Baked Mac and Cheese

This baked mac and cheese is the best.

This version has a decadent homemade cheese sauce (and lots of it) tossed with macaroni and baked until bubbly under a light golden topping.

Baked Mac and Cheese in the dish with a spoon

It’s rich and creamy with the best flavor.
I’ve added extra cheese sauce to make sure it’s super creamy every time.
The sauce is homemade and totally decadent – but it’s actually easy to make!
It’s the ultimate comfort food – simplicity at it’s very best.

cream , flour , panko , macaroni , milk , cheese , butter and seasonings with labels to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients for Baked Mac and Cheese

Pasta: I love elbow macaroni for mac and cheese, but you can use any shape you like. Choose medium or small shapes that have ridges or tubes so the sauce can cling and fill; penne, orecchiette, shells, and cavatappi are great choices.

Sauce: The sauce starts with a roux made with butter and flour while milk and cream make the base of the sauce. Onion powder, dry mustard powder, and seasonings add flavor.

Cheese: Sharp Cheddar is bold and makes the best mac and cheese. Feel free to swap out about 1 cup of cheese for Gruyere or Swiss to change it up. Shredding your own cheese from a block makes a smoother sauce but pre-shredded cheeses will work just fine.

Topping: Panko has a nice crunch but you can use crushed cracker crumbs (saltines or Ritz) in place.

adding flour and seasonings to butter to make Baked Mac and Cheese

melting flour with butter to make roux for Baked Mac and Cheese

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Cook the macaroni (recipe below).
Cook butter, flour, and seasonings and whisk in milk and cream.
Stir in cheddar, parmesan, and seasonings until smooth.
Toss sauce with pasta and pour into a prepared casserole dish.
Sprinkle topping over mac and cheese and bake. Easy peasy!

Do not overbake this mac and cheese to keep it extra creamy. Everything is already cooked; heating it blends the flavors and gives it a browned topping.

Once heated through, the macaroni is done!

creamy cheese sauce to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked Mac and Cheese in a dish to make Baked Mac and Cheese

Holly’s Tips for Creamy Mac and Cheese

Cook pasta to a perfect al dente to avoid mushy noodles.
If possible, shred your own cheese for a smoother sauce. Pre-shredded cheeses will work, but they don’t melt as smoothly.
Remove sauce from the heat before adding cheese to keep it from separating or getting grainy.
Do not overbake (or the mac and cheese will be dry). Once the macaroni is bubbling and heated and the topping is browned, it is ready.
Mac and cheese can be prepared up to 2 days ahead of time (see notes for prep ahead).

a pan of baked mac and cheese with a bread crumb and cheese topping

Storing Baked Mac and Cheese

Leftovers: Keep leftover baked mac and cheese in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze portions in zippered bags up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a little milk added to loosen the cheese sauce.
Make Ahead: Prep mac and cheese ahead (keep the topping separate) and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Let the mac and cheese rest at room temperature for about 45 minutes. Stir in a ½ cup of warm milk after baking for 20 minutes. Add topping and bake until hot and bubbly.
Freezing: Freeze unbaked mac and cheese (without the topping) by assembling it in a foil-lined casserole dish. Once frozen, lift the casserole out and wrap it in plastic wrap (so the casserole dish can be used elsewhere) and freeze. To bake, return the casserole to the baking dish and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Let the mac and cheese rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Add topping and bake until hot and bubbly.

More Cheesy Baked Pasta

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This baked mac and cheese recipe has extra sauce for the perfect mix! It’s all topped with a buttery crumb mixture, and baked until hot and bubbly.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a small bowl, combine Panko bread crumbs, butter, cheddar cheese, and parmesan cheese and mix well. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well, run under cold water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, onion powder, and garlic powder. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring.
Gradually add the milk and cream, whisking until smooth after each addition. Continue cooking over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer and let simmer for 1 minute.
Remove the sauce from the heat and add cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Whisk until melted and smooth.
Toss the sauce with the drained pasta and gently spoon it into a 9×13 casserole dish.
Sprinkle the crumb mixture over top and bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until bubbly and topping is browned. Do not overcook.

Cheese: Use 3 ½ cups of cheddar cheese as directed in the recipe, or substitute ½ cup of the cheddar cheese for Gruyère if desired. Pre-shredded cheese works but doesn’t melt as smoothly. Remove the sauce from the heat before adding in the cheese.
Pasta: Cook the pasta just until al dente (firm), as it will cook more as it bakes.
Baking: If the mac and cheese is overcooked, it won’t be creamy. Cook just until hot, and the topping is browned. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Topping: Adding bread crumbs to the topping is optional, this mac and cheese can be topped with just cheese if you prefer.

Make Ahead: Prepare this baked Mac and Cheese up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge, with the topping stored separately. Take it out of the fridge 45 minutes before baking. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and stir in up to ½ cup of warm milk or as needed to achieve a creamy texture. Add the topping, and bake uncovered for another 10 to 12 minutes or until browned.

Leftovers: Keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Add a splash of milk or cream and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop using low heat.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Casserole, Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine American

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