Baked Mac and Cheese

Homemade baked mac & cheese will be your go-to dish once you learn to make it the right way! Sure, boxed mac and cheese is good BUT it can’t hold a candle to this. The panko and parmesan topping is beyond delicious and the perfect compliment to that gooey, cheesy filling. 

What You’ll Need for This Recipe

Pasta: Use the traditional elbow pasta or go for the larger conchiglie.

Gruyer: This is a great melting cheese but you can sub in Swiss or gouda if needed.

 

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

1. Add pasta and salt to a pot of boiling water. Cook it according to the instructions, drain, and then set aside. It should be done just a bit before you finish the sauce. While the pasta is cooking, heat the milk and cream in another pot making sure not to allow it to come to a boil.

2. Melt 7 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large pot. Add the flour and whisk while it cooks on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the milk mixture in while whisking and cook until thickened. It will take about 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Remove from the heat and mix in the cheeses, salt, nutmeg, paprika, and pepper. Once it is all mixed in it should look nice and creamy!

5. You can toast the breadcrumbs ahead of time or while you’re making the sauce. Melt one tablespoon of butter and mix it in with the breadcrumbs over medium heat until they’re a light golden color. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then mix in about three tablespoons of shredded parmesan.

6. Add the cooked pasta to your mixture and mix well so all of the pasta is evenly coated. 

7. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the breadcrumbs and some more parmesan or pecorino Romano if you’d like. 

8. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes.

Pro Tips for this Recipe

• Use the cheeses you love!!! And it you can’t find one of my cheeses then sub out for something similar. You want a combination of a melty cheese like Swiss, gouda, or mozzarella and a flavorful cheese like cheddar, jack, and etc.
• Toasting breadcrumbs in butter is magic so try not to skip this step as it adds lots of crunch and flavor!
• You can make this a bit ahead of time then bake before serving.
• Do not overcook your pasta, it should be al dente and have a bit of bite to it. The pasta will absorb the sauce and finish cooking in the oven.
• This makes excellent leftovers. Heat portions in the microwave but reheat the leftovers in an oven; 300F until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cheese should I use?

I used a combination of gruyere along with a nice sharp cheddar. That said, you can add really any cheese you like including Monterey jack and gouda. The best cheeses are creamy, meltable, and full of flavor.

How do you make baked mac and cheese better?

Even if you were making mac and cheese from a box it can be so much better if you grate in some nice cheeses and top with fried breadcrumbs.  You’ll have more flavor and that wonderful crunchy top we all love.

What can I add to this?

Try mixing in crispy bacon bits, lobster, sautéed mushrooms, or even some diced ham.

Why should you bake it?

Baking it helps the flavors meld together and gives you that wonderful crisp top! I love the crunchy edge and gooey middle filled with little specks of pepper and nutmeg throughout.