Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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This baked mac and cheese is the ultimate homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. Perfectly creamy and cheesy, this mac and cheese casserole is sure to become a family favorite.

Rather not turn on the oven? This stovetop mac and cheese recipe is for you!

Best Baked Mac and Cheese

Whether you are looking for a comforting dinner recipe, holiday side dish, or potluck recipe, you will love this easy mac and cheese recipe!

While this is a from-scratch recipe, it really is easy to make and has minimal ingredients.

If you have never made homemade macaroni and cheese, this is something you should try. Ultra creamy, cheesy, and the pasta is perfectly cooked.

Want to turn your mac & cheese into a full dinner? Try our buffalo chicken mac and cheese!

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Cook your pasta as directed on the box until the pasta is al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and return to the pot.

In another pot, you will want to add in your butter and melt. Then whisk in the flour and form a roux. Once it is creamy and well mixed add in your seasonings, milk, and cream. Whisk until it is all smooth.

Continue to cook for 4 minutes. When you reach that mark pour in the cheese and then once well melted and mixed, pour into your pasta.

Pour your macaroni and cheese into the greased casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and bake as directed in the recipe below.

What is the Best Cheese For Mac and Cheese?

For me I find that mixing your cheeses together offers layers of flavor. Personally, I reached for sharp cheddar and gruyere. But you are welcome to use whatever you would like.

The biggest thing I recommend is making sure you grate your cheese off the block. Bagged cheese has an extra coating that can make baked macaroni and cheese gooey and stringy.

What Goes With Mac and Cheese?

Baked mac and cheese is a classic holiday side dish, along with jiffy corn casserole and green bean casserole.

Truly you can pair serve your mac alongside any main course; air fryer hamburgers, pork chops, smothered chicken, and garlic chickenare some of my favorites.

How Long To Bake Mac and Cheese

You will want to bake your mac and cheese for around 20-25 minutes. The biggest thing you are looking for is to create that golden-brown crust on top. The cheese will become golden and it is so delicious to dig into! Plus, as you bake your mac and cheese it610 becomes a bit thicker in texture.

How to reheat mac and cheese

You can reheat in the microwave for a quick reheat or opt for the oven. If you go to reheat in the oven, make sure that you cover the dish with aluminum foil. Or it will dry out too much as it bakes up.

Just heat until your mac is warmed all the way through.

More Easy Side Dish Recipes

Creamed Spinach | Fresh spinach leaves are the front and center of this side dish recipe. Tons of flavor, perfect texture, and an affordable and easy side.
Creamed Corn | A classic side dish with sweet corn kernels in a cream sauce.
No Mayo Coleslaw | Get creamy coleslaw without adding in mayo! Crispy homemade coleslaw in a creamy and delicious homemade sauce.

Recipe

Baked Mac and Cheese

Author: Jaclyn

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 40 minutes mins

Total: 55 minutes mins

The ultimate baked mac and cheese recipe-perfectly creamy and a real family favorite!

Ingredients

▢ 4 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
▢ 6 Tablespoons butter
▢ 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
▢ 1 1/2 cups whole milk
▢ 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
▢ 4 cups cheese shredded and divided (see note below)
▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
▢ salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish; set aside.
In a large pot, prepare the macaroni al dente according to the directions on the box. Drain well and return to pot.
Meanwhile, grab another large pot and melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in flour to form a roux. Add paprika, salt, and pepper, to taste. Add milk and cream, whisking until smooth and well combined. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until thick and creamy, about 4 minutes.
Whisk in 3 cups cheese; continue whisking constantly until cheese has melted.
Pour cheese sauce over the drained macaroni. Stir until the macaroni has been evenly coated.
Transfer macaroni and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is completely melted and golden brown.

Notes

I use a blend of cheddar and gruyere, but you can use your favorite cheese. I do recommend you grate your cheese off the block.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 502kcal

Did You Make This Recipe?

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FAQs

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

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How do you make baked mac and cheese creamy again? ›

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

Get More Info Here ›

Why isn t my baked mac and cheese creamy? ›

How do You Keep Macaroni and Cheese Creamy? Don't skimp on the milk or butter as those ingredients help keep the cooked macaroni ultra-rich and creamy. Use full-fat milk for creamiest results. Also, avoid overbaking, as that will dry out your mac and cheese.

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Why is my baked mac and cheese always dry? ›

Even if you get the roux right, use too much or reduce your sauce down too far, and the macaroni and cheese will turn out dry. Remember, the sauce will tighten up in the oven, so you really only need to thicken it slightly on the stovetop.

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What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

The remaining ingredients are simple: butter and flour (which makes the sauce thicken), milk, spices, salt, and pepper. For the milk, I prefer whole milk since it makes a creamier sauce, but I've used reduced fat milk plenty of times without complaint.

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Why add flour to baked mac and cheese? ›

Both the flour and the cheese help thicken the sauce.

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How can I keep my mac and cheese creamy? ›

Add more milk if you haven't already. More milk leads to less dry mac and cheese. If that doesn't work and you've already tried, use a different type of cheese. Velveeta works well.

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What not to do when making mac and cheese? ›

The 5 Biggest Mac & Cheese Mistakes

Using Only Cheddar cheese.
Not Adding Spice and Seasoning with Salt.
Choosing the Wrong Pasta. There's a reason why elbow macaroni is the classic shape for macaroni and cheese. ...
Overcooking. No one wants grainy cheese sauce and mushy pasta. ...
Skimping on the Toppings.

May 21, 2020

Can you overcook baked mac and cheese? ›

Baking for too long

Baking mac and cheese adds extra cooking time, leading to overcooked pasta and a dried-out sauce.

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Is baked mac and cheese supposed to be watery? ›

Here's why macaroni and cheese can become runny when baked: Additional Liquid: When you bake macaroni and cheese, you often add additional ingredients like milk, cream, or cheese sauce to keep it creamy and moist during baking. This extra liquid can make the mixture more liquidy.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not smooth? ›

Details... By paying attention to the quality of ingredients, heat control, and technique, you can often achieve a smoother and creamier mac and cheese. Make sure you are using a good melting cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Gruyère. Cheeses that are aged or overly processed can result in a grainy texture.