Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Baked Macaroni and Cheese is the perfect choice when you want a hearty, soul-warming meal! It’s delicious and indulgent with a satisfying combination of two cheeses and a crispy golden crust.
Rich, savory and full of cheesy goodness, double cheese baked macaroni turns everyday ingredients into a creamy, impossible-to-resist meal! It’s a crowd-pleasing favorite of both kids and adults for good reason!
While I love this homemade stovetop macaroni and cheese, baking the pasta like a casserole results in a bubbly, cheesy dish that has the best flavor. The smooth cheesy sauce fills every inch of the noodles for the best spoonful bite after bite.
Serve it as a side dish or even as a main dish if you wish! Add some pancetta for a heartier entree like I do in creamy pancetta baked macaroni or serve it vegetarian style, this baked double cheese mac is a dinnertime win!
Why You Will Love Double Cheese Macaroni
- Better than boxed: I admit I have eaten and enjoyed boxed mac and cheese growing up in Canada but this homemade double-cheese macaroni recipe is 100% better.
- Easy to make: While it’s true that homemade mac and cheese is few more steps than just opening a box, with a prep time of only 20 minutes this two cheese mac and cheese can be on the table in just 45 minutes making it a great choice for weeknight dinners!
- Real ingredients: No powders or shelf stable Velvetta here, this is the real deal! Baked macaroni cheese is made with freshly grated cheddar cheese and a creamy white sauce.
- Ultimate comfort food: This decadent dish with a creamy cheese sauce is a crowd-pleasing favorite that reminds us of something Grandma would make!
Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipe Ingredients
- Pasta: While elbow macaroni is a classic mac choice, any small pasta shape works! Just keep in mind that you will need 5 cups of cooked pasta.
- White sauce: To make the cheese sauce you will start by making a roux with flour, butter, milk and salt. Mustard is added with the milk as it pairs well with cheddar for an extra flavor boost.
- Cheese: I used a combination of freshly grated cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese. Sharp cheddar is a great choice for mac and cheese as it adds a bold flavor.
- Topping: Breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and fresh Italian parsley add some texture and fresh taste.
How To Make Baked macaroni and Cheese
To start, in a small bowl combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Next, make your white sauce by melting butter in a large saucepan over low-medium heat. Add flour and salt, whisk well, then add mustard and milk. Whisk sauce until smooth and thickened.
Add cheddar and Parmesan cheese, stir until almost completely melted then add cooked macaroni and stir gently to combine.
Pour into the prepared baking dish, top with breadcrumb mixture.
Bake until browned. Let it rest for a few minutes and then enjoy the best mac!
Substitutions And Variations
- Types of cheeses: For the best flavor choose one melting cheese like cheddar, colby Jack, mozzarella, Monterey Jack or provolone and one flavorful cheese like Parmesan, Romano, gouda or gruyere.
- Milk: Use whole milk, evaporated milk or even half cream for the best creamy sauce. I would avoid skim milk.
- Pasta shape: Other types of pasta shapes can be used. Elbow macaroni is a popular choice but you can try pasta shells, penne or any other type of pasta noodle that has grooves for the cheesy sauce to fill.
- Mac and cheese recipe add-ins: Add cayenne pepper for some heat! Try some cooked bacon or chopped chicken for some protein. You could even add veggies like broccoli!
- Topping: Instead of the breadcrumb or Panko bread crumb topping, you can use Ritz crackers, diced tomatoes, green chilies, jalapenos, bacon bits or even just extra cheese!
Expert Tips
- Cook pasta al dente: Or even extra al dente because the pasta will cook more while baking and no one likes mushy noodles.
- Never stop stirring milk mixture: This helps it from scorching on the bottom and prevents clumps in the sauce.
- Freshly grated cheese: Not only tastes better but it melts better, too! Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that prevent clumping and unfortunately also prevents it from melting properly.
- Taste as you go: This makes it easier to adjust the added salt, add more cheese if you like or add a pinch of black pepper if desired.
- Let white sauce cool slightly: If the white sauce is too hot, the dairy may separate when adding the cheese and cause a grainy consistency.
- Skip baking: While this is a baked macaroni recipe, you don’t have to technically bake it if you want to eat it right away, it will be an extra creamy, gooey macaroni and cheese that way!
Recipe FAQs
To prevent dry mac and cheese, once the macaroni is bubbly and the top golden brown remove it from the oven. The baking is only to combine the flavors and brown topping.
Yes! Assemble this easy macaroni and cheese, cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap then store it in the refrigerator up to 48 hours or 2 days in advance.
When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator 15-20 minutes before baking. Baking time may increase slightly.
The possibilities are endless! Start with tomato and cheese puff pastry appetizers and then serve this baked macaroni as a side with Italian stuffed meatloaf, baked stuffed peppers or Italian pan fried chicken.
How To Store Leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave. Add a splash of milk as needed to rehydrate pasta.
Can I Freeze Macaroni And Cheese?
Technically you can freeze this mac n cheese recipe but I would only do so before baking it and without the breadcrumb topping. When ready to bake, thaw the macaroni and cheese and bake as directed.
More Baked Pasta Dishes To Try
- Classic Lasagna
- Creamy Cheesy Baked Pasta
- Cheesy Tomato Baked Gnocchi
- Homemade Creamy White Sauce Lasagna
- Creamy Broccoli Bacon Penne Casserole
This Homemade Baked Macaroni Double Cheese is a dish that the Italian eats without uttering a peep, so that goes to show just how good it is! Buon Appetito!
Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 5 cups cooked macaroni (approximately 2½-3 cups dry)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ tablespoon prepared mustard
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or firm mozzarella or gruyere)
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
TOPPING
- ¼ cup bread crumbs (or panko crumbs)
- 1½ tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh chopped Italian parsley
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F (200C). Grease well a medium-sized baking pan 10 x 8 inches (26 x 20 cm) or use an oven safe skillet. At least 2 inches (4½cm) deep.
- In a large pot of salted boiling water cook the pasta until very al dente, drain well, but do not rinse.
- In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs, 1½ tablespoons Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, set aside.
- In a large pot over low-medium heat, melt the butter, add the flour and salt, whisk well together, then add the mustard and the milk, whisk until smooth and thickened, then add the cheddar and Parmesan cheese, stir until almost completely melted, add the cooked macaroni and gently stir to combine, pour into prepared baking pan, top with the crumb mixture, bake until browned, approximately 25 minutes. Let sit 3-5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
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.Republished from August 26, 2015.
Love the cracker crumbs on top! Great idea!
Thanks Lauren, my Mom always liked putting on cracker crumbs.
I adore mac ‘n cheese and this one looks spectacular. I won’t turn on the oven just yet – temps are hovering around 100 degrees F here, but as soon as we get a few cool days in a row, I’m heading right back to this recipe.
Oh my gosh Laura, still so hot! Here in Toronto too. Hope you enjoy it. Looking forward to the cool air!
Do you buy the cheese from the deli cheese area or the bagged shredded cheese?
Hi Bridget, I always shred it myself. Tastes better! 🙂
This looks yummy! Can’t wait to try it. The mustard sounds like a great addition
Thanks Claudia hope you enjoy it. Have a great Sunday.
I, too, really like boxed mac & cheese but this looks like a great alternative!
Hi Emily, thanks and yes it is a delicious alternative.
I would love a bite of that cheesy goodness stat. After all, if the Italian likes it….:)
Hi Allie, haha and he does! Have a great weekend.
do you think this could be made earlier in the day and then baked at dinner time to reduce prep time ?
Hi Nicole, I think it would work, just keep it in the fridge until approximately 20 minutes before baking, but don’t put the topping on it until just before you bake it. Have a wonderful Christmas.
It’s that time of year to bring out those hearty comfort food recipes…please consider sharing this recipe at this week’s Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop, I think some of my readers would love it as well!
http://oursimplelife-sc.com/our-simple-homestead-blog-hop-15/
HI Tracy thanks, and posted!
We love mac and cheese, so this may become our new favorite. Stopping by from The Creative Exchange!
Thanks so much, hope you enjoy it.
Where does the mustard go?
Hi Ammar, sorry about that goes in with the flour. Thanks!
This looks like a perfect, crave-worthy comfort food.
Thank you nothing like comfort food.
Mac and cheese is one of my all time favorite things to make once the weather cools down (and really any other time of the year…) so I’ll definitely be making this soon! Nothing is better than creamy cheese and awesome breaded topping!
Hi Ariel, thank you, let me know how you like it.
Yum! Would you believe I had mac and cheese on the brain today? Yours looks wonderful and the perfect comfort food!
Hi Carol, thanks very much, love mac and cheese.
Rosemary, what a great idea to add the parmesan to this dish. You can’t go wrong with double cheese. Have a nice day.
Hi Ann, thanks, I can’t get enough of Parmesan Cheese. Thanks you too!
Yummy! Why is it our comfort is delicious foods of our youth! For some reason we may be drowning in sorrow but the food helps us through it. It will get better and your recipe looks outstanding. Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Marisa, comfort food and chocolate, great for getting you through the tough times.