The BEST Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

One of my favorite parts of the holidays is getting to make my famous baked mac and cheese recipe to feed a crowd. So, if you’re still stuck on Kraft Dinner, let me introduce you to a whole new world.

I brought this dish to a Friendsgiving party last year and made enough to fit into a large aluminium serving tray. By the end of the night, the entire tray had been devoured, and I had received compliments from at least four different people. I was astounded by how many people loved my creamy mac and cheese recipe, but it also made me realize it had to be shared. This mac and cheese is HEAVENLY and certainly deserves to be gone in less than an hour.

I’m also going to be honest with you here. I eyeball most of the measurements in my recipes. GASP! Shocker, I know. So, feel free to use these measurements with a grain of salt. Keep adding more or less liquid and tasting here and there to ensure the flavours and consistencies are to your personal liking.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 2 cups whole-fat milk or creamer
  • 3 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup butter or margarine
  • 1/4 cup white flour
  • A handful of breadcrumbs
  • Seasonings to taste: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cumin

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese:

  1. In a large pot, boil water and salt generously. Once the water starts boiling, add your macaroni pasta and cook until pasta is al dente (this is important because it will continue cooking in the oven, and you don’t want mushy pasta). Set aside in a strainer and pour cold water over it. This will make sure the pasta doesn’t stick together while you make the cheese sauce.
  2. In another medium-sized pot, melt your butter or margarine on low heat. Once it turns to a liquid, slowly sprinkle in your flour. Whisk until you have a slightly thick consistency and it starts to brown a little. This will be your roux.
  3. To your roux, add your milk slowly. Whisk until your flour mixture is well incorporated into the liquid. Wait for the milk to start bubbling.
  4. To your hot milk mixture, slowly sprinkle in your cheeses. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Make sure to save some of your cheese to sprinkle on top of your tray later. Once the mixture is creamy enough, add salt and seasonings to taste.
  5. Add your cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix until well combined.
  6. In a large baking tray, pour in half of your macaroni. Sprinkle cheese over the top, then layer on more macaroni. Sprinkle more cheese and finish it off with a layer of breadcrumbs.
  7. Broil at 400 degrees F for 5-8 minutes or until the top cheese layer is golden brown.

Home-made baked macaroni and cheese with crispy bread crumb topping

Tips for Making the Best Mac and Cheese Recipe

Wanna know the secret to making the best creamy mac and cheese of your life? Here are a few tidbits of advice that could seriously step up your homemade mac and cheese recipe.

  • The first step to making this easy mac and cheese recipe is getting the freshest cheeses possible. That means you’ll want to get blocks of cheese instead of the pre-shredded cheese that comes in bags. Sure, it might get the job done, but pre-shredded cheese is coated in preservatives and won’t give you the perfect consistency you want.

  • Start with a roux. This is a mistake that many mac and cheese lovers make — they go straight to the cheese sauce without this key thickening agent! The roux will give you that creamy texture that will have people lining up by the tray for a second scoop.

  • If you want the best cheese sauce, warm your milk before adding it to your roux. Adding cold milk could make your roux less apt to thicken properly.

What to Serve With Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is a pretty versatile food. It can be a yummy side dish to a full meal, or you could serve it as the main course. However, figuring out what other foods go well with this cheesy pasta can be quite intimidating.

Once you’ve taken it out of the oven, try pairing your mac and cheese with the following:

  • Smoked meats like turkey, ham, and pork
  • Sauteed collard greens
  • Air fried asparagus
  • Steamed broccoli, green beans or brussel sprouts
  • Roasted chicken
  • Grilled steak
  • Coleslaw
  • Cornbread
  • Loaded hot dogs
  • BBQ meatballs

Have you tried this recipe?

RATE this recipe for more delicious homestyle eats coming up. I’d love to know your experiences, thoughts, and suggestions in the comments below!