Homemade baked mac and cheese is a creamy, rich, perfect main or side dish that is loaded with cheese in a quick delicious homemade sauce. As a big fan of cheese, homemade macaroni and cheese is my personal favourite go-to recipe: it is so creamy and cheesy. The incredibly flavourful cheesy taste explodes in your mouth – I always find my self wanting more whenever I make this simple mac and cheese recipe.
The way I like my mac and cheese is for it be creamy, and here I’m going to show you how. Homemade mac and cheese is so much better than store-bought ones: it is so much healthier and more delicious. I also added breadcrumbs on top for the crunchy and crispy texture.
Mac And Cheese Sauce
Stop making the boxed mac and cheese and try making this easy recipe which has a yummy creamy Béchamel sauce loaded with cheese and seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Don’t be afraid of making Béchamel sauce, believe me, is so easy to make.
The Best Cheese For Mac And Cheese
In this recipe, I used two cups of cheddar cheese and one cup of mozzarella cheese because:
Cheddar cheese: has a strong, sharp flavour and melts quickly.
Mozzarella cheese: It is stretchy, gooey, and melty.
Also, you can use Jack cheese, gouda or Parmesan cheese.
What Do I need To Make This Baked Mac And Cheese
To make this creamy macaroni and cheesy sauce, you will need the following ingredients.
For The Sauce
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Milk
- Salt
- Mozzarella, shredded
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Garlic powder
- Ground black pepper
For Macaroni and Topping
- Pasta, you can use any shape you like; however, I prefer using the elbow.
- Breadcrumbs
- Butter
How To Make This Creamy Macaroni And Cheese
Cooking the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to the boil then add the macaroni and cook until fully cooked.
Drain the macaroni using a colander then set aside.
Making the mac and cheese sauce: In a large saucepan melt butter over medium heat then add the flour and stir.
Occasionally stirring for 1-2 minutes.
After that, add half of the milk and stir using the whisk until the mixture dissolves then add the rest of the milk.
Add garlic powder, salt and pepper then stir.
Occasionally stirring until the sauce thickens (cook for about 7 minutes).
Turn off the heat then add the cheddar and mozzarella cheese to the sauce, stir.
Assembling everything: Firstly, preheat the oven at 170C.
After that, combine the breadcrumbs with the butter then set aside.
Put the macaroni in a bowl then pour the sauce over it and stir well.
Now, pour the mixture in a baking dish and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over it.
Baking: Bake for about 20 minutes then serve.
Tips For The Best Mac And Cheese Result
Don’t overbake the macaroni and cheese or you will be wasting your sauce.
You can garnish this dish with something green like some chopped parsley or some fresh thyme. (thyme will give a wonderful smell and taste to that dish).
You can replace the breadcrumbs topping with more cheese if you like; however, breadcrumbs give this dish a bit of crunchiness.
What To Serve With Macaroni And Cheese
This dish needs some vegies either you can serve it with a green salad or one of the dishes below.
More Savoury Recipes
- Garlic Butter Sautéed Mushrooms
- Green Beans In Tomato Sauce
- Mediterranean Eggplant Salad
- Easy Potato Salad Recipe
Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
For Macaroni and Topping
- 300 g pasta elbow
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter
For The Sauce
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup mozzarella shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to the boil then add the macaroni and cook until fully cooked.
- Drain the macaroni using a colander then set aside.
Making the mac and cheese sauce
- In a large saucepan melt butter over medium heat then add the flour and stir.
- Occasionally stirring for 1-2 minutes.
- After that, add half of the milk and stir using the whisk until the mixture dissolves then add the rest of the milk.
- Add garlic powder, salt and pepper then stir.
- Occasionally stirring until the sauce thickens (cook for about 7 minutes).
- Turn off the heat then add the cheddar and mozzarella cheese to the sauce, stir.
- Preheat the oven at 170C.
- Combine the breadcrumbs with the butter then set aside.
- Put the macaroni in a bowl then pour the sauce over it and stir well.
- Now, pour the mixture in a baking dish and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over it.
- Bake for about 20 minutes then serve.
Nutrition
