Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Creamy, cheesy, and baked to golden perfection, this oven-baked mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Made with a rich cheese sauce and simple ingredients, it’s a family favorite perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword cheese, macaroni, pasta

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Servings

Calories 392kcal

Author Jesseca

Ingredients

8 ounces elbow macaroni uncooked
4 tablespoons salted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1½ cups milk
1/2 cup half and half
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
1 cup white cheddar shredded
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with one tablespoon of butter and set it aside. This ensures the mac and cheese won’t stick when baked.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package directions (it will finish cooking in the oven). Drain the pasta and set it aside.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once fully melted, sprinkle in the flour and whisk immediately to combine. Continue whisking for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
While whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk and half and half. Whisk until the mixture is smooth, with no lumps. Simmer for 2 minutes, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens slightly.
Turn off the heat (or remove the pan from the burner). Stir in one cup of sharp cheddar and all of the white cheddar cheese. Whisk until the cheese is fully melted and smooth. Add the salt, garlic powder, dry mustard, and pepper, whisking to combine. For a subtle kick, stir in a dash of hot sauce.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the cheese sauce. Stir until every piece is coated in that luscious sauce.
Pour the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar evenly over the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

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