Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Baked macaroni and cheese doesn’t have to be complicated with layers of ingredients to be the soul-warming food you crave. This homemade baked macaroni and cheese is my most favorite and has pleased crowds, small families, kids and picky eaters alike–give it a try and you’ll see why.
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Sometimes you buy that glowing yellow macaroni in the box. Your kids like it, but it glows like the kryptonite they used in the old Christoper Reeve Superman movies.
That’s not normal people.
And I hate to break it to you, but there’s nothing real in that box either.
I hate feeding it to my kids and I dare say that you hate it too. But I can also guess you don’t know many other alternatives. Sure, you can get a box of Velveeta and melt that over some noodles. That works too, but that stuff doesn’t even need to be refrigerated. It’s mystery cheese.
So if you’re looking for the real deal, the old school baked macaroni and cheese the way your grandma might have made it–this is it.
Key Takeaways
- Stir constantly so the sauce doesn’t split and keep the heat down low.
- Use strong flavored cheeses like Swiss and sharp cheddar grated from a block and never bagged pre-shredded.
- Make sure to taste the sauce before baking and adjust with more salt or a dash of red wine vinegar to your preference.
- You can make this mac and cheese up to three days in advance and bake it later.
- It will get dry and mushy in a slow cooker. I don’t recommend one.
Can I make this macaroni and cheese ahead and bake it when I’m ready?
Yes you sure can. Just let it cool down, put some plastic wrap right against the surface of the mac and cheese (to keep it from forming a skin) and stick it in the fridge.
If you have a few minutes to bring it out and let it warm slightly before you bake it, do that. But if you can’t, just bake it till the center is hot and the edges are bubbling.
Can I freeze macaroni and cheese?
I get asked that a lot and my answer is always no.
As the pasta and cheese sauce sit, it will thicken and when you thaw it and bake it, the creamy consistency is just gone. It’s thick and gloppy.
Plus if you freeze it and it’s still a bit warm, water crystals will form and then thaw into your dish and could make it separate when you bake it.
Besides, it’s so fast to make, there’s not really a reason to freeze your macaroni and cheese.
Tips for the best macaroni and cheese you’ll ever eat
Feel like you may still need some help? If you have time, jump over to this post for the juicy details: 18 Secrets to the Richest, Creamiest Mac and Cheese You’ll Ever Eat or focus on these tips:
- Never stop stirring your milk once it hits the pan. If your skillet is too hot or you walk away and for a minute you could scorch the white sauce and it will curdle. It doesn’t really hurt the taste, but it will look sort of clumpy. Some readers have called it “grainy”. It only takes 5 minutes. Just hang out and stir until that sauce is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon.
- Use good cheese in your baked macaroni and cheese. That means avoiding bagged, pre-shredded cheeses because they contain cellulose (an anti-caking agent) that can cause your cheese not to melt as it should.
- Try to choose a melting cheese and a flavor cheese for the best flavor and texture in your baked macaroni and cheese. Sharp cheddar and Swiss are my favorites but you can go as bold as you want!
- Taste as you go. Taste your cheese sauce before you add your pasta. Is it bland? That can be because of the cheese you used or even the kind of salt you seasoned with. If it doesn’t have enough flavor, add a pinch more salt, stir it in and taste it again until it suits you.
- Feel free to add more pasta if you want to. Some people say that this recipe doesn’t have enough noodles in it, but I’ve never had that problem. And yes, you should cook your pasta before adding it to the cheese sauce.
Try a dash of vinegar for more zing
Because of the fat in the dairy, mac and cheese often needs some acid to bring the flavors to life. I love adding 1-2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar to the sauce before stirring in the pasta. Avoid strong vinegars like apple cider or white distilled.
Do I have to bake my macaroni and cheese?
Not if you don’t want to. You can actually eat it right from the pan or just stick it under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the top if you’d rather.
It works just as well and is a great shortcut when you are running low on time.
How can I dress up my macaroni and cheese?
This baked macaroni and cheese may be the most versatile dish ever.
Add in some red pepper for kick, any cheeses you like (Fontina is glorious in here), add veggies like broccoli and chopped chicken and it’s a one-dish meal even.
Or BACON. Hello. Yeah. Make some garlic bread crumbs for the top if you want some crunch and throw those on. It’s really endless. I use this recipe for the base of these ham and sage creamy noodles.
How to measure pasta for this recipe
This recipe is written by volume (cups) and sometimes people think that since a cup is 8 ounces (ounces is a weight measurement) that they can simply use 12-16 ounces of pasta or go by the weight of the dry pasta written on the box.
You’ll end up with problems if you do this.
Please follow the volume instructions and measure your pasta dry in a measuring cup meant for dry items (not a liquid one).
Small pastas like ditalini or little wagon wheels can go up to about 2 cups and be fine in the recipe, and large ones like bow tie or cellentani can as well. If you will stick to elbow pasta until you get the hang of things you’ll be better off.
I’ve made this recipe with every pasta shape on the market and if you will measure in cups, your recipe will be just right.
How to double baked mac and cheese
Simply double the recipe below (look for the 1x, 2x or 3x on the right side of the recipe to double or triple the ingredients). Then place it in a 9×13. The bake time should be close to the same. Just bake until the center is hot and the edges bubble.
What should I serve with my macaroni and cheese?
Avoid the temptation to make more starchy foods (like potatoes) with your mac and cheese. Instead, try:
- Crispy fried chicken tenders
- Classic stuffed peppers
- Southern cornbread
- Homestyle meatloaf with brown sugar glaze
Other macaroni and cheese recipes you’ll want to devour:
- Lobster mac and cheese
- Spicy baked macaroni and cheese
- Creamy ham and sage macaroni and cheese
- Three cheese stovetop ultra creamy mac and cheese
- The best baked macaroni and cheese with tomatoes
- Truly easy microwave easy mac and cheese
- Super Creamy gluten free mac and cheese
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni shells or cavatappi
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk not skim
- 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheese I like 1 cup each of sharp cheddar and Swiss
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a generous sprinkling of salt the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet or pot large enough to hold the pasta when it’s done.
- Add the flour and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.
- Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps and add the salt and pepper.
- Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble. About 6 minutes.
- Stir in the cheese and whisk until smooth and melted. Turn off the heat.
- When the pasta is almost done but still firm, drain it and add to the sauce.
- Stir the pasta into the sauce and bake in a greased 2 quart dish (or an 8×8 pan works pretty well) 20-25 minutes until browned and bubbly. You can also skip baking it if you want it super creamy and just put it under the broiler to brown the top (keep an eye on it) and then serve.
I made this yesterday and it is delicious. Thank you for the recipe
I had some shredded gruyère cheese to use up, so I wanted to find an easy Mac n cheese receipt. This was really good and easy. I used 1/2 cup of Gruyère and 1/2 cheddar. I dusted the top with panko crumbs and a little parm. It was really good.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It was very easy to make. I made it for Thanksgiving dinner and everyone loved it.
This was awesome! I baked fo 20 minutes and broiled on high for 5 minutes. I added cut up broccoli and diced ham and used 1/2 sharp cheddar and 1/2 Gouda. So good!!!!
I have to thank you for this recipe. My Mother was an incredible cook, however, she passed away a year ago, just short of her 95th birthday. I now kick myself for not insisting that she teach me all of her recipes from the simplest to the more complex baking secrets she held dear. One of her more “basic” dinners was mac and cheese. I never knew how it was made, I’ve cooked many a blue box but never cared for it myself. This is what I have craved.
This recipe is exactly what she made with one small addition – if she had cream cheese in the fridge she sometimes would add a “hunk” of it with the sharp and whatever else was handy. I made this tonight and my son agreed, “it’s just like Grandma’s. It’s like she’s with us again!”
So, thank you for sharing something so basic but so traditional and absolutely delicious.
Oh Cricket what a precious memory to have. I’m so glad you were able to enjoy that special moment and that you found a recipe that’s just right. 🙂 –Rachel
Rachel,
Thank you for your reply. It was a special meal last night (I had hoped to have left overs but my son finished it for breakfast!!!!) Anyway, I was wondering if you have a recipe for creamed chip beef – or maybe you know if this roux is what is used. Thank you again.
I don’t have a recipe for creamed chipped beef, but I trust America’s Test Kitchen; check out their recipe here: https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cookscountry/recipes/6882-creamed-chipped-beef
–Rachel
This has been one of the best mac-n-cheese recipes! I added broccoli and Italian sausage and made a good comfort dish!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Anita!
Decent recipe, especially w/really sharp cheddar and Swiss cheese 🧀. However, I found just a couple of teaspoons of flour to be sufficient for me to make a roux. I added green onions and a Panko topping w/a bit of Parmesan cheese. 🙂
Thanks for your thoughts. A roux by definition is equal parts flour and fat. You’re welcome to reduce the flour as long as you reduce the butter as well but I can’t make any promises on how it would turn out. I’m glad you enjoyed your version! –Rachel
My sister makes this recipe so I know it’s good. Have you tried doing the baking part in a crockpot? I need to travel with this, and I think a crockpot would be the most helpful to keep warm when I get there.
Hey Sarah, unfortunately a crock pot will just steam–not bake and it will cause the noodles to just soak up the sauce causing it to be dry and clumpy. It’s a tough recipe to keep creamy when you make it several hours ahead.
Rachel, does doubling the recipe impact the baking time? Any recommendation on size of pan to use for doubling?
Hey Meg–it doesn’t effect the bake time a ton if you don’t put it in a dish that’s too small and pile the mac and cheese really deep. All you want to do is get the top to brown and the center to just get hot. To double, I like a 9×13 baking dish. That should do it for ya! Enjoy. 🙂 –Rachel
Great recipe!
I used Beecher’s cheese and sharp cheddar cheese with panko bread crumbs on top. I also used nonfat milk in the white sauce and it turns out fine. As a matter of fact I have made a lot of white sauce with nonfat milk and it always turns out.