Description
A reliable, budget-friendly baked mac and cheese recipe that uses a unique method of cooking pasta in milk and cheese for an ultra-creamy texture. It features a three-cheese blend (Cheddar, Gruyère, American) and is kid-approved.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup American cheese, cubed
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni until al dente (1-2 minutes less than package directions). Drain, rinse briefly with warm water, toss with a tiny bit of oil, and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk constantly for 2 minutes until the mixture looks like wet sand and is light golden.
- Slowly pour in whole milk while whisking vigorously to prevent lumps. Cook until the mixture thickens and simmers, coating the back of a spoon (3-4 minutes). Remove from heat.
- Stir in sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and American cheese gradually, stirring until fully melted. Add Dijon mustard and garlic powder. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Pour into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Mix Panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and sauce is bubbling. If browning too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 5 minutes.
- Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.
Notes
Grate your own cheese to avoid anti-caking agents in pre-shredded cheese which can make the sauce grainy. Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. Use a heavy-bottomed pan for the sauce to prevent scorching. This recipe can be doubled for meal prep or freezing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, budget friendly dinner, kid friendly recipes, comfort food, three cheese blend, creamy mac and cheese, meal prep