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Easy baked macaroni and cheese recipe - this is a very classic recipe for how a true mac and cheese should really be prepared. There are many easier ways to make it, but this recipe is the classic one you want to use for the real deal!
I make a lot of easy "adult" mac and cheeses (with strong cheeses and funky add-in's) to accompany steaks in our house. For once, however, I decided I wanted to make a "real" homemade mac and cheese: very traditional, using regular cheese (such as cheddar), baked in the oven, and using white sauce.
As I was looking for an easy homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe, a lot of sources seemed to be pointing to Martha Stewart macaroni and cheese, so that seemed like a good place to start.
Martha's recipe for mac and cheese calls for 1 pound of elbow macaroni, which produces a huge amount of pasta, so I halved the recipe, using ½ pound of elbow macaroni instead of 1 pound, and halving the rest of ingredients. Even after I halved the recipe, it still produced quite a lot of pasta - enough to make 6 or 8 very rich servings. I also reduced the amount of cheese to sprinkle over top as the original amount called for in the recipe seemed excessive. Also, the recipe calls for Kosher salt, which is less salty than table salt, so because I used regular table salt, I reduced the salt amount accordingly. A reminder to myself: always pay attention to what salt the recipe calls for: Kosher or table salt.
I highly recommend halving the recipe for this baked mac and cheese, because 1) I can't imagine using a total of 6 cups of cheese for any kind of dish (3 cups will do), and 2) because I found that this mac and cheese has the best and the creamiest quality when served right after it's made. If leftovers are reheated the next day, the macaroni get mushy, and the sauce itself get thicker, so you have to add milk and manipulate to achieve the same wonderful consistency as on the day you made it.
The breadcrumbs do become soggy if you reheat this dish in microwave, so to make the most out of this recipe, I would not recommend making it in advance and then reheating: too many qualities are lost.
This easy recipe is definitely worth making and is a great base recipe for further experiments! The baked macaroni and cheese when served straight out of the oven come out creamy, buttery, with very crisp breadcrumbs on top. The whole top layer of mac and cheese has this nice golden brown texture.
Step by step photos: how to make easy homemade baked macaroni and cheese
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a separate pan or a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
Add ¼ cup of flour, cook and stir for about 1 minute to form a roux.
In a medium pan, heat milk until it boils.
Pour hot milk into the hot flour-butter mixture gradually, while whisking. Continue cooking the mixture, constantly stirring, on medium or high heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens - about 1 or 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat. Add salt, nutmeg, black pepper, 1 and ½ cups cheddar, and ½ cup Gruyere, or pecorino Romano, or Parmesan. While off heat, whisk until all cheese is melted and the cheese sauce has even consistency. Set aside.
Bring a large saucepan with water to boil. Add macaroni, cook 3 minutes less than indicated in manufacturer's directions, so that pasta is still undercooked inside. The pasta will continue cooking as it bakes. Transfer macaroni to a colander and rinse under cold running water really well. Running the pasta under cold water will stop the cooking and will wash off the excess starch. Drain pasta well.
Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce.
Butter a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Pour the pasta with cheese sauce into the prepared dish.
Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar and ¼ cup Gruyere (or pecorino Romano, or Parmesan).
Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs. Here is how made breadcrumbs: I placed several bread slices in the food processor and processed them until they turned into nice bread crumbs - enough to fill 1 cup. Next, I placed 1 cup of bread crumbs in a medium bowl, added 1 tablespoon of melted butter and mixed everything together.
Bake for 30 minutes, until browned on top. Transfer dish to a wire rack for about 5 minutes, then serve.
Easy baked macaroni and cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup white bread crumbs (I used regular bread in food processor)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 ¾ cups milk
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt or more – to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese (about 9 ounces of shredded sharp yellow or white Cheddar cheese)
- ¾ cup Gruyere cheese shredded or pecorino Romano, or Parmesan
- ½ pound elbow macaroni
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 1.5-quart casserole dish; set aside. I placed several bread slices in the food processor and processed them until they turned into nice bread crumbs – enough to fill 1 cup. Place 1 cup of bread crumbs in a medium bowl, add 1 tablespoon of melted butter, mix, set aside.
- In a medium pan, heat milk until it boils. In a separate pan or a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of butter, add ¼ cup of flour, cook and stir for about 1 minute to form a roux.
- Pour hot milk into the hot flour-butter mixture gradually, while whisking. Continue cooking the mixture, constantly stirring, on medium or high heat until the mixture bubbles and thickens – about 1 or 2 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add salt, nutmeg, black pepper, 1 and ½ cups cheddar, and ½ cup Gruyere, or pecorino Romano, or Parmesan. While off heat, whisk until all cheese is melted and the cheese sauce has even consistency. Set aside.
- Bring a large saucepan with water to boil. Add macaroni, cook 3 minutes less than indicated in manufacturer’s directions, so that pasta is still undercooked inside (the pasta will continue cooking as it bakes in step 6). Transfer macaroni to a colander and rinse under cold running water really well. Running the pasta under cold water will stop the cooking and will wash off the excess starch. Drain pasta well. Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce.
- Pour the pasta with cheese sauce into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar and ¼ cup Gruyere (or pecorino Romano, or Parmesan). Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs. Bake for 30 minutes, until browned on top. Transfer dish to a wire rack for about 5 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Looks like I'll be adding mac & cheese to the menu next week! This looks wonderful!
And you know how much I like "easy"!
Oh Lord, I have been craving mac and cheese like crazy lately and looking at this delicious mix is not helping it go away haha. I think I've resolved to make mac and cheese this week. Particularly one with a crumb topping, since yours looks so very tasty 🙂
Macaroni and cheese has to be my favorite dish of all time!! I'm a kid at heart, I guess 🙂 This looks fabulous!
There is something about regular old mac & cheese that is just....right. I love simple, back to basics recipes that are just plain comforting, and this mac & cheese looks absolutely perfect!
An ultimate comfort food! Yum!
My fav American dish...I so need a bowl of Mac and Cheese today. The first picture does not want to leave me, Julia! I'll have to cook some for me tonight.
I love anything and everything about mac & cheese. Especially if it's easy!
Homemade mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food! This looks delicious.
I love a good mac n cheese recipe and this does look like classic, comforting, goodness
Your macaroni and cheese looks so delicious, thank you for the recipe!
I haven't made mac 'n cheese in ages. But when I do, my recipe is very similar to yours. I like the funky varieties too, but there's something so satisfying about the traditional recipe. Good stuff - thanks.
Oh, it looks just so perfect! Mac'n'cheese is my comfort food... I just love the taste of cheese with macaroni. I could eat it every single day. But well, I must admit it never looks so delicious when I prepare it so... I need to practise. 😉 Your mc'n'cheese is just great.
Reducing the cheese is normally not something I typically do but for this, I totally understand why and it looks every bit as indulgent and appetizing as ever..Looooove!!!
It looks so good..I appreciate your hints too..
The first macaroni I made was for my dad and my husband..I was 19 and my mom had just passed away..Catelli had a big 2 lb box of elbow macaroni at the time.. they had said how much to use but I didn't believe them..so I used the whole box..I had to change the pot 3 times as it all grew..and when I saw what I was left with in the huge canning pot I knew there wasn't enough cheese in the town to mkae it work..It ended up in a green garbage bag:(
I am happy to say I can finally after 40 yrs..cook and bake..
There wasn't you and the internet back then:)
Nor Martha:)
It looks really good Julia..
You made me smile as I pictured you with 2 pounds of elbow macaroni, growing and expanding in boiling water :). That would require a lot of cheese! 🙂 And, I feel sad that you lost your mom so early. 🙁
Mmmmmm, you've put me in the mood of macaroni. I don't make it so much now my hubby is vegan, but I may make it today and make a cheesy sauce for him using nutritional yeast.