Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Dish
- 1 pound dry macaroni pasta
- 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.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients and set aside.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until almost al dente, then drain and transfer to a bowl.
- Make cheese sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour, then gradually whisk in milk and half and half. Season and add cheeses until smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix the cheese sauce with the pasta, season, and pour into the baking dish.
- Add topping and bake: Sprinkle panko topping over the pasta and bake for 20 minutes until golden. Broil if needed. Let it rest before serving.
Notes
- You can customize the cheeses to your preference for different flavor profiles.
- For a crispier topping, broil for an extra minute, but watch it carefully to prevent burning.
- This dish pairs well with a side salad or some steamed vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
