Description
This is the best homemade baked mac and cheese recipe. It is creamy, cheesy, and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the macaroni according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and paprika until smooth.
- Gradually whisk in milk, cooking until thickened.
- Add 3 cups of cheese to the mixture and stir until melted.
- Combine cheese sauce with cooked macaroni.
- Pour into a baking dish and sprinkle remaining cheese and breadcrumbs on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, add cream cheese to the cheese sauce.
- You can use different types of cheese for varied flavors.
- Let it cool slightly before serving for better slicing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: baked mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese