Description
Indulge in this classic comfort food with a homemade twist. This old-fashioned mac and cheese recipe is baked to perfection, combining creamy cheeses and a crunchy breadcrumb topping for a satisfyingly cheesy dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni:
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Topping:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Macaroni: Cook macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk and cream. Cook until thickened. Season and add cheeses, stirring until melted.
- Combine and Bake: Mix macaroni with cheese sauce, transfer to baking dish. Combine breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 25–30 minutes.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate before baking.
- For added flavor, consider mixing in cooked bacon or caramelized onions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
