Name: Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12 Servings
Ingredients: 1 pound Pasta (Conchiglie) (454g); 1 quart milk (946mL); 1/2 cup flour (60g); 1 stick unsalted butter (113g); 1/2 tsp nutmeg (1g); 3/4 tbsp salt (4g, plus 1 tsp for salting the pasta water); 3/4 tsp black pepper (4g, freshly ground); 10 oz gruyer cheese (283g, freshly grated); 6 oz sharp cheddar (170g, freshly grated); 6 oz red cheddar (170g, freshly grated); 1/3 cup pecorino romano (35g); 1/4 cup bread crumbs (30g); 2 tbsp olive oil (30mL, for pasta water)

This creamy, cheesey, generally wonderful baked mac and cheese is a decadent treat that takes comfort food to the next level! I used all my favorite cheeses in an easy to whip up bechamel sauce to make this addictive dish!

A large white serving dish filled with mac and cheese

Homemade baked mac & cheese is a dangerous dish to learn… Sure, boxed mac and cheese is good BUT it can’t hold a candle to this. This recipe gives you a chance to use some nicer cheeses and create something more personal.

The base of this dish is a classic white sauce, with lots and LOTS of cheese. The end result is a rich, cheesy pasta dish. Anybody else find this hard to resist??

What cheese should I use for my baked Mac and cheese?

I used a combination of gruyere, along with two types of 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.

OK, so this is a pretty indulgent dish; lots of cheese, a “drop” of butter, etc. However in moderation, or excess upon occasion, it’s totally fine 🙂

A Few Notes

Use the cheeses you love!!! And it you can’t find one of my cheeses sub out for something similar. I love red cheddar but it’s not available at most markets so use regular sharp cheddar or just skip.
Toasting breadcrumbs in butter is magic, 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.

Steps to Make This Mac & Cheese

How do you make baked Mac and cheese?

Add olive oil to a pot of boiling salted water and add the pasta. Cook it according to the instructions, drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking, heat the milk in a pot making sure not to allow it to come to a boil. 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.
Add the milk in while whisking and cook until thickened. It will take about 2 to 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat and mix in the cheeses, salt, nutmeg and pepper.
Once it is all mixed in it should look nice and creamy!
Now melt one tablespoon of butter and mix it in with the breadcrumbs.
Add the cooked pasta to your mixture and mix well so all of the pasta is evenly coated. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the breadcrumbs and some more pecorino romano if you’d like. Bake at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes.

I love seeing the little specks of pepper and nutmeg dotted throughout the dish! This kind of dish won’t last long…

If you’ve tried this baked mac and cheese then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

photo of a gold serving spoon in a dish of mac and cheese

5 from 5 votes