Description
This Ultimate Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese recipe features a rich, velvety cheese sauce made from sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, combined with tender elbow macaroni, then baked to bubbly perfection with a golden breadcrumb topping. It’s the perfect comfort food for any occasion, delivering creamy, flavorful, and cheesy goodness in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Topping (Optional)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Cook Macaroni: Boil the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside to cool slightly.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to form a roux and eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Add Cream: Gradually whisk in the heavy cream, continuing to stir constantly until the mixture thickens into a smooth sauce.
- Season Sauce: Incorporate the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper into the thickened cream sauce, blending well to distribute the flavors.
- Add Cheese: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and mozzarella cheeses until completely melted and smooth, forming the creamy cheese sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce until evenly coated, then transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Add Topping and Bake: If using, sprinkle the top evenly with breadcrumbs for a crunchy crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
Notes
- For extra crunch, you can toast the breadcrumbs in a little butter before sprinkling them on top.
- Feel free to use a mix of cheeses to customize flavor and texture.
- Allow the mac and cheese to rest for 5 minutes after baking to set and cool slightly before serving.
- To make this dish lighter, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, but the sauce won’t be as rich.
- Use gluten-free pasta and flour to make this recipe gluten-free.
