Baked mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a dish that is often served at potlucks, family gatherings, and holiday meals. There are many different recipes for baked mac and cheese, but they all typically include macaroni noodles, cheese, milk, butter, and seasonings. Some recipes also include additional ingredients, such as vegetables, meat, or breadcrumbs. No matter which recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and satisfying dish.
Here are our top 14 tried and tested recipes!
MOM'S FAVORITE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This is a macaroni and cheese I first made 3 years ago when I was in California. When I got back to Texas I made it for my mom. This is now her favorite baked macaroni and cheese. She begs me to make it when I come to visit.
Provided by GEPETTO_69
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk, salt, mustard and pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- To the milk mixture add the Cheddar and American cheeses; stir until cheese melts. Combine macaroni and cheese sauce in a 2 quart baking dish; mix well.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 561 calories, Carbohydrate 36.5 g, Cholesterol 100.1 mg, Fat 33.3 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 28.3 g, SaturatedFat 20.7 g, Sodium 1194 mg, Sugar 5.2 g
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Trisha Yearwood
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- For the macaroni: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the salt and macaroni. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the macaroni until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain well.
- For the cheese sauce: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Using a wire whisk, stir in the flour and salt, stirring and cooking over medium heat until the roux bubbles and the flour turns pale brown, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk and then whisk in the remaining 1 cup milk. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese and stir until it melts. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix thoroughly.
- For the topping: In a small bowl, stir the breadcrumbs with the butter until the crumbs are moistened.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Bake until the dish bubbles around the edges, about 15 minutes.
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
Even people who have had their own homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe for years ask for mine when they taste this crumb-topped version. For the best baked mac and cheese, use extra-sharp white cheddar cheese for more flavor. -Shelby Thompson of Dover, Delaware
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain., In a Dutch oven, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat; saute onion until tender. Stir in flour and seasonings until blended; gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., In a microwave, melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 689 calories, Fat 37g fat (22g saturated fat), Cholesterol 104mg cholesterol, Sodium 834mg sodium, Carbohydrate 62g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This baked mac and cheese - perfect for a large crowd or as a side dish - is super simple to make. The cream cheese gives it richness and a little tang.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield Serves 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Set an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it is al dente, about 6 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 3/4 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
- Heat the half-and-half and cayenne in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering until the half-and-half is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the macaroni and the reserved pasta water to the saucepan and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will suck up a lot of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if needed. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Toss the bread crumbs with the butter and a sprinkle of salt in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are lightly browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
In classic Southern style, this is a baked mac and cheese set in a light egg custard and flavored with sharp yellow Cheddar. Creamy and moist, it bridges the gap between those who like their mac and cheese sliceable and those who prefer to spoon it, oozing, from the pot.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender, about 7 minutes; strain well. Transfer the macaroni to a large bowl, add the butter and toss to coat.
- Whisk together the milk, eggs and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl. Add the milk-egg mixture to the macaroni; add the Cheddar and stir until it is evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
- Bake until the custard is set and the top is browned and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
A friend of mine sent this recipe to me when I got my first apartment, because she knows how much I hate cooking! It's really easy -- even I can make it -- and tastes great. I'm not sure where she found the recipe, but it included the note 'Good source of protein, vitamin A, B group vitamins, calcium.'
Provided by Meredith
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Yield 3
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a large pot of salted water, lightly boil the macaroni for about 5 minutes until half-cooked.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a large cup. Add butter and cheese to the egg and milk. Stir well.
- Place the lightly cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese liquid over the macaroni, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stir well. Press the mixture evenly around the baking dish.
- Bake uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 968.1 calories, Carbohydrate 92.6 g, Cholesterol 194.2 mg, Fat 45.4 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 45.6 g, SaturatedFat 27.6 g, Sodium 736 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Get Alton Brown's Baked Macaroni and Cheese from Good Eats on Food Network, a classic recipe made with cheddar cheese and topped with buttery breadcrumbs.
Provided by Alton Brown
Categories side-dish
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
- Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
- Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
- Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.
SOUTHERN BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This rich and decadent baked pasta is a Southern Black staple for holidays and special occasions. Steering away from the standard stovetop mac, this version includes three kinds of cheese and bakes up like a casserole with a crispy, golden top. The addition of eggs makes it similar to a cheesy, savory custard. Warning: This is not diet food!
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 1h35m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until 3 minutes less than fully cooked. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled; drain well. Add the cooked pasta back to the pot.
- Put the eggs, heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, ground mustard, nutmeg and a big pinch of salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Pour over the cooked pasta and stir to combine.
- Toss together the Cheddar, mozzarella and Gouda in a large bowl. Add the cheeses to the pot and stir to evenly combine. Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Bake until the center of the mac and cheese is set and the top is golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes before serving.
THE EASIEST BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE
There may be lots of recipes out there for macaroni and cheese, but this is the first one I ever found that you don't have to cook the macaroni before you bake it. It is also really simple to put together - all in the casserole dish you are baking it in! I got this from a newsletter of an organization. I take this to potlucks all the time and I always come home with none of it left. It's a dish I'm constantly handing out the recipe for; be sure not to use cheese that has been frozen and thawed because it will ruin the consistency of the dish. You can also cut down on the butter if you would like to lose some of the fat. This is not a real creamy cheesy type of macaroni and cheese, which can sometimes be a little too rich for our tastes. I've made those, but my family prefers this kind over any other.
Provided by CookingONTheSide
Categories Cheese
Time 1h10m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Melt butter in microwave.
- Pour macaroni in 2-3 quart casserole dish. Pour butter over macaroni. Stir well to coat.
- Add salt and pepper. Stir well.
- Add cheese. Sometimes I may use a mixture of monterey, colby and cheddar, depending on what I have at the time. Mix well.
- Add milk. Do not stir.
- Bake uncovered in oven for 60 minutes. I do think this tastes best when it is still hot from the oven.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 704, Fat 37.3, SaturatedFat 23.1, Cholesterol 116.4, Sodium 1131.8, Carbohydrate 61.2, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 2, Protein 30.7
TASTY BAKED MAC N CHEESE
I love this recipe because it's taken me so long to actually get a good tasting noodle and not just a good tasting piece of cheese on top. This recipe was just trial and error and it's really really good in my opinion. I'm really looking for feedback on this recipe. Thanks so much! This is really good even days after for leftovers. The cheese remelts and the flavor really sets in. Enjoy!
Provided by Eva Maria
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 9x13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until almost cooked through and firm to the bite, about 7 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Sprinkle macaroni with 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir 1/2 cup butter into the pasta.
- Mix 1/4 cup butter, sour cream, cream cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese, and egg yolk together in a bowl. Stir flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper, and milk into the sour cream mixture.
- Spread 1/4 cup sour cream sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Stir remaining sour cream sauce into macaroni. Pour macaroni into baking dish atop sauce layer; sprinkle mild Cheddar cheese over the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and cheese topping has melted, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.4 calories, Carbohydrate 31.3 g, Cholesterol 98.2 mg, Fat 29.7 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 18.4 g, Sodium 532.4 mg, Sugar 2.2 g
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE FOR ONE
This is a fast, easy to prepare, and filling meal. Once you try homemade mac and cheese, you'll never want the boxed stuff again. I cook mine in a soup crock.
Provided by amydoll
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 1
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease an oven-proof soup crock or 1 cup baking dish.
- Fill a small saucepan with water, and bring to a boil. Stir in the macaroni; boil until cooked but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well, and reserve.
- In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, onion powder, and milk; whisk until smooth. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and whisk in 1/3 cup cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. Stir in the cooked macaroni. Spoon the macaroni and cheese into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon cheddar cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted and the macaroni is heated through, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 468.7 calories, Carbohydrate 30 g, Cholesterol 88.6 mg, Fat 30 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 19.8 g, SaturatedFat 18.7 g, Sodium 1046.2 mg, Sugar 6.5 g
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE
This Baked Mac & Cheese has creamy cheesy taste topped off with buttery breadcrumbs. It is true "comfort food."
Provided by Steph Loaiza
Categories lunch Main Course
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions and set aside.
- In a saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter until melted.
- Slowly whisk in flour until blended, and then slowly add in the milk.
- Bring mixture to a boil and continue stirring until it starts to thicken.
- Add in cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Add cooked macaroni to the sauce and stir until completely combined.
- Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
- Melt the remaining 1/4 cup butter and mix it with the bread crumbs, then sprinkle it over the macaroni mixture.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 491 kcal, Carbohydrate 41 g, Protein 19 g, Fat 28 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 79 mg, Sodium 620 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 6 g, ServingSize 1 serving
BAKED MAC & CHEESE
"I have added other ingredients like turkey, broccoli and cauliflower, to make this a full meal. The possibilities are endless!" Denise Hash, Billings, MT
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. In a large saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk; stir in the salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and nutmeg. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheeses until melted., Drain pasta; stir in cheese sauce. Transfer to an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 428 calories, Fat 20g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 602mg sodium, Carbohydrate 42g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
BAKED MACARONI
I suggested using a glass dish because you can see how brown the casserole is getting (and brown is a good thing). My family loves the crispy sides and topping.
Provided by dojemi
Categories Weeknight
Time 1h20m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix together the flour, 1/4 cup butter and the milk.
- Add cheese chunks and allow to melt (continually stirring and watching so cheese does not burn).
- Add the salt and pepper.
- Combine the ziti and cheese sauce.
- Put into casserole dish (I use glass) which has been well buttered with the remaining 1/4 stick of butter (use it all).
- Mix Ritz with enough butter to moisten the crackers (amount is entirely up to you, but make enough to cover the casserole completely) The more the better.
- Bake@ 350 degrees for approximately1 hour.
- Serve immediately.
Tips:
- Use a variety of cheeses: Combining different types of cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan, creates a more flavorful and complex mac and cheese.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: Overcooked macaroni becomes mushy and loses its texture in the baked mac and cheese.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the cheese sauce and prevent it from becoming grainy.
- Season the cheese sauce: Don't just rely on the cheese for flavor. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and other spices to taste.
- Don't overbake the mac and cheese: The macaroni should be heated through and the cheese sauce should be melted and bubbly, but the dish should not be dry or crusty.
- Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers: This adds a crispy texture and extra flavor.
- Let the mac and cheese rest before serving: This allows the flavors to meld and the dish to set.
Conclusion:
Baked mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that's easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With a few simple tips, you can create a delicious and memorable mac and cheese that will be enjoyed by everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these baked mac and cheese recipes a try.
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