Description
Cheese Baked Macaroni is the ultimate comfort food, featuring creamy, cheesy goodness baked to perfection. This easy-to-make, homemade mac and cheese recipe offers a deliciously crispy breadcrumb topping, making it the perfect dish for a weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing side at your next gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk, cooking until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the Cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir until fully melted and smooth.
- Combine: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni and cheese sauce, stirring to coat the pasta well.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Add Breadcrumbs: Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top of the mixture for a crispy, golden finish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cheese Variations: For a richer flavor, try adding mozzarella, Gruyère, or Gouda to the cheese sauce.
- Breadcrumbs: You can use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
- Make Ahead: Assemble the dish ahead of time and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake it.
- Spices: Feel free to adjust the paprika and pepper to your taste or add a dash of cayenne for some extra heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish / Comfort Food / Pasta Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Cheese baked macaroni, mac and cheese, comfort food, baked macaroni and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, cheesy pasta recipe, easy macaroni recipe