Description
This classic homemade baked mac and cheese recipe delivers a creamy, cheesy, and comforting pasta dish perfect for family dinners or special occasions. Featuring a rich cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan, topped with a golden, crunchy panko breadcrumb crust, this dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Mac and Cheese:
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- Pinch of paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking your mac and cheese later.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, whisking constantly, to create a roux without letting it brown.
- Add Dairy: Gradually whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream until the mixture is smooth. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens, about 5 to 6 minutes.
- Season Sauce: Stir in the salt, garlic powder, ground mustard, and black pepper, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Melt Cheeses: Remove the sauce from the heat and mix in the sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- Combine Pasta and Cheese Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring well to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking. Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the dish and spread it out evenly.
- Make Topping: In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of paprika if using. Mix well to coat the breadcrumbs.
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the mac and cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the cheese sauce is bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the baked mac and cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add cooked bacon, sautéed onions, or roasted garlic into the cheese sauce before baking.
- This dish can be prepared a day in advance; if chilled, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until heated through.
- Use block cheese and shred it yourself for the creamiest texture and best melting quality.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
