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This baked mac and cheese recipe is the perfect comfort food. It has creamy, cheesy pasta with a golden, crispy topping. The rich cheese sauce and well-cooked macaroni, baked just right, make this dish a family favorite. It’s easy to make and gives you a hearty meal that will satisfy any craving. Whether as a side dish or the main course, this baked mac and cheese is a must-try for cheese and pasta lovers.

Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy baked mac: Cook pasta, mix with cheese sauce (cheddar, milk, butter), bake till golden. Cheesy, comforting perfection.
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Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients  

For Macaroni

  • 8 oz Macaroni elbow pasta
  • 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter

Topping

  • 2/3 cup Bread Crumbs
  • 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 10 turns Crushed Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder

White Sauce

  • 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 1/3 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 3 cup Whole Milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated
  • 3/4 tsp Kosher Salt

Instructions 

  • Cooking the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package instructions. Drain, return the pasta to the pot and stir in the butter until melted.
    8 oz Macaroni, 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • Prepare the Bread Crumb Mixture: Prepare a clean bowl, add bread crumbs, melted butter and salt, mix well and set aside.
    2/3 cup Bread Crumbs, 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter, 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • Make the White Sauce: Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, stirring constantly, and cook for 1 minute. Add about 1 cup of milk and stir to dissolve paste in the milk. Then add remaining milk and stir until there are no lumps. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, stirring frequently, until sauce is thick and creamy, 5 – 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and set aside.
    1 tbsp Unsalted Butter, 1/3 cup All Purpose Flour, 3 cup Whole Milk, 1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese, 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese, grated, 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
  • Assemble the Mac and Cheese: Pour the sauce into the pan with the macaroni. Give it a quick stir and return to the baking dish. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
  • Preheat and Start Cooking: Press the "Start Cooking" button to start preheating. Once preheated, place the baking dish on the roasting pan and insert it into Level 2.
    Oven Settings
    Mode: Bake
    Temp: 175℃
    Time: 25min
    Preheat: ON
  • Remove the Mac and Cheese from Oven: With a pair of oven gloves, carefully remove the roasting pan.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 828kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 30gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 1155mgPotassium: 537mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1442IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 660mgIron: 2mg

(Nutrition information is calculated automatically by Spoonacular API and should be considered an estimate.)