Description
Comforting homemade baked mac and cheese combines creamy goodness with crispy breadcrumb edges. Cheese lovers savor this classic American dish that delivers rich flavor and hearty satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) elbow macaroni
- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Dairy and Liquid Ingredients:
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping)
Seasonings and Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for topping)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of grease to prevent sticking.
- Boil macaroni in salted water until tender, ensuring it reaches al dente consistency. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Create a roux by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour until the mixture becomes smooth and golden, cooking for approximately 2 minutes.
- Slowly incorporate milk into the roux, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and create a velvety sauce. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, stirring to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Add cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses to the sauce, stirring until completely melted and forming a silky, rich cheese sauce.
- Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is generously coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Distribute the remaining cheddar cheese evenly across the top of the mac and cheese.
- Combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, then sprinkle the mixture over the cheese layer to create a crispy, golden topping.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the edges become bubbly. Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving to set the cheese and enhance flavors.
Notes
- Prevent mushy pasta by cooking macaroni just until al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven.
- Create a silky smooth cheese sauce by gradually adding milk and whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Experiment with cheese varieties like Gruyère or sharp cheddar for deeper flavor complexity.
- Make it gluten-free by substituting flour with cornstarch and using gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice crackers.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 697
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 562 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg