Baked Macaroni and Cheese 🧀🍝
A classic comfort food with creamy cheese sauce baked to golden perfection.
🧂 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (or mix of cheddar and mozzarella)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika (optional, for flavor and color)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (for topping, optional)
- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for topping)
🔥 Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil macaroni until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make cheese sauce:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until thickened (~5 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix cooked macaroni with cheese sauce until evenly coated.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour mixture into a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Optional topping: Mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan and sprinkle on top for crunch.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Serve hot: Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
💡 Tips
- Use a mix of cheeses (cheddar, Gruyère, mozzarella) for depth of flavor.
- For extra richness, stir in a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream.
- Add-ins: cooked bacon, caramelized onions, or steamed broccoli for variation.
- For crispy topping, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end.
If you want, I can also give a Southern-style baked macaroni and cheese version that’s extra creamy with a crunchy top.
