Description
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, featuring a rich and cheesy sauce combined with tender elbow macaroni, topped with a crispy breadcrumb layer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to cook until the mixture thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and add the shredded cheddar cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce, mixing well to coat.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the olive oil and the remaining Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the mac and cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden and crispy.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a creamier texture, you can add an extra half cup of milk to the cheese sauce.
- To customize the flavor, try adding cooked bacon or sautéed vegetables like spinach or broccoli before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg