Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 cuncooked elbow macaroni
- ¼ cbutter
cubed
- ¼ call-purpose flour
- 1 tspsalt
- ¾ tspground mustard
- ½ tsppepper
- few dashes hot pepper sauce
- 3 cwhole milk
- 5 cshredded cheddar cheese
divided
- optional: crumbled cooked bacon and coarsely ground pepper
Directions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook the macaroni noodles in boiling water until almost tender. Drain the noodles.
- 2
While the noodles cook, you'll begin making a roux. Melt the butter over medium heat in a Dutch oven. Stir the flour into the melted butter, then the salt, mustard, pepper and hot sauce. Whisk until smooth. Cook, stirring, until it begins bubbling, about one minute. Stir in the cooked macaroni, milk and 4 cups cheese.
- 3
Transfer the mac and cheese to an ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish. Cover and bake until bubbly, 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover, and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Let stand for five minutes before serving. If desired, top with bacon and pepper.
Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
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About this Recipe
Craving the ultimate comfort food experience? This Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe delivers a deeply satisfying, incredibly cheesy dish that will transport you straight back to Grandma's kitchen. It's the kind of classic, bubbly goodness that makes any meal feel like a special occasion.
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe shines by embracing the time-honored techniques that create truly exceptional baked mac and cheese. It starts with a generous foundation of butter and whole milk, slowly creating a rich, velvety sauce that envelops every piece of macaroni. The secret to its irresistible flavor lies in the careful balance of sharp cheddar, a hint of ground mustard, and a few dashes of hot pepper sauce, which subtly enhance the cheesy notes without overpowering them. Baking it until gloriously bubbly ensures a perfectly melted, cohesive dish.
What to Expect
Prepare for a hearty, incredibly creamy, and deeply flavorful macaroni and cheese with a golden, bubbly top straight from the oven. Each bite offers a comforting chew from the macaroni, swimming in a luxurious, smooth cheese sauce. This substantial dish is designed for sharing, yielding an impressive 16 servings, making it perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, or simply ensuring you have plenty of leftovers of this delightful classic. It's the quintessential comfort food, rich and utterly satisfying.
Customization & Variations
While this recipe truly shines with classic shredded cheddar cheese, you can explore different aged cheddars for a more complex flavor profile. For an extra layer of richness and texture, consider stirring in the optional crumbled cooked bacon before baking, or sprinkling it over the top just before serving. A generous grinding of coarsely ground pepper over individual servings adds a lovely aromatic finish. Feel free to adjust the amount of hot pepper sauce to your preference for a subtle warmth or a more pronounced kick.
Serving & Context
This baked macaroni and cheese is the ultimate main course for cozy family dinners or a cherished side dish at any potluck. Serve it alongside a simple green salad to cut through its richness, or as the star of your next comfort food feast.