The Best Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe
Homemade baked Mac and Cheese is one of my favorite dishes in the world, if not my all-time favorite. To me this is what comfort food is all about, but I dont like just any mac and cheese, it cannot come from a box. In my opinion, macaroni and cheese is all about the cheese sauce. The more cheese the better.
Everyone needs a mac and cheese recipe in their cooking repertoire, so heres my recipe thats quite simple to make and it really doesnt take more effort than opening a box of the pre-made stuff.
What Is The Best Cheese To Use For Mac And Cheese
When I make baked homemade mac and cheese I normally use Cracker Barrel extra sharp cheddar cheese but you can use what you have on hand or your favorite kind of cheese. It also tastes amazing with white cheddar and Monterey jack cheese.
You can also change things up and use two different kinds of cheese if you want to. If you want to give your mac and cheese a kick make this recipe using Pepper Jack Cheese.
The only MUST do thing when it comes to your cheese in baked mac and cheese is using a block of cheese. You can cut your block of cheese into cubes or you can shred it yourself, but you do not want to use the preshredded. I know it is tempting because of convenience, but they coat the cheese in the bag so it doesnt clump together. That coating makes for not the best melting when you are making homemade mac and cheese.
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.
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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.
What Else Can I Add To Mac And Cheese
Heres where mac and cheese can get really fun. In addition to changing the cheeses, you can switch up the herbs and spices, add in some veggies, or your favorite protein to make your own homemade mac and cheese creation. Here are some other fun ingredients to add to your mac and cheese:
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Can I Freeze Mac And Cheese
While technically you can freeze mac and cheese, I dont recommend it because after you thaw it out and bake, the creamy consistency is gone. However if you really wan to freeze it, before the baking step, transfer the mac and cheese to an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw it out, then transfer it to a skillet or 9×13 inch baking dish and bake it as instructed.
Bechamel Mac And Cheese
This recipe for oven baked mac and cheese defines cheesy and creamy in a new way! Elbow Macaroni is tossed with the creamiest cheese sauce made with some of the best cheese for mac and cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese and white cheddar. The result is the best homemade mac and cheese ever!
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What Makes It Extra Cheesy
For this extra cheesy homemade mac and cheese, I did use slightly more roux and added about 30% more cheese than I generally do to my simple stovetop mac and cheese recipes. And Im not even sorry about it. The thicker sauce and extra cheese made this mac and cheese so lusciously creamy and cheesy that I couldnt stop sneaking forkfuls between photographs. AND the best part is that it even stays smooth and creamy when reheated in the microwave. Mac and cheese heaven!
How To Make Ahead
If you are planning to make this casserole ahead of time, prepare the casserole up to the point of the second baking. Cool completely and then place in an airtight freezer safe container. Or just transfer to a freezer safe ziploc bag for easy storage. Refrigerate for up to 48 hours and freeze for up to 3 months.
To bake from frozen: thaw overnight in the fridge, let casserole sit out while oven is preheating, bake as directed except add an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
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Homemade Mac And Cheese For Kids Tips:
This recipe is very easy and its hard to mess up. Ive received emails from hundreds of moms who have successfully made this simple macaroni and cheese recipe for their families. Just follow the directions and make sure you cook and stir until the mixture is boiling and thickened.
Cheese types I often use shredded cheddar cheese with a couple of slices of American cheese tossed in. But we have also tried and enjoyed Cheddar Jack, Mozzarella, and other types of cheese.
Sometimes if I have a specialty cheese on hand, I will cube a little and throw that in for more flavor variety. The kids like it plain though so I try not to overdo it.
Its really up to you and your kids.
I wont make any promises that your kids will love this baked mac and cheese with breadcrumbs they are kids after all. But I will tell you that this is one of the most popular posts here on Living Well Mom and Ive received hundreds of emails from moms telling me just how popular this easy meal is with their children.
Try this kid-friendly mac and cheese out and let me known what you and your kids think! I hope you love it just like my family does!
Why This Mac And Cheese Sauce
Out of all the recipes on the internet, why choose this cheese sauce for mac and cheese?
- 7 simple ingredients
Technically the hot sauce is optional, but I promise it makes this cheese sauce SO GOOD. A little vinegar really does bring out the flavor of the cheese sauce.
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With A Pasta Extruder
The pasta extruder is obviously the simplest way to make a hollow pasta noodle like macaroni.
Personally I dont have a pasta extruder because it seems like a very limited use kitchen appliance. I much prefer to get creative with shapes when Im making pasta by hand and during the odd time I need to eat macaroni or bucatini for example, I just buy it.
How To Make Oven
Cook the pasta until tender and then drain it.
Mix all of the dry ingredients together and then set them aside.
Spray an oven-safe bowl or dish with cooking spray. Place half of the cooked macaroni inside.
Sprinkle half of the flour mixture over the top.
Then top it with half of the butter slices.
Sprinkle 1+1/2 cups of shredded cheese over the top.
Repeat the layering process again.
Pour milk over the entire macaroni and cheese casserole.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Everything Ive ever wanted in oven-baked mac and cheese is pictured right there!
A lot of people view this as a side dish but I confess, its been the entire meal on more than one occasion.
At this point, my son came in and said Ma, when is the macaroni and cheese gonna be done?.
I showed him this and his eyes got big as dollars as my grandmother would say!
Oh to be a kid again :).
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Why Does My Baked Mac And Cheese Come Out Dry
Baked Mac and cheese can get dried if baked for too long. Follow the recipe and if your topping is not golden brown by the time the baking time is done, simply place it under the broiler to toast the breadcrumbs.
Another reason for dried macaroni and cheese is if you are using more noodles than the recipe calls for. You need to have enough cheese sauce to generously coat the cooked pasta.
Did A Black Person Invent Mac And Cheese
Southern baked mac and cheese the James Hemings way
James Hemings was a highly trained cook known to many modern-day chefs and culinary historians alike. A notable African American chef who helped create and define American cuisine as we know it today.
According to Netflixs soul food documentary High On The Hog, where an all-Black creative team tells the story of African American food. Baked mac and cheese is initially cooked by Hemings in a mixture of boiling water and milk.
Hemings placed sharp American cheese in between layers of butter and milk-coated macaroni. Then baked in a Dutch oven over an open-hearth fireplace stove with hot coals placed on the pots lid to bake.
Today, we can make easy macaroni and cheese while still incorporating the original recipes culinary technique. Much safer !
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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 .
How To Measure Pasta For This Recipe
Sometimes a reader or two has had an issue with how much pasta this recipe needs. This recipe is written by volume and sometimes people think that since a cup is 8 ounces that they can simply use 12-16 ounces of pasta or go by the weight of the dry pasta written on the box.
Youll end up with problems if you do this.
Please follow the volume instructions and measure your pasta dry in a measuring cup meant for dry items .
Small pastas like ditalini or little wagon wheels can go up to about 2 cups and be fine in the recipe, and large ones like bow tie or cellentani can as well. If you will stick to elbow pasta until you get the hang of things youll be better off.
Ive made this recipe with every pasta shape on the market and if you will measure in cups, your recipe will be just right.
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What To Serve With Baked Mac And Cheese
Mac and Cheese is worthy of serving as a meal in its own right, served with just a fresh green salad or simple vegetable side. Nothing heavy because Macaroni Cheese is so rich as it is!
As a side dish, it will compliment virtually any non-Asian main dish. From simple Baked Pork Chops to Steak, a Roast Chicken to Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs, the only things I probably would not serve with Mac and Cheese would be very light summery mains such as a Tuna Tartare just a little too much contrast.
And of course, festive gatherings! Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter alongside a grand Roast Turkey or your Herb & Garlic Butter Slathered Turkey Breast, the juicy Roast Pork with impossibly Crispy Crackling or your Prime Rib thats so perfectly blushing pink all the way through, it makes you want to weep.
Holidays would not be the same without this Mac and Cheese!! Nagi xx
How Did Mac And Cheese Become Soul Food
Hemings legacy of baked mac and cheese continued long after the Emancipation Proclamation in the 1860s.
Macaroni and cheese began to have new meanings and multiple identities in the Black community.
Mac and cheese became a celebratory dish, a convenient comfort food, and a meal stretcher for impoverished families.
We recognize this dish today as soul food!
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Extra Cheesy Homemade Mac And Cheese
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
I have several flavored macaroni and cheese recipes on Budget Bytes already, but I realized I didnt have one single plain, classic homemade mac and cheese recipe. Like, nothing fancy or unique, just straight up creamy, comforting, cheesy goodness! So thats what I have for you today. Its a classic stovetop macaroni and cheese recipe made with a classic roux-based cheese sauce that will satisfy all of your cheesy pasta cravings. Its amazingly delicious on its own, but Ive also included a list of fun add-ins and other ways you can customize your mac and cheese and make it unique.
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.
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What Toppings Can You Put On Baked Mac And Cheese
The options for macaroni and cheese toppings are endless.
From crunchy to creamy, spicy to sweet, theres a topping out there for everyone!
Take a look at some top favorite combinations.
If you want something creamy but not too heavy on the stomach, sour cream is your best bet.
This will add texture and enhance the flavoring.
- Creamy pesto sauce:
If you love pasta dishes that have pesto in them, then this topping may be just what youre looking for!
Pesto can add both flavor and color so keep that in mind when choosing toppings.
Trishs Tips And Tricks
Completely cook the potatoes. When you first bake the potatoes, make sure that they are very tender and cooked completely. You dont want to rely on the twice baked to get those potatoes nice and soft.
Try a different cheese. Make this recipe once with the sharp cheddar and then the next time, try a new cheese. We love Colby Jack, Pepper Jack and a combination of cheddar and mozzarella is super delish!
Garnish. Save some extra sliced green onions and cooked bacon to sprinkle on top right before serving.
Double up. Want more casserole to love? You can easily be double this recipe. Just make sure you have an extra large baking dish that can handle it, or just use two dishes which is what we do.
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Why Is My Homemade Mac And Cheese Gritty
Dairy sauces are prone to becoming grainy or gritty, and its due to curdling. Dairy products like cheese sauce are made from fat and milk. The proteins contained in the mixture have a tendency to try to separate. Too much heat, not enough fat, or too much acid are usually the main reasons graininess occurs.5 days ago.
How To Thicken Mac And Cheese
If you like a thicker sauce, you can add more flour. Just be careful to add it in small amounts at a time, or you might wind up with a glumpy mess.
The same goes for cornstarch. Before you add it, make a slurry of cornstarch and water. Youll have a bunch of cornstarch lumps if you just dump it in.
Trust me on this. I learned the hard way.
One thing I want to recommend is to not overthink this recipe. Its an easy macaroni and cheese casserole that is absolutely delicious, even if you do something a little different.
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