Description
Creamy, cheesy macaroni beckons with pure comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen. Baked to golden perfection, this classic dish delivers hearty satisfaction that warms your soul from the first delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
Cheeses:
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon salt, and bring to a rapid boil. Cook 2 cups elbow macaroni for 8 minutes until tender, then drain completely.
- Melt ¼ cup unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ¼ cup flour and cook for 45-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Slowly pour 2 cups milk into the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly. Simmer for 5-7 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove sauce from heat and fold in 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Stir the cheese sauce into the cooked macaroni until every noodle is perfectly coated.
- Transfer the creamy mixture to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle ½ cup breadcrumbs evenly across the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F until the surface turns golden brown and edges become crispy.
- Allow the macaroni to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the sauce set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Cheese selection matters tremendously, so opt for high-quality sharp cheddar and freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor depth.
- Avoid overcooking pasta during initial boiling, as it continues cooking in the cheese sauce and will become mushy if too soft.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free breadcrumbs on top.
- Experiment with additional mix-ins like crispy bacon bits, diced jalapeños, or caramelized onions to personalize your mac and cheese.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 555 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg