How Do I Make Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Don't Miss

Ingredients For Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni And Cheese With Bread Crumbs

HOW TO MAKE CHEESY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE!
  • Elbow macaroni
  • Salt, dry mustard, garlic powder and cayenne
  • Panko bread crumbs

Step 1: Cook Elbow Macaroni

Boil the pasta until al dente , drain, and return to the pot.

Step 2: Add Butter and Cheese

Stir in the grated cheeses and the butter to coat the noodles.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, dry mustard, garlic powder and cayenne.

Step 4: Stir Together Ingredients

Add the egg mixture to the pasta and stir to combine. Transfer to a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Step 5: Add Bread Crumb Topping

Sprinkle buttered breadcrumbs over top.

Step 6: Bake

Bake the mac and cheese, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven until it’s golden brown and set. This will take about 35-40 minutes.

Tips For Gourmet Mac And Cheese:

  • Avoid pre-shredded cheese: Its really best to shred your own cheddar cheese, rather than using store bought pre-shredded cheese. Fresh shredded cheddar and parmesan cheese melt easier and tastes better.
  • Use High quality ingredients: the better the ingredients, the better the end result! In particular, high quality bacon and cheese! Great ingredients make all the difference in the end result truly being gourmet.

Stovetop Mac And Cheese Option

I love the golden brown edges and top that baking the macaroni and cheese creates, but you dont need to bake it if you dont want to. For a stovetop mac and cheese, simply add the pasta to the cheese sauce and then let it sit, covered for a few minutes. This time gives the pasta a chance to absorb some of the sauce. You can also take a look at this easy macaroni and cheese recipe made on the stovetop.

Recommended Reading: Babybel Refrigeration

How To Make Mac And Cheese:

Homemade macaroni and cheese is seriously simple to make! With the help of pre-shredded cheese, it truly is a straightforward process that ends with a gloriously creamy pan of mac and cheese that you will love! Heres how its done:

  • Preheat your oven and place the rack in the centerthis rack placement ensures an even, golden brown crust on top of your creamy mac and cheese!
  • Cook your pasta just one minute shy of al dente. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, so this keeps it from becoming mushy.
  • Make a two-ingredient roux! Butter and flour is all youll need for this step to make a simple rouxaka, the base of your homemade cheesy cream sauce.
  • Slowly, slowly add some whole milk to your roux, whisking as you go. The more slowly you add the milk the thicker the sauce will be.
  • Add Tillamook Triple Cheddar Shredded Cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder and stir to complete that luscious, silky sauce!
  • Add the macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
  • Top with buttery panko and extra cheese and pop that baby in the oven!

And there you have it, easy mac and cheese! I personally enjoy my serving slathered in sriracha, but it also pairs well with green peas, a big salad or with a few green apple slices on the side! Sometimes I go crazy and sprinkle the finished mac and cheese with a little parmesan as well.

Herbed Macaroni And Cheese

How to Make the Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese
  • 1Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 2-quart casserole dish with 1 tablespoon of butter. Set the dish aside.
  • 2Cook the macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until done, about 5 to 7 minutes. Fill a large pot with about 4 quarts of water and add 2 teaspoons of salt. Bring the water to a boil, then add the macaroni. Cook the macaroni for 5 to 7 minutes, or until just about done.
  • 3Drain the water and toss the macaroni with 2 tablespoons butter. Place a large strainer or colander into the sink, and dump the macaroni into it. Shake the strainer a little to get rid of excess water, then add 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir the macaroni to spread the butter evenly, then set it aside.
  • 4Cook the milk with the herbs over medium-low heat until it starts to steam, about 10 minutes. Pour the milk into a saucepan and add the garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and mustard. Cut a medium-sized onion in half, stick a clove into it, and add it into the milk as well. Cook the milk until it starts to steam, stirring occasionally.
  • Save the other half of the onion for another recipe.
  • 5Remove the milk from heat once it starts to steam and set it aside. This will allow the flavors to continue to mix and fuse while you prepare the roux..
  • 6Prepare the roux. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour into a pot. Cook it over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often. Don’t let it change color or turn golden-brown.
  • 15
  • You May Like: Does Laughing Cow Cheese Have To Be Refrigerated

    Does Macaroni And Cheese Go Bad In The Box

    Unlike fresh food or fresh pasta, which can deteriorate after a while, dry pasta has a longer shelf life. However, cooked macaroni and cheese can go bad and when they do, youll know it. Rotten and cooked pasta and cheese smell bad.

    How to make good mac and cheese from the boxWhat is the best homemade Mac and cheese recipe? Assembly Prepare the macaroni and cheese. Drizzle on a baking sheet. Add the poblano to the pasta. Put the dried noodles in a saucepan. Add cheese sauce and pasta. Toast the slices of Tuscan bread in the oven until lightly toasted. Top with pasta and cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until bubbles form. Arrival in 15 minutes. This equates to 13

    You May Like: Homemade Philly Cheesesteak Pizza

    How To Make A Southern Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

    There’s a secret ingredient in this recipe that adds so much rich, creamy flavor to the dish: sour cream! I learned the tip from the Queen of Southern Mac and Cheese herself, Paula Deen, and I’ve never looked back. This recipe is slightly tweaked from Paula Deen’s macaroni and cheese recipe that she serves at The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, because there’s no sense in messing with a good thing. It’s the best of the best, and I hope that you love it as much as we do!

    Read Also: Philly Cheese Steak Pizza Dominos Sauce

    How To Avoid Grainy Cheese Sauce:

    • The type of cheddar makes a difference. High quality aged cheddar cheese will give you a stronger taste and smoother texture. More mild and inexpensive cheddar cheeses will have less flavor and almost a grittier taste.
    • Use fresh grated cheese. Pre-shredded store-bought cheese will not melt the same as freshly grated cheese, and grating the cheese helps it melt smoothly and evenly in the sauce.
    • Bring the cheese to room temperature. I like to grate the cheese very first, before moving forward with the recipe. That allows it to sit at room temperature while I prepare the white sauce.
    • Use low heat. In order for the cheese to melt properly and smoothly we want it to have gradual changes in temperature . When its time to add the cheese to the white sauce, remove the sauce from heat and let it cool for a few minutes. It only needs to be warm enough to melt the cheese.
    • Dont over-stirthe sauce once the cheese has melted. Add the noodles and quickly assemble in pan and put into the oven.

    Finishing The Ultimate Make

    How To Make Southern Baked Hot Butter Mac N Cheese | Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

    Once the cheese sauce was ready, I added the cooked macaroni. I stirred the mixture until the macaroni was nicely coated.

    Then, I poured the macaroni into a greased casserole dish.

    I topped the macaroni and cheese with additional Cheddar cheese and sprinkled on the Panko breadcrumbs. Finally, I dotted the top with some butter.

    At this point, I covered the macaroni and cheese and refrigerated it for the next day. I could have gone ahead and baked it at this point as well.

    The next day, I baked the macaroni and cheese in a 375° F oven for about 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, it was hot and bubbly, and the top was golden brown.

    The Ultimate Make Ahead Macaroni and Cheese was out of this world. It was creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor. Yum!

    Recommended Reading: Where Is Babybel Cheese Made

    Recommended Reading: Does Harry And David Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated

    Do You Need To Bake Mac And Cheese

    Creamy mac and cheese recipes that start with a roux-based sauce , do not need to be baked before serving. A creamy stovetop mac and cheese recipe is designed to go straight from the pot to the plate — no oven necessary. You could also serve this mac and cheese without baking — it will just be really saucy. By contrast, Southern-style mac and cheese recipes must be baked in order to cook the egg and help the dish set.

    How To Freeze Mac And Cheese

    Mac and cheese can be frozen either before baking, or after it has been cooked. Freezing the dish before baking results in a creamier dish once cooked as it has not been heated up twice. Doing this, however, is only possible if you are making an extra batch for future catering.

    If you need to freeze leftovers from an already cooked batch, that is perfectly fine too. Creamy versions of mac and cheese are ideal for freezing as they have more sauce keeping the pasta moist when reheating.

    Who would want to send any cheesy goodness to the bin when it can be enjoyed again by simply preserving it in the freezer?

    Also Check: Private Selection Hard Salami

    The Best Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese

    The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top. Love cheesy recipes? Make sure to try this Lazy Day Lasagna and Cheesy Kielbasa Rice and Broccoli Skillet next week for dinner!

    This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media.

    Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:

    How to make Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese part 1 of 2

    To make ahead: You can make this recipe 1-2 days ahead of time. Prepare the mac and cheese through step 10, just before baking. Allow it to cool, cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    To freeze: Make the entire dish but freeze before baking. Allow it to cool completely in the 8×8 pan, cover it well with plastic wrap and tinfoil and store it in the freezer for 2-3 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake until warmed through and the cheese is bubbly on top.

    You can also FOLLOW ME on , , and for more great recipes!

    Recipe

    Don’t Miss: How Long Will String Cheese Last Unrefrigerated

    Homemade Mac And Cheese

    If you have never had the privilege of tasting real homemade macaroni and cheese, made with freshly grated cheese, gently folded into molten cheese sauce Well, I feel for you.

    You might be thinking, Why would I make mac and cheese from scratch when the boxed versions are so good?

    Are they though?

    Or is it possible that you just dont realize they are mediocre because youve never experienced creamy mac and cheese from scratch?

    If youre a newbie to homemade macaroni and cheese, its time.

    And if youve always loved made-from-scratch mac and cheese, you are going to go nuts over our recipe!

    Read Also: Another Name For Brick Cheese

    The Origins Of Macaroni

    I like to think about where and how specific dishes originated so that I can have a better idea of the forces that have shaped the way we know those dishes today. What are their essential features, where can we innovate and so on.

    In the case of macaroni I was a little stumped. Other pasta shapes are easy enough to understand. For example, Ill never forget the first time I used the pasta machine and looking down at the long, thin uncut sheets of pasta in my hands, I realized I was holding lasagna. It was a total revelation.

    Also Check: How Long Does Babybel Cheese Last After Expiration Date

    How Long To Bake Mac And Cheese

    There is only one rule that you need to remember when baking mac and cheese: dont bake it too long otherwise youll bake away the sauce leaving you with a dry mixture.

    Baking it at around 20 minutes at 375 degrees F guarantees you that same stretchy cheesy baked mac and cheese with all the heart-melting sauce. Or you can also bake it at 30 minutes at 350 F

    Although weve tried a couple of Mac and Cheese recipes, nothing compares to this one which has a smooth silky sauce that permeates every inch of elbow macaroni there is.

    Youd fall head over heels with the brimming Southern flavors of what this baked mac and cheese has to offer. Its got a note of heat and smokiness. Youd need a bigger a spoon, for sure!

    This would be delightful at any time. Oh, especially during these cold winter months. So dont wait for special occasions to whip up a pan of this.

    Heck, you could even make this on the daily. You can also explore different southern comfort food ideas to prepare every day! Go ahead, take a bite, nobodys looking.

    Want more recipes like this? Try my Ground Beef Casserole here, my mac and cheese the Caribbean way Trinidad Macaroni Pie and my heartier and meatier Chili Mac and Cheese.

    Happy eating!

    Other Side Dishes You Will Enjoy

    How To Make Baked Macaroni And Cheese
    • Grate both the cheddar and sharp cheddar cheeses and combine together in a bowl.

    Cheese Division Divide into three groups

    • One group will make up the sauce 3 cups
    • One group will be added in between layers of the macaroni and cheese 1 1/2 cups
    • Last group will top the dish 1 1/2 cups
    • Set groups of cheese aside.

    Pasta Cook And Prep

    • Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot.
    • Add the pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 1 minute less than the package directs to cook pasta.
    • While the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Grease a 3-quart baking dish and set it aside.
    • Drain the pasta and set it aside.

    Cheese Sauce

    • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
    • Slowly add the flour in and whisk to combine. Continue to whisk and cook for about a minute.
    • Combine the milk and half and half into a large measuring cup.
    • Slowly pour in 2 cups of the half and half, whisking constantly. Whisk until smooth.
    • Slowly pour in the remaining half and half and the whole milk, whisking constantly, until smooth.
    • Slowly pour in the remaining half and half and the whole milk, whisking constantly, until smooth.
    • Whisking very often, continue to cook until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat and add salt and pepper.
    • Add the cheese portion that makes up 3 cups. First, add half of it and mix to combine.
    • Once melted, add the additional 1 1/2 cups and continue to stir until melted and smooth.

    Putting It Together

    Recommended Reading: What Kind Of Cheese Goes On A Charcuterie Board

    Tips For The Best Macaroni And Cheese Youll Ever Eat

    Feel like you may still need some help? If you have time, jump over to this post for the juicy details: 18 Secrets to the Richest, Creamiest Mac and Cheese Youll Ever Eat or focus on these tips:

    Never stop stirring your milk once it hits the pan. If your skillet is too hot or you walk away and for a minute you could scorch the white sauce and it will curdle. It doesnt really hurt the taste, but it will look sort of clumpy. Some readers have called it grainy. It only takes 5 minutes. Just hang out and stir until that sauce is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon.

    Use good cheese in your baked macaroni and cheese. That means avoiding bagged, pre-shredded cheeses because they contain cellulose that can in some cases cause your cheese not to melt as it should. -And speaking of cheese, you have so many options! My favorite is sharp cheddar and Swiss.

    -Try to choose a melting cheese and a flavor cheesefor the best flavor and texture in your baked macaroni and cheese.

    Do taste as you go. Taste your cheese sauce before you add your pasta. Is it bland? That can be because of the cheese you used or even the kind of salt you seasoned with. If it doesnt have enough flavor, add a pinch more salt, stir it in and taste it again until it suits you.

    -Feel free to add more pasta if you want to. Some people say that this recipe doesnt have enough noodles in it, but Ive never had that problem. And yes, you should cook your pasta before adding it to the cheese sauce.

    Mac And Cheese Tip #: Its All About The Cheese

    But you already knew that, right? Not all macaroni and cheese recipes are created equal. Our recipe is all about that cheesy triple threat combo! Our mac and cheese recipe gets a major flavor boost from Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Triple Cheddar Shredded Cheese! A mouthwatering mixture of medium white cheddar cheese, sharp cheddar cheese and medium cheddar cheese, Tillamook Triple Cheddar Cheese makes ours the very best mac and cheese recipe out there!

    Don’t Miss: Philly Cheesesteak Pizza Ingredients

    Popular Articles

    More Recipes Like This