How To Make Old
1. Cook the pasta.
I like to cook elbow macaroni for only 4-5 minutes because it will continue to cook in the oven.
If you cook the pasta until its ready to eat, it will likely turn mushy in the oven.
2. Grease the dish.
This part is important! The pasta will stick to the bottom of the dish if you dont.
3. Combine the cooked macaroni, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper.
Add the ingredients directly to the dish for easy clean-up just be sure you have a tall-sided dish, so nothing spills out.
4. Whisk together the milk and eggs.
This mixture serves as the base of the sauce. When baked along with grated cheese, they turn into a thick and creamy mixture, kind of like savory custard.
Pour the mixture over the macaroni.
5. Bake the dish.
It will need around 40 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Add more cheese!
This step is optional, but I like to add extra cheese and broil the dish for about 3-5 minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy!
Let the dish sit for a few minutes before serving.
How To Keep Mac And Cheese Creamy
I’m sharing a handful of tips to help keep your easy baked mac and cheese creamy, smooth, and saucy.
- First, no eggs. Unlike the Southern-style mac and cheese, this creamy version does not include eggs. The eggs help to “set” the casserole, giving it a firm, dry texture. Since that’s not what we’re going for here, you’ll need to leave out the eggs.
- Next, lots of sauce. We’re not skimping on cheese, milk, or cream in this dish. We’ll make plenty of cheese sauce to coat the noodles. It looks like a lot of sauce, but you need that amount in order to keep the dish creamy in the oven.
- Velveeta cheese. That’s right, I said it. Blasphemy?! Maybe! But trust me here: Velveeta melts smoothly into the sauce giving the mac and cheese a rich, creamy texture that you just can’t quite replicate with other types of cheese.
- Baking Time. This casserole goes in the oven at a low temperature for just 15 minutes. This short baking time is important because it’s just long enough to melt the cheese on top and get the noodles hot inside, but it’s not so long that it dries out the pasta and sauce. If you like a crispier crust on top, you can pop it under the broiler for a few minutes at the end.
Bone Broth Gives The Mac And Cheese Plenty Of Umami
Most boxed mac and cheese instructions tell you to cook the noodles in boiling water before making the cheese sauce. But if you want to add deeper, more savory flavor notes to your finished dish, replace some of the cooking water with bone broth or stock.
I always have some homemade bone broth in my freezer, so whenever I want to add a little boost of nutrient density and depth of flavor to a box of mac and cheese, Ill use half water and half broth for my pasta cooking liquid, says BuzzFeed Tasty test kitchen manager and Belly 2 Baby Nutrition co-founder Karlee Rotoly.
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Why You Should Make This Recipe
- Foolproof Recipe: If one of your favorite things is pasta and you are a cheese lover, you need to have a great recipe for baked mac on your back pocket!
- Family Favorite: Mac and cheese is loved by everyone. This simple recipe for delicious mac is always a big hit. Kids cant resist it and adults cant stop eating it!
- Flavor: This homemade macaroni and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and flavorful. The crispy, golden brown Panko topping takes classic mac to new heights!
Tips For The Best Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe
- Boil the noodles in very well-salted water. The salt in the water seasons the noodles, adding flavor to the dish.
- Cook the pasta just until its al dente almost tender, but still firm to the bite. You dont want to completely cook the noodles until theyre tender, because they will continue baking in the oven.
- Allow the cheese, milk, and half-and-half to come to room temperature before adding them to the recipe. They will blend together smoothly if theyre not cold.
- Start with blocks of cheddar cheese that you grate yourself at home, rather than using bags of pre-shredded cheese from the store. The pre-shredded cheese includes stabilizers and other ingredients to prevent the cheese from clumping, which inhibits its ability to melt smoothly into the dish.
- If you prefer a crispier, darker brown top on your mac and cheese, place the dish under the broiler during the final few minutes of baking. Just be sure to keep a close eye on it so that the top doesnt burn.
- Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square casserole dish.
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Can I Freeze Macaroni And Cheese
I get asked that a lot and my answer is always no. As the pasta and cheese sauce sit, it will thicken and when you thaw it and bake it, the creamy consistency is just gone. Its thick and gloppy. Plus if you freeze it and its still a bit warm, water crystals will form and then thaw into your dish and could make it separate when you bake it. Besides, its so fast to make, theres not really a reason to freeze your macaroni and cheese.
How To Make Baked Macaroni And Cheese
Step 1: Cook pasta to 1 minute lower than al dente, then drain immediately. You do not want to over cook the pasta since it will also be baking in the oven.
Step 2: Get started on the cheese sauce while the macaroni noodles are cooking.
Melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the flour and whisk 1-2 minutes constantly, until browned. Pour the milk in gradually, whisking until smooth.
Whisk the milk and roux until the sauce thickens, around 7-8 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the salt and 3 cups of the cheese until smooth.
Mix the pasta into the cheese sauce until the noodles are all coated in yummy cheese sauce.
Step 4: Grease a 9 by 13 baking dish and spread out half of the mac and cheese into the bottom of the dish.
Step 5: Top with 1 cup of the shredded cheese.
Add the last half of the pasta over the cheese, then top with the remaining cheese.
Cover the casserole with the panko bread crumb mixture.
Step 6: Bake the macaroni and cheese at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
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Shred Your Own Cheese
I recommend using blocks of cheese that you shred yourself. I know, I know, but it makes a big difference. Pre-shredded cheese has starch on it to keep it from clumping and is dryer than actual blocks of whole cheese.
If you do end up using pre-shredded cheese in this recipe, you may need to add a little splash of whole milk. The added starch from pre-shredded cheese will thicken the recipe, so you may need something else to loosen it again. You will know at the end if you want to add a little milk to yours or not!
Get the Recipe:Uncle Jacks Mac and Cheese
This slow cooker recipe makes for a nostalgic, cafeteria-style macaroni that you can slice and serve like pie. Start with cooked noodles, and then combine heavy cream, evaporated milk, eggs, butter, and cheddar cheese to make a binder. Combine that binder with your noodles, then pour the mixture into a greased slow cooker. Sprinkle cheese over the top, then cook for three hours on high and then for one hour on low. Itll be ready with almost no work at all.
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.
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How Much Do I Love Kraft Mac And Cheese
I loveKraft Mac and Cheese . I will eat it hot, cold, leftover, for breakfast, and even massively expired, apparently:
And although it will taste fine if you just follow the instructions on the blue box, I always use four simple tricks to make it so much creamier and even more delicious! Trust me, once I show you how to make box Mac and Cheese better, you wont want to go back to the box instructions.
Baked Macaroni And Cheese
Baked macaroni and cheese doesnt have to be complicated with layers of ingredients to be the soul-warming food you crave. This homemade baked macaroni and cheese is my most favorite and has pleased crowds, small families, kids and picky eaters alikegive it a try and youll see why.
Sometimes you buy that glowing yellow macaroni in the box. Your kids like it, but it glows like the kryptonite they used in the old Christoper Reeve Superman movies.
Thats not normal people.
And I hate to break it to you, but theres nothing real in that box either.
I hate feeding it to my kids and I dare say that you hate it too. But I can also guess you dont know many other alternatives. Sure, you can get a box of Velveeta and melt that over some noodles. That works too, but that stuff doesnt even need to be refrigerated. Its mystery cheese.
So if youre looking for the real deal, the old school baked macaroni and cheese the way your grandma might have made itthis is it.
And just so you know, aside from the baking, this easy macaroni and cheese took 15 minutes and only two pans to make. One for boiling the pasta and a good enameled cast iron pan for the sauce and the baking cuts down on dishes. So yes, even you can make this on a week night.
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How To Revive Leftover Mac And Cheese
The best way to revive leftover mac and cheese is to add moisture back to the dish. It tends to dry out as it cools down. We recommend adding 1 tablespoon of cream to each cup of the pasta prior to reheating it.
Finally, cover the mac and cheese before reheating it. Covering the dish keeps the moisture from escaping. Then heat it up slowly at a low temperature.
Different Ways Of Using A Cheese Sauce
Cheese sauce sets the base for so many unique dishes. There are so many ways you can use this sauce. Here are a few to note:
- Homemade mac n cheese: We love a creamy and cheesy sauce in our mac and cheese. It makes a simple mac and cheese into a super tasteful and comforting dish. Just mix the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, and thats it.
- Casserole: Another dish that you can improve by using cheese sauce is a casserole. No matter which casserole recipe you are following, adding some cheese sauce to it will make it extra delicious.
- Dipping sauce: Cheese sauce is just perfect when you use it as a dipping sauce or a condiment with your main course. Its cheesiness and creaminess go well with crackers, tortilla chips, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, french fries, and even steaks.
- Sandwiches: Most people love sandwiches and burgers loaded with cheesy goodness, and a cheese sauce serves the purpose unlike anything else. You can also enjoy cheese sauce on your sloppy joes or even a pizza!
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Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
The Chunky Chef03/23/2020
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy and rich with a velvety smooth sauce! Ready in about 20 minutes, its always a family favorite. Perfectly cooked, every time, and no need to babysit the pasta, or even drain it! Made with no canned milk and no Velveeta.
This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is the perfect comfort food! Recipes like my Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa and Instant Pot Sausage Tortellini Soup are great for when you want an ultra-comforting family meal thats ready incredibly fast. This is one of my Pressure Cooker recipes youll definitely want in your recipe box!
INSTANT POT MAC AND CHEESE
Youve been asking for it, and Ive been working on it this is the Instant Pot Mac and Cheese that will make your mouth completely water, and have you reaching for seconds.
The lusciously creamy cheese sauce, enveloping every noodle so full of flavor, yet so simply made.
This mac and cheese is just as easy as making that macaroni in the blue box but is SO much better for you. No preservatives and other hard to pronounce ingredients. Just pure cheesy goodness!
When I was developing this recipe, I used cheeses that I found melted really well, and gave a good classic mac and cheese flavor, however, Ill also be detailing different cheeses you can use if you prefer another mixture.
Creamy Baked Mac And Cheese
The Chunky Chef09/30/2019
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by both children and adults. It uses a combination of cheeses, layered in the dish as well as melted into a rich and creamy cheese sauce, for the ultimate in cheesy deliciousness! Perfect for a comforting dinner or as a holiday side dish!
Looking for other comfort food dishes? Check out my Homemade Sloppy Joes, Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Crockpot Meatloaf, and Homestyle No-Boil Mashed Potatoes!
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
Baked mac and cheese. Its nearly the universal comfort food, and there are SO many variations! In fact, I almost didnt post this recipe, as there are SOOOO many mac and cheese recipes available, and most people already have their favorite way of making it.
Of course, theres no right way or wrong way, so Im here sharing the way I like to make my mac and cheese .
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How To Make Homemade Roux For A Creamy Sauce
To make a simple and flavorful roux, start by melting a stick of butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the salt and pepper. A very important step is to continue stirring for a good 2-3 minutes until roux turns a bit darker in color. It becomes richer and even more fabulous.
Slowly whisk in the milk until mixture is thick and creamy. This step will take a couple minutes over medium heat.
Stir in cheese until creamy and cheese is melted through. I prefer a finely shredded mild cheddar. It melts quickly and has a perfect cheddar flavor.
Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a pan of our favorite baked mac and cheese. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Elbow macaroni pasta: the “mac” that gives the dish its name! You can use other short pasta shapes such as rotini, penne, or medium shells, if you like.
- Butter: the base of the roux that thickens the bechamel sauce.
- All-purpose flour: thickens the sauce.
- Milk and half-and-half: to make the sauce creamy and rich. Do not substitute with skim milk or other lower-fat alternatives, since the flavor and texture of the sauce will not be as good.
- Worcestershire sauce: a touch of umami flavor that gives the dish depth.
- Velveeta cheese: for a smooth, creamy mouthfeel in the cheese sauce.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: gives the dish its sharp, rich, cheesy flavor. Use extra sharp cheddar or other types of flavorful cheese, if you like.
- Salt, dry mustard, black pepper, and nutmeg: for extra flavor.
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Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese
There is absolutely nothing I love more than cheese. And when you add pasta to it? Fuggetaboutit.
Mac and cheese is one of those recipes that can take on so many different forms. I love it anyway I can get it but baked mac and cheese is my very favorite and Ill tell you why The topping. I use breadcrumbs for my topping occasionally, but, a Panko topped mac and cheese is just that much better.
I mix in Parmesan, butter, and paprika with the Panko so it crisps up beautifully and gets a nice golden brown color when this amazing homemade mac and cheese is baked.
Im going to be honest here. When I make mac and cheese, its the mac to cheese ratio that I am most concerned about. I love it when the mac and cheese is oeey gooey and the cheese sauce is just so creamy. GIMME.
With all this cheese going on in this macaroni and cheese recipe, I need a little help from my KitchenAid Deluxe Stand Mixer and its handy dandy Fresh Prep Slice/Shredder attachment. I picked up this beauty at Walmart this past week and I am in LOOOOOVE. I was torn between the options: SILVER | COBALT | PISTACHIO. But, when I pictured them in my kitchen, I knew I had to go with the cobalt its just stunning!
I use my stand mixer about 954 times each week. Being a food blogger and mom means Im in my kitchen a lot baking up goodies and whipping up amazing dinners like this homemade baked mac and cheese. I am always, always looking for help in the kitchen and the Kitchen Aid Deluxe Stand Mixer is the answer.
