The BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

The BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top. 

Ingredients

  • elbow macaroni

    cooked), (or other tubular pasta

    16 oz
  • extra virgin olive oil
    1 tbsp
  • unsalted butter
    6 tbsp
  • all purpose flour
    ⅓ c
  • whole milk
    3 c
  • heavy whipping cream
    1 c
  • sharp cheddar cheese

    shredded

    4 c
  • gruyere cheese

    shredded

    2 c
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • panko crumbs
    1 ½ c
  • butter

    melted

    4 tbsp
  • parmesan cheese

    shredded

    ½ c
  • smoked paprika)

    (or regular paprika

    ¼ tsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside.Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.

  2. 2

    Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl.

  3. 3

    Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce.

  4. 4

    Melt butter in a deep saucepan, dutch oven, or stock pot.

  5. 5

    Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden.

  6. 6

    Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper.

  7. 7

    Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick.

  8. 8

    Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.

  9. 9

    Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese.

  10. 10

    In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

The BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

The BEST Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

642 cal

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About this Recipe

Craving the ultimate comfort food experience? This Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese delivers an outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and perfectly crunchy bite that will become your new go-to family favorite. It's the best homemade mac and cheese of your life, guaranteed.

What truly sets this baked mac and cheese apart is its thoughtful combination of three distinct cheeses—sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan—alongside a rich, scratch-made cheese sauce. You're not just melting cheese; you're building layers of complex flavor. The finishing touch of a golden, crispy Panko-Parmesan topping elevates every spoonful.

Prepare for a truly indulgent macaroni and cheese experience. You'll savor the velvety smooth, deeply savory cheese sauce enveloping perfectly cooked elbow macaroni, all beautifully contrasted by a buttery, crunchy Panko-Parmesan crust. This hearty dish is designed to satisfy even the biggest appetites, making it an ideal dinner option.

While sharp cheddar and Gruyère create a fantastic flavor profile, feel free to experiment with your favorite melting cheeses like Monterey Jack or fontina for a different twist. You can also swap the elbow macaroni for other tubular pasta shapes, such as cavatappi or penne, which hold the creamy sauce wonderfully. For the topping, if you don't have smoked paprika, regular paprika works just as well.

This incredible baked mac and cheese is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for a cozy family dinner, a potluck, or any occasion that calls for ultimate comfort food. Serve it alongside a fresh green salad to complete the meal.

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