How To Make Baked Mac And Cheese Easy

More Yummy & easy Casserole Recipes To Try:

• This easy tuna casserole with egg noodles was always one of my moms go-to recipes when I was growing up And I can totally see why. Tuna noodle casserole is quick to prep, tasty, and versatile!
• Give this yummy taco tater tot casserole a try for your next Taco Tuesday! Taco-spiced saucy ground beef, black beans, and corn, topped off with crispy tater tots and cheese makes for an easy family-favorite dinner.
• This custardy cream corn casserole recipe is SO good youll want to scrape the dish clean to get every last bit of caramelized goodness My favorite of all the corn casserole recipes Ive tried, just like my grandma made it!
• This easy green bean casserole recipe is my familys version of the classic recipe and uses only 3 ingredients, including canned green beans Because who needs another complicated side dish recipe? NOT this mama!
• This easy cheesy meatball casserole recipe boasts just 5 ingredients, yet is still packed with flavor Serve it as is, over pasta, or on sandwich rolls for a versatile weeknight dinner!
• This divine ooey-gooey broccoli rice cheese and chicken casserole recipe comes together with just 6 simple ingredients, all of which you likely already have in your pantry and freezer! Its sure to become an easy weeknight meal staple.

Id love to see how your macaroni and cheese casserole turns out Tag me on or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!

Cheesy Baked Macaroni Recipe

Cheesy Baked Macaroni is a good dish to prepare this holiday season. It is delicious, cheesy, and a sure crowd pleaser. This can be prepared during Christmas dinner, or you can bring this along for your potluck parties.

My entire family loves pasta the richer and cheesier, the better. Cheesy Baked Macaroni is one of our favorite pasta dishes. We love it with a toasted sliced of loaf bread with butter, or even garlic bread.

This has similarities with the previous baked macaroni recipe that I posted. The main difference is the type of cheese used and the amount of bell peppers, which I think helps gives this dish a unique overall taste. Both are great recipes that I am really proud of.

I hope that you enjoy the holidays with your loved ones. Cheers!

Try this Cheesy Baked Macaroni Recipe. Enjoy!

Creamy White Cheddar Baked Macaroni And Cheese Casserole

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This baked macaroni and cheese casserole is easy homemade macaroni and cheese at its best! Gooey and cheesy with a layer of crushed potato chips on top for texture

This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Kroger all opinions and text are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this site!

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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.

How To Make Baked Mac And Cheese

Its a straightforward recipe, starting with a basic butter-flour roux that is used to thicken milk to make the cheese sauce. For first timers, I think the short video below will help give you the confidence that youve got this!

The simple trick to avoid lumps in the Mac and Cheese Sauce is to pour the milk in slowly while constantly stirring, then just switch to a whisk if needed to remove any stubborn lumps!

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To Bake Or Not To Bake:

You dont have to bake the mac and cheese in this recipe. Everything gets fully cooked and is essentially ready to eat after the cheese and noodles are added. However, I love the extra gooeyness that comes when the cheese is baked and I think baking it adds a level of sophistication you just dont get without.

Is Mac And Cheese A Side Dish Or A Main Meal

These individual mac and cheese bowls are meant to be served as a main meal, but they can also be served as a side for bigger feasts like Thanksgiving. You can bake the macaroni in a larger casserole dish, serve to the table and let everyone dig in.

This is a fun and indulgent recipe that is buttery, cheesy and creamy! But hey, I did use 2% milk, so thats something! But for reals, I know there are a ton of favorite baked mac and cheese recipes out there. This one is simple, easy-to-make and comes out so delicious, so I hope you give this one a try!

Its epic.

Its the cheesiest recipe on my blog!

Recommended Reading: How To Make Goat Cheese

Best Cheese For Mac And Cheese

A combination of Gruyere and mozzarella cheese. Gruyerefor the most superior flavour with the best melting qualities for creamy sauces such as this theres no contention in my view. And mozzarella for stretch nothing does the cheese pull like a good mozzarella!

But honestly, any cheese that melts well works is excellent with Mac and Cheese, such as cheddar, tasty, Colby, Swiss, Pepper Jack, Emmental.

Easy Homemade Mac And Cheese

This Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is made with 8 ingredients in 15 minutes on the stovetop ! Time to ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this irresistibly creamy, smooth & cheesy homemade recipe!

I have six kids and a husband with a taste palate of a 12-year-old-boy, which means we eat a lot of mac and cheese in our house. A lot of mac and cheese.

So naturally I created this easy homemade mac and cheese recipe so that we could consume less of the boxed varieties. Because I really care about feeding my family healthy meals that they actually enjoy! And did I mention that they love mac and cheese?!

Once you taste this homemade mac and cheese you and your family will say “goodbye” to powdered cheese forever, and say “hello” to this creamy dreamy real-cheese version again and again!

This homemade mac and cheese recipe is made with only 8 ingredients in 15 minutes! That’s the same amount of time it takes to make the boxed varieties, but with no preservatives or artificial ingredients!

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In This Easy Baked Mac And Cheese You Will Need:

• olive oil spray
• dry mustard
• paprika

In a bowl, combine both the 1-1/2 cups freshly grated cheddar and cheddar jack. For an extra cheese Mac and cheese, add in an extra 1/2 cup of cheddar jack.

Add 2 tablespoons of sea salt to a boiling pot of water. Add in 10 ounces of elbow pasta and cook 1 to 2 minute shy of the package directions. Drain into a colander.

Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat.

One melted, sprinkle in 1/4 cup flour.

Continue to whisk while the flour/butter mixture cooks for 1 minute. While whisking, slowly pour in 2 cups of half & half.

Continue to whisk until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of a creamy soup.

Next, stir in 1-1/2 cups of the combined cheeses, 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard and 1/4 teaspoon paprika. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper to taste.

Once the cheese sauce is smooth, add in the partially cooked pasta.

Using a rubber spatula, toss the pasta in the cheese sauce to coat.

Add half of the macaroni and cheese sauce to a lightly sprayed casserole dish. Top with half the remaining cheese, the rest of the macaroni and cheese and the last of the shredded cheese.

Gather & Measure The Ingredients

This easy mac and cheese recipe is super fast-paced once you start cooking, so it’s important to have all the ingredients measured and ready to go! As you can see there are only eight, common ingredients in this recipe that most of us have on hand at all times! We will discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions later in this post .

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Homemade Macaroni And Cheese

If my kids had to choose a favorite food, it would definitely be macaroni and cheese! They would eat it for dinner every night if I let them. My oldest was an incredibly picky eater until very recently, and I swear there was a whole year of her life when she would only eat mac and cheese. No vegetables, no meat, just noodles and cheese. It was during that time period that I whipped up this easy stove top macaroni and cheese recipe. It doesnt take any more time than making it from the box, but it tastes way better!

Another bonus its made from simple ingredients that I feel good about. This macaroni and cheese recipe has been a staple at our house for years! It works wonderfully as a side dish, or an easy meal with a green salad on the side. My husband and I love it with shredded barbecue chicken or pulled pork on top, and my girls will eat it happily any time I make it. Its a lifesaver on those busy nights when I dont have much time to cook!

Ingredients In Baked Macaroni And Cheese

• Salt: I love my sea salt, but Ive said this before: use whatever salt you love and have. Salt is rarely, if ever, worth an extra trip to the store.
• Macaroni Noodles: Elbow Macaroni noodles are a classic in this dish. But Ive also found different shapes make fun additions to an Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving macaroni and cheese side dish.
• Butter: Buuuuutttteeerrrr! I love my butter. Use real butter for best flavor.
• Flour: The flour is what thickens up your sauce to make it that creamy consistency you know and love.
• Milk: In order to make the sauce, you also need quite a bit of milk. It doesnt matter which kind of milk you use in a recipe like this though.
• Cheese: Macaroni and cheese. Without the cheese, your macaroni would be very sad indeed! Sharp Cheddar Cheese pairs wonderfully with the rest of the ingredients in the baked macaroni and cheese.
• Ritz Crackers: Instead of bread crumbs, use Ritz crackers. There is something so perfect about using Ritz crackers as a topping. They are already so buttery and crispy, the perfect addition to this easy recipe.

Pro Tip: The cheese in this recipe is a lot. Dont double it for a cheesier recipe, trust me, it turns out perfect as is.

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Tips For Easy Macaroni And Cheese Casserole

Ive already touched on some of my best tips for how to make macaroni and cheese, like consistent stirring and shredding your own cheese. But here are a few more that will take your macaroni and cheese casserole from just good to wow-worthy:

1| Use mise en place. Not familiar with this concept? Loosely translated from French, it means everything in its place. So basically you want to have all of your ingredients completely prepped before starting, as in measured, shredded, and ready to go. Make sure your oven is preheated, because things progress quickly once the elbow macaroni is done boiling.

2| Salt the pasta water well. Pasta is not very flavorful on its own, which is why the instructions always call for boiling in salted water. It will absorb the salt it needs, while the rest remains in the water. Also, undercook the pasta slightly, because it will continue to cook as it bakes in the oven.

3| Taste as you go. Really, this is essential for any dish. In the case of a baked macaroni and cheese, taste the cheese sauce before you add the pasta. Its easy to add a little more salt or pepper or a dash more of cayenne pepper at this point. Once its baked, not so much

4| Dont over bake it. Over baked macaroni and cheese is mushy and blah. Baked it until its starting to brown around the edges and is bubbling in the center. Want to speed the baking time up? Simply use a larger, shallower dish.

Easy Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Nothing beats a delicious family favorite baked macaroni and cheese recipe as a side dish. Its a dish that both kids and adults love. We have this baked macaroni and cheese at almost every family gathering. Its perfect for picky eaters and just screams comfort food.

We start off by making this recipe on the stovetop but we love to add an extra crispy topping of bread crumbs to the top of the macaroni and cheese and bake it till its a perfect crisp. My husband prefers it straight from the stovetop, so feel free to make it however you and your family like it best. We also like to add a touch of seasoned salt to our macaroni and cheese. It adds an extra pop of flavor and really brings out the cheesy-ness of this dish.

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Homemade Mac And Cheese Casserole

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Homemade Mac and Cheese is a rich, creamy casserole that is truly a show stopper! Not only is this creamy macaroni and cheese recipe easy to make it, has a special ingredient making it extra delicious!

This dish has so much velvety cheese in a quick homemade sauce that, once you try it, this is going to be the only baked macaroni & cheese dish youll ever need!

Hello, my name is Holly and I am addicted to Macaroni and Cheese. It doesnt even have to be fancy, I love crock pot mac & cheese, stove top mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese or even out of a little blue box.

Of all of the mac and cheese recipes, *this* little gem right here is the best mac and cheese recipe ever and always gets rave reviews!

Homemade Macaroni And Cheese: What Kind Of Cheese Should I Use

I honestly use different cheese combinations almost every time I make this mac and cheese recipe but the one I always come back to is sharp cheddar and Gruyere. If you cant find Gruyere, Jarlsberg Swiss cheese is the best substitute. Other cheese that work: mozzarella, jack cheese or pepper jack for a little zip, American and Velveeta as well for a creamier cheese sauce. This baked mac and cheese uses 6 cups of cheese so just

To add even more flavor to my homemade mac and cheese, I add Parmesan to the Panko topping so good!

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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.

What To Eat With Oven Macaroni And Cheese

Although filling and hearty, baked macaroni and cheese always seems so lonely by itself. Here are a few of my favorite go to sides:

• Salad: These two go together so well, its one of my favorite pairings. A Pistachio Chicken Salad or a Bacon Lettuce Tomato Salad are two of my personal favorites.
• Fruit: I love this Pistachio Fruit Salad or this Grape Salad as side dishes. They also pair wonderfully with homemade baked macaroni and cheese.
• Vegetables: This can be as simple as you want it to be! Think: canned corn or peas. I mean you can even put them in the mac and cheese if you want, though I like serving them as a side. Or get fancy with some Candied Carrots or Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
• Meat: When you add meat to a meal, it tends to steal the show as the main dish. So if you want the baked macaroni and cheese to be the star, stick with one of the other sides. If you dont, then try an Sloppy Joe Recipe or .

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Tips For The Best Mac & Cheese

• Freshly grated cheese dont use pre shredded. They have anti caking agents that can make the sauce grainy

• No bloated overcooked pasta Cool macaroni slightly and lightly coat in butter. This stops the macaroni from absorbing more liquid while baking, resulting in bloated overcooked pasta and less sauce

• Stir constantly once you add the milk to ensure your sauce is silky smooth

• Plenty of sauce Because I like my Mac and Cheese saucy, not dried up so you can cut it like cake!

• Can you make Mac and Cheese ahead of time? Most recipes are not suitable for making ahead, but this recipe is! The best way is to cool pasta then toss with sauce and adding breadcrumb topping. Cool, refrigerate or freeze then bake on the day of.

• How long can Mac and Cheese stay in the fridge? This Macaroni Cheese recipe is good for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Most will not keep well because theres not enough sauce so it gets absorbed by the pasta and youre left with dry, sauceless pasta.

• Freezing? Yes! Assemble, cool, do not bake, just freeze it. Thaw then on the day of, bake per the recipe.

• Add ins? This recipe is great as it is, but theres tons of add-in options. Add shredded chicken, sautéed onion and bell peppers/capsicum, bacon, hot sauce , dried herbs of choice