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–+ servings
baked macaroni and cheese

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

This easy baked macaroni and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and made with a homemade cheese sauce. A simple comfort food side dish perfect for holidays, potlucks, and family dinners.
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Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 8x8-inch baking dish
  • Large saucepan or skillet
  • Whisk
  • Spatula or wooden spoon
  • Colander
  • Large pot for boiling pasta

Ingredients
  

  • ½ lb of elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ stick of butter
  • ¼ cup of all purpose flour
  • 1½ cups of sharp cheddar
  • 1 cups of mild cheddar
  • ½ tsp of salt
  • ½ tsp of pepper
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ cup sour cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
  • Bring 5 to 6 cups of water to a rolling boil. Cook until al dente according to the package directions. In other words, the pasta should be partially cooked in this step. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
    Flour being added to melted butter in a skillet to make a roux for homemade baked macaroni and cheese.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to simmer and thicken.
    Milk and cream being whisked into a roux to create the base for a homemade cheese sauce.
  • Add the sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and sour cream. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.
    Finished homemade cheese sauce stirred until smooth and creamy for easy baked macaroni and cheese.
  • Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until every piece of pasta is evenly coated.
    Cooked elbow macaroni being added to a creamy homemade cheese sauce for baked macaroni and cheese.
  • Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to the lightly greased 8x8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle additional shredded cheddar cheese over the top, if desired.
    Shredded cheddar cheese sprinkled over macaroni and cheese before baking.
  • Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and let the macaroni and cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
    Easy baked macaroni and cheese baked until golden, bubbly, and melted on top.

Notes

  • This recipe is intentionally rich and creamy. Full-fat dairy products are recommended for the best texture and flavor.
  • You can substitute 1 cup of half-and-half for the whole milk, if preferred.
  • For the best flavor, salt the pasta water with 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt before adding the macaroni. This seasons the pasta and enhances the flavor of the finished dish without changing the amount of salt used in the cheese sauce.
Keyword baked mac and cheese, baked macaroni and cheese, comfort food side dish, creamy macaroni and cheese, easy baked macaroni and cheese, family dinner side dish, holiday side dish, homemade macaroni and cheese, potluck recipe, Southern macaroni and cheese
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