Baked Mac and Cheese
A comforting and nostalgic dish, homemade baked mac and cheese features creamy cheese sauce and a crunchy panko topping, perfect for any gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ½ cups panko crumbs
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish.
- Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until just short of al dente; drain well.
- Coat the pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Make the sauce by melting butter, then whisk in flour, cooking until bubbling.
- Gradually pour in the milk while whisking until thickened, then season with salt and pepper.
- Add half of the shredded cheeses, mixing until melted, and then fold in the remaining cheese.
- Combine the pasta with the cheese sauce, ensuring all pasta is coated, then transfer to the baking dish.
- Prepare a topping by mixing panko with melted butter and sprinkle over the pasta mixture.
- Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and cheese is bubbling.
Notes
Feel free to customize with different cheeses or add-ins like bacon or broccoli. For deeper flavor and crunch, do not skip the panko topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Find it online: https://www.spiritsdrink.com/best-homemade-baked-mac-and-cheese/