This baked mac and cheese is a blend of tender noodles in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, topped off with more cheese and baked to perfection. The ultimate macaroni and cheese recipe that always gets rave reviews!
My kids are big fans of mac and cheese, they’re always requesting slow cooker mac and cheese, stovetop mac and cheese and this ultra decadent baked version. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with mac and cheese!
Macaroni and cheese is a timeless recipe for a reason – it’s incredibly delicious! This baked mac and cheese is the ultimate version of this popular dish. It features hearty corkscrew pasta in a super smooth and creamy sauce, with plenty of melted cheese for good measure. It’s the best mac and cheese I’ve ever tasted.
How do you make baked mac and cheese?
This recipe starts by making a thickened milk sauce, and the pasta goes into the milk sauce to simmer along with some spices. When the noodles are tender, mix in two types of shredded cheese. The final step is to transfer your mac and cheese to a casserole dish, top it with more cheese, then bake everything to gooey and melted perfection.
Tips for Baked Mac and Cheese
- I use corkscrew pasta in this recipe, it’s sometimes called cavatappi or cellentani. These noodles are heartier than standard elbow macaroni and don’t get mushy as they bake. That being said, if you want to use elbow macaroni or a different type of short pasta, that will also work just fine.
- I recommend using freshly grated cheese for this recipe. The bagged pre-shredded cheeses are coated in anti-caking agents and just don’t melt as smoothly.
- I find that whole milk works best for the creamiest sauce.
What are the best cheeses for mac and cheese?
Cheddar cheese is my favorite choice for macaroni and cheese. It’s flavorful, melts great and gives the mac and cheese its traditional orange color. That being said, make sure you’re using a regular mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese and not a cheddar cheese that’s extra sharp or aged. The aged cheeses can separate when melted and you won’t get a smooth and silky sauce. I often add in small amounts of other types of cheese for extra flavor, like parmesan, jack cheese or mozzarella. For this recipe, I’ve added some mozzarella because I love the creamy flavor it adds to this dish.
What can I add to mac and cheese?
I am a purist, and I love my mac and cheese simply with the noodles and cheese sauce, sometimes with a little parsley for garnish. But there are countless ways to dress up your macaroni and cheese. Some suggestions are:
- Crumbled cooked bacon
- Grilled chicken
- Fresh herbs
- Broccoli
- Hot sauce
- Jalapenos
- Buttered breadcrumb topping
WHAT SPICES GO WELL WITH BAKED MAC AND CHEESE?
Spices are a great way to accentuate the flavor of the cheese sauce. I typically add salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika to my macaroni and cheese. You could also use regular paprika, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic salt, or chili powder.
WHAT GOES WITH MAC AND CHEESE?
I typically serve this baked mac and cheese as a side dish, but my kids often eat it as a main course! Here are some entree and side dish suggestions to go with your mac and cheese.
- Garlic & Herb Chicken Drumsticks
- Roasted Asparagus
- Sweet and Sour Meatballs
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Bacon Fried Cabbage
Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 4 cups milk I use whole milk
- 1 pound corkscrew pasta such as cavatappi or cellentani
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided use
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 3-4 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour, then whisk until combined, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the water and whisk until smooth and just thickened.
- Add the milk and whisk until combined.
- Stir in the pasta, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika and pepper, then bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
- Turn the heat to low, then stir in 4 cups of cheddar cheese and the mozzarella. Keep stirring until the sauce is smooth.
- Spread the pasta mixture into an even layer in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheddar cheese over the top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and pasta is bubbling. Serve immediately.
Janice says
Creamy cheesy goodness. My kids are always asking for this!
Deb says
Hi Sarah,
This looks really YUMMO. As much as I LOVE full fat dairy products, is there a way to reinvent this recipe to use 1 % milk and reduced fat cheeses?
Thanks a Bunch,
Deb
A says
I look forward to making this, however, it sounds like a lot of liquid, guess I won’t know until I make it. Thanks
Courtney says
I can’t believe I’ve been making Mac n cheese all my life in 2 pots, and never realized I could cook the pasta in the sauce! You’ve changed my life! My family didn’t even know the difference. Thank you! I’ll be making Mac n cheese this way from now on
mpotter says
Not like I needed yet ANOTHER version of mac n cheese; but sure I did!
This looks delicious. And simple. Simply Delicious!
I plan on trying this with just my daughter & myself, so I guess I will halve the recipe. Can you recommend a good way of reheating the leftovers?
I normally add a splash of milk to help cream up m&c…. but I have 2 different recipes that don’t re-heat very well…. the cheese separates and oils up. (But I have 2 recipes that allow me to reheat this way)
Do you have success/tips for leftovers? She would LOVE this in her lunch thermos.
Thanks!
Sara says
I’d recommend doing what you mentioned, adding a little milk or cream when reheating!
Maggie says
So you put the noodles In The milk mixture Uncooked?
Sara says
Yes that’s correct
Sara says
Can you cook this the day prior and bake the day of?
Sara says
You could do that, just be aware that the pasta will soak up the sauce as it sits, which means it’ll be a bit drier.
Sandra says
This quickly became a favorite at my house!!
Catalina says
I would like this mac and cheese casserole for our Sunday family dinner! It’s so tasty!
Jen says
This is my kids’ favorite! It’s perfectly cheesy and it’s never a fight to clean their plates at dinner. Total Mom win!
Natasha says
I love the baked but not crispy cheese on this! Great for kids
Krissy Allori says
So creamy, cheesy and delicious. I love mac and cheese and this is a good one for sure.
Kimberly says
You just can’t beat a good mac and cheese – these looks positively delish!
Aimee Shugarman says
This was perfect with our meatloaf. Will make again and again!
Laura Reese says
This baked mac & cheese is so cheesy and delicious.
Katerina @ diethood .com says
My kids would LOVE these!! I can’t wait to try it!
Lora says
I agree that you can never go wrong with mac and cheese and this recipe is a winner!
Demeter says
It really doesn’t get much better than this! So cheesy!!
Kim Seghers says
My family loves Mac and Cheese! I can’t wait to make your recipe for dinner this weekend.