Old Fashioned Baked Mac N Cheese
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Old Fashioned Baked Mac N Cheese, a creamy and nostalgic dish that offers layers of rich, cheesy goodness. This recipe combines three decadent cheeses—sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan—melted into a velvety béchamel sauce to coat tender elbow macaroni. It's topped with a buttery breadcrumb crust, baked to golden perfection for the perfect balance of creamy and crunchy. Seasoned with a hint of paprika and dry mustard for depth, this classic mac and cheese casserole is easy to make with just 20 minutes of prep and serves six hearty portions. Perfect for family dinners, holiday feasts, or as a cozy side dish, this timeless recipe delivers the homemade flavor you crave. Keywords: oven-baked mac and cheese, old-fashioned mac and cheese, cheesy macaroni bake.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 0.25 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted for topping
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter.
Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute, until the mixture forms a smooth paste (this is a roux).
Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream, continuing to stir constantly, until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, reserving about 1/2 cup of cheddar for topping. Stir until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
Season the cheese sauce with salt, black pepper, paprika, and dry mustard powder. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and gently stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Top with the reserved shredded cheddar cheese.
In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the cheese layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
Let the mac 'n' cheese rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
991 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 57.1 g | 73% | |
| Saturated Fat | 35.2 g | 176% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 166 mg | 55% | |
| Sodium | 1311 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 82.1 g | 30% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.6 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 8.7 g | ||
| Protein | 40.0 g | 80% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.1 mcg | 10% | |
| Calcium | 863 mg | 66% | |
| Iron | 4.0 mg | 22% | |
| Potassium | 357 mg | 8% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
