Description
This Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food dish that is creamy, cheesy, and satisfying. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, this classic mac and cheese is sure to be a hit with everyone.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound dry macaroni pasta
Cheese Sauce:
- 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
- 3 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup White Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
Topping:
- 1/2 cup panko
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13 (3 Qt) baking dish with cooking spray or melted butter and set aside.
- Mix topping: In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients and set aside.
- Cook pasta: Boil salted water, cook pasta until almost al dente, drain and toss with oil/butter.
- Make cheese sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, add milk and Half and Half gradually. Season and thicken sauce.
- Add cheese: Stir in cheeses until smooth. Pour over pasta, mix well.
- Assemble and bake: Pour mixture into a baking dish, top with panko mixture, bake for 20 minutes at 350°F, then broil briefly if needed.
- Rest and serve: Let the mac and cheese sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add diced ham, cooked bacon, or chopped vegetables to the mac and cheese before baking.
- Feel free to customize the cheese blend based on your preferences.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
