Baked Mac and Cheese
There’s nothing quite like the creamy, indulgent comfort of Baked Mac and Cheese, a dish that’s as satisfying as it is simple to make. Whether you’re serving it as a main dish or a side, this Baked Mac and Cheese is a timeless classic that’s sure to leave everyone reaching for seconds.
Ingredients
- 12 oz dry macaroni noodles see note
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese ¹
- 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Panko Topping
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup seasoned panko crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C)
- Begin cooking your pasta according to package instructions. Do not over-cook, in fact, for best results cook one minute less than indicated time. Once finished, drain, drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and toss to coat so the noodles don't stick together while sitting.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a 10" cast iron pan² over medium heat. Once it has melted, add flour and whisk until smooth and no lumps remain..
- Add milk and spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard), stir well and bring to a boil. You may notice that the milk and butter will separate -- continue to heat, stirring frequently, until the milk is heated and they combine
- Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat, bring to a simmer, and stir frequently until mixture is thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and add cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Stir until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth.
- Add cooked, drained pasta noodles and stir until well coated by the sauce.
- Set aside while you prepare your Panko topping.
- Combine butter and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until melted.
- Add panko and stir well until the butter and oil has been mostly absorbed. Continue to stir until panko is lightly toasted and turns a light-medium brown color
- Sprinkle toasted panko evenly over mac and cheese.
- Transfer to oven and bake uncovered on 350F (175C) for 15 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 20gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 624mgPotassium: 255mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 836IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 438mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!