Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this recipe for the BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese. Creamy, cheesy, and topped with a crispy breadcrumb crust, this dish is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Dish:
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard (optional)
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For the topping:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prep macaroni: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain.
- Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then slowly add milk and cream. Stir in seasonings and cheeses until melted. Combine with macaroni.
- Prepare the topping: Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and paprika.
- Assemble and bake: Pour mac and cheese mixture into dish, top with breadcrumb mixture, and bake until golden brown.
- Let sit and serve: Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra cheesiness, add cubed Velveeta or Monterey Jack.
- You can make it ahead—just cover and refrigerate before baking, then add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
