Description
Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese: An Amazing Recipe You’ll Love
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, whisking until smooth. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt. Remove from heat and fold in the cheddar, mozzarella, and Gruyère cheeses until melted and smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and cheese sauce. Stir until well coated.
- Grease a 3-quart baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the macaroni and cheese.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Optionally, sprinkle with chopped parsley for a touch of color.
Notes
- This recipe serves about 6 people.
- You can substitute cheeses based on your preference.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Baked Mac Cheese, Comfort Food, Pasta Dish