Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
This creamy baked mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food! It’s the perfect BBQ side dish or hearty main.
This Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Tender macaroni robed in a rich cheese sauce, sprinkled with melty cheese and crunchy panko topping. It’s creamy, cheesy, melty, and crunchy. It’s comfort in a bowl.
Tips for the creamiest mac and cheese
Go slow with the sauce. This mac and cheese gets its creaminess from a stovetop mornay sauce made by adding milk (and later shredded cheese) to a roux of butter and flour. To create a smooth, creamy consistency, you want to slowly add the milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to prevent clumping. Don’t rush this step. Go slow and you’ll be rewarded with a thick, smooth, and creamy sauce that’ll coat every morsel of macaroni in cheesy goodness.
Use a blend of cheeses. Use a combination of your favourite cheeses, like cheddar, gruyere, gouda, swiss, provolone, mozzarella, or monterey jack. Combining multiple varieties enhances the flavour and the creaminess.
Shred the cheese by hand. Store-bought shredded cheese is coated in starch to prevent it from clumping in the bag. Consequently, it just doesn’t melt the same as hand-shredded cheese. Grate the cheese by hand. It’s worth it!
How to make baked mac and cheese
Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 9-inch square or 10-inch round baking dish.
Step 2: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until almost al dente, about 5 minutes. The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.
Step 3: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux.
Step 4: Gradually add the milk, whisking until smooth and combined.
Step 5. Whisk in the salt, paprika, and 2 cups shredded cheese until melted.
Step 6. Remove the sauce from the heat. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat.
Step 7: Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese and panko.
Make it ahead: Once you’ve topped the pasta with the cheese and panko, allow it to cool in the baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Remove the dish from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Step 8: Bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
What to serve with mac and cheese
Mac and cheese can be served as a side or a main dish. It’s a classic BBQ side dish served alongside brisket, ribs, pulled pork, pit beans, and coleslaw. And when serving it as the main dish, I like to serve it with a side of smoked sausage, herb garlic bread, or a simple green salad (or all three if serving it to company).
Looking for more comfort food? Try my French Dip Sandwiches made with tender Instant Pot roast beef, softened onions, melted cheese, and delicious jus.
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Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni pasta
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 3 cups shredded cheese
- ¼ cup panko
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease a 9-inch square or 10-inch round baking dish.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until almost al dente, about 5 minutes. The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux.
- Gradually add the milk, whisking until smooth and combined.
- Whisk in salt, paprika, and 2 cups shredded cheese until melted.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to coat.
- Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese and panko.
- Bake for 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes, until golden brown.
- Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
