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A close-up of baked Mac and Cheese Recipe with a crispy golden breadcrumb topping, gooey melted cheese, and garnished with parsley.

Mac and Cheese Recipe

This creamy, kid-approved Mac and Cheese recipe has been tested over years of weeknight dinners, potlucks, and birthday parties. Easy to make, endlessly adaptable, and packed with cheesy comfort, it's the only baked mac and cheese recipe you'll ever need. Bonus: Even picky eaters love it!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 510
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main:
  • 1 lb Elbow macaroni - Or shells/cavatappi
  • 2 cups Sharp white cheddar - Fresh grated
  • 2 cups Mild yellow cheddar - Fresh grated
  • 4 oz Cream cheese - Cut into chunks
  • ½ cup Fresh Parmesan - Finely grated
  • 2 cups Whole milk - Or 2% or evaporated milk
  • 1 cup Heavy cream - Or half and half
  • 4 tablespoon Butter - Unsalted
  • 3 tablespoon All-purpose flour - For roux
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon White pepper - Or black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
  • pinch Nutmeg - Optional but recommended
Topping:
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs - Or crushed crackers
  • ½ cup Sharp cheddar - Grated
  • 2 tablespoon Butter - Melted
  • 2 tablespoon Apple juice - Optional adds caramelized flavor

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot (For boiling pasta)
  • 1 Heavy saucepan (For cheese sauce)
  • 1 9x13 baking dish (For baking mac and cheese)
  • 1 Whisk (To make smooth roux)
  • 1 Wooden spoon (For stirring pasta and sauce)
  • 1 Box grater (For fresh grating all cheeses)
  • 1 Measuring spoons (For spices and mustard)
  • 1 Measuring cups (For milk, cream, and cheese)
  • 1 Mixing bowl (Optional: For topping mixture)

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    A pot of cooked elbow macaroni coated in creamy cheese sauce, stirred with a wooden spoon.
  2. Cook elbow macaroni until almost al dente—firm but not fully cooked.
    A saucepan on the stove with a whisk stirring melted cheese sauce, containing chunks of cheese and sprinkled with black pepper.
  3. Drain pasta and set aside.
    A baking dish of creamy macaroni and cheese with a golden breadcrumb topping, fresh from the oven.
  4. In a heavy saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
    A skillet filled with golden-brown baked macaroni and cheese, topped with melted cheese and sprinkled with chopped parsley.
  5. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute to form a roux.
    A close-up of baked Mac and Cheese Recipe with a crispy golden breadcrumb topping, gooey melted cheese, and garnished with parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 250gCalories: 510kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 19gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 480mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1050IUVitamin C: 0.5mgCalcium: 390mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!