Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this creamy homemade baked mac and cheese recipe. Cheesy, gooey, and utterly delicious, this dish is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
Cheese Sauce:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 1/2 cups half and half
- 4 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese divided
- 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese divided
- 1/2 Tbsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 325°F and grease a 3-quart baking dish.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: Melt butter, add flour, then gradually whisk in half and half and milk until thickened. Stir in cheeses until melted.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix pasta with cheese sauce, layer in baking dish with cheese, and bake.
- Bake: Bake for 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- You can customize the seasonings to your preference, such as garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, smoked paprika, or hot sauce.
- Mac and Cheese can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
- For a five-cheese variation or a crunchier topping, follow the provided instructions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 665
