8 minutes)
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the salt and 3 cups of the cheese until smooth
- Mix the macaroni noodles into the cheese sauce
- Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish
- Pour half of the mac and cheese in and spread it out
- Top with 1 cup of the shredded cheese
- Add the last half of the pasta
- Top with the remaining shredded cheese
- Top with panko mixture
- Bake the macaroni and cheese at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 309Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 491mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 12g
J
Wednesday 6th of June 2018
So good! Reminded me of the mac and cheese my grandma used to make!