Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this classic Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection, it’s a crowd-pleaser that never goes out of style.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk (warm)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard (optional)
Topping:
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta: Cook macaroni according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
- Make cheese sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually whisk in warm milk until thickened. Add cheeses, salt, pepper, and mustard.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix cooked macaroni with cheese sauce until coated. Pour into baking dish.
- Add topping and bake: Sprinkle Parmesan and breadcrumbs on top. Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden.
- Rest and serve: Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a crispy topping, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end of baking.
- Experiment with cheese blends like Gruyère for varied flavors.
- Omit breadcrumbs for a creamier texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course or Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
