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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

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A classic comfort food recipe featuring creamy cheese sauce, tender elbow macaroni, and a golden crispy breadcrumb topping, perfect for cozy dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk, warmed
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter (for breadcrumb topping)
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly butter your baking dish to prevent sticking.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 7-8 minutes until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in all-purpose flour and cook for about 2 minutes until it forms a smooth paste and turns lightly golden.
  4. Gradually pour in warmed whole milk, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 6-8 minutes.
  5. Remove sauce from heat and stir in yellow mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Fold in sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheese, stirring gently until melted and smooth.
  6. Transfer drained macaroni to a large mixing bowl and pour cheese sauce over it. Stir gently until pasta is evenly coated.
  7. In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and melted butter.
  8. Pour mac and cheese mixture into prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly on top.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
  10. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not overcook the pasta; al dente works best. Warm the milk before adding to the roux to avoid lumps. Use freshly shredded cheese for better melt and texture. Adjust seasoning gradually and taste as you go. If the sauce seems too dry during baking, add a splash of milk. Tent with foil if the top browns too quickly.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, comfort food, homemade mac and cheese, cheesy pasta, easy dinner

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/creamy-baked-mac-and-cheese-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food/