This is the absolute best Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese! This creamy and cheesy mac and cheese is made with 3 cheeses and topped with a crispy and tasty topping. This baked mac and cheese recipe is definitely the perfect comfort food dinner or holiday side dish.
Are you short on time? If you need a super quick main dish or side dish on your table this creamy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is a great recipe for you to try!
Homemade Mac N Cheese
There are thousands of macaroni and cheese recipes, from quick and easy mac and cheese, fancy mac and cheese, adult mac and cheese (whatever that means) to glow-in-the-dark boxed mac and cheese. I think it is safe to say we all love the pure comfort food quality of cooked pasta and cheese sauce.
Mac n cheese can be served as a side dish or as a main course (think macaroni and cheese casserole), and it’s a must have side dish for family gatherings, game day, special celebrations and holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Why You Should Make This Recipe?
- Foolproof Recipe: If one of your favorite things is pasta and you are a cheese lover, you need to have a great recipe for baked mac on your back pocket!
- Family Favorite: Mac and cheese is loved by everyone. This simple recipe for delicious mac is always a big hit. Kids can’t resist it and adults can’t stop eating it!
- Flavor: This homemade macaroni and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and flavorful. The crispy, golden brown Panko topping takes classic mac to new heights!
Bechamel Mac and Cheese
This recipe for oven baked mac and cheese defines cheesy and creamy in a new way! Elbow Macaroni is tossed with the creamiest cheese sauce made with some of the best cheese for mac and cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese, Gruyere cheese and white cheddar. The result is the best homemade mac and cheese ever!
Homemade Mac and Cheese Baked Ingredients
- Pasta: Use any short pasta like elbow macaroni, farfalle or fusilli.
- Flour: I use all purpose flour.
- Butter: I usually use unsalted butter but salted butter works as well.
- Milk and half and half: I use both, whole milk and half and half. You could use 2% milk but the cheese sauce won’t be as rich and decadent. You can use heavy cream instead of half and half if that’s what you have.
- Seasonings: Salt, ground black pepper, nutmeg, garlic powder and dried mustard.
- Cheeses: Shredded sharp cheddar cheese, Gruyere and white cheddar cheese.
- Panko Topping: Panko bread crumbs, melted butter, seasoned salt.
How To Make Baked Mac and Cheese with Bechamel
For me, the best mac and cheese starts with a béchamel sauce made with a basic roux. The roux in this easy recipe is made with butter and flour. This is the base of most cheese sauces unless you use processed cheese like Velveeta.
- Prep: Preheat the oven and grease a 3 qt. baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or melted butter.
- Mix topping: In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until almost al dente (about 2 minutes less than the cooking time indicated on the package). Drain, transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss it with a little bit of olive oil (or butter).
- Make a Roux: In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to combine. Continue to cook, stirring for about a minute. Whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk and the half and half until combined and smooth.
- Season Béchamel sauce : Season the creamy béchamel white sauce and simmer until the white sauce thickens. Add the shredded cheese, in small increments, one at a time only adding additional cheese after each cheese addition has melted and incorporated.
- Mix macaroni and cheese sauce: Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni and toss well.
- Bake: Spoon the macaroni and cheese into a baking dish and top it with the Panko mixture. Bake for 20 minutes. If the topping is not golden enough, you can place the baking dish under a broiler (6-inches from heat source) and broil for 2-3 minutes.
Bechamel Sauce Pro Tip
What’s Bechamel Sauce?
Béchamel or white sauce is one of the five mother sauces of French Cuisine. These sauces are the building blocks to many others. Béchamel is made with 3 ingredients. Flour, butter and milk (half and half or heavy cream can be used).
This versatile white sauce is the base for many comfort food dishes like cheese sauce, many casseroles, and even soups.
How To Make Bechamel Sauce or White Sauce?
This versatile 3-ingredients sauce is very easy to make. First, make a roux by combining flour and fat (in the case of this macaroni and cheese recipe we use butter). Roux serves as a thickening agent and gives the sauce it’s consistency. Next, whisk in the milk and simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
How To Know When Béchamel Sauce Is Done?
You know that béchamel sauce is done when it has the right consistency or has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon (see photo below). To test for doneness, simply coat a spoon with sauce and rub your finger through the spoon as if drawing a path (be careful the sauce will be hot). If it leaves a mark, the béchamel sauce is done! You can add the cheese and finish the sauce. Adding the cheese too early can break the sauce turning it into an oily mess.
Home Made Mac and Cheese FAQs
You have questions? We have answers!
Can I use pre-shredded cheese to make homemade mac and cheese?
For the creamiest results, I highly recommend shredding the cheese from a block of cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that prevent the cheese from naturally sticking together. The additives also change the way cheese naturally melts.
Can I skip the baked mac and cheese topping?
Absolutely! Actually, the cheesy pasta is ready to eat right after the cheese sauce is tossed with the noodles. You can skip the baking if you prefer.
Why Does my Baked Mac and Cheese Come Out Dry?
Baked Mac and cheese can get dried if baked for too long. Follow the recipe and if your topping is not golden brown by the time the baking time is done, simply place it under the broiler to toast the breadcrumbs.
Another reason for dried macaroni and cheese is if you are using more noodles than the recipe calls for. You need to have enough cheese sauce to generously coat the cooked pasta.
Should You Cover Mac and Cheese While Baking?
No, it’s not necessary to cover mac and cheese while it bakes. You want the topping to become golden brown and crispy so baking uncovered is a must.
The Best Cheese for Creamy Mac and Cheese
There are many good options when making this dish. Sharp Cheddar, White Cheddar, Gruyere cheese, Fontina cheese, Mozzarella and Gouda are great and popular options. Parmesan cheese adds great flavor to mac & cheese however, it gives the sauce a slightly grainy texture.
The Best Pasta for Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Any short pasta that can hold the cheese sauce works. Elbow macaroni small shells, farfalle, cavatappi, rotini and mini penne are all good options.
Making Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Make Ahead: You can make this recipe as directed but don’t bake it or add the topping. After transferring the cheesy pasta into the baking dish, cool it completely then, cover it and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Before baking, allow the dish to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes (so it’s not too chilled). If the mixture seems a bit too dry (it usually looks somewhat dried because is cold), you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk (a bit at the time) until the dish becomes a bit creamier. Add the topping and bake as directed.
Storing: Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Before reheating, stir in a bit of milk to make the pasta a bit creamier then, reheat in the microwave in small increments, covered until heated through.
Mac and Cheese Baked Tips for Success
- Remember that the pasta in baked mac and cheese has to cook twice. Make sure that you cook the noodles just until is about to become al dente (firm and slightly under cooked). This will prevent the pasta from getting mushy and too soft while it cooks a second time in the oven.
- Always cook your pasta in salted water. This gives the dish flavor from the very beginning.
- To minimize dirty dishes, after draining the cooked pasta, return it to the large pot where you cooked the pasta in. Then, toss it with some oil or melted butter to prevent the noodles from sticking.
- After adding the cheese to the white sauce, make sure the sauce doesn’t boil to prevent it from breaking.
- Don’t over bake the mac and cheese. If you want a super crispy topping, place the baking dish under a broiler.
- Add about 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese to the Panko topping for extra cheesiness.
- You can use two types of cheese only when making this recipe.
Check These Other Cheesy Macaroni Recipes:
- Mac and Cheese Carbonara
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Chili Mac
- Seafood Mac and Cheese
Wondering what goes well with Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese? Here are a few options:
Follow me on social media for more recipe ideas & inspiration! Pinterest Facebook Instagram My Newsletter
Homemade Mac n Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry macaroni pasta
- 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
- 3 cups Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
- 1 cup White Cheddar cheese, shredded
Topping
- 1/2 cup panko
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13 (3 Qt) baking dish with cooking spray or melted butter and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until almost al dente (about 2 minutes less than the cooking time indicated on the package). Drain, transfer the pasta to a large bowl and drizzle it with a little bit of olive oil (or butter) to keep the pasta from sticking. Toss to coat.
- In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter (do not allow it to brown). Sprinkle in the flour and whisk to combine. Continue to cook, stirring for about 1 minute. Whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk in a thin, steady stream then, slowly pour the half and half whisking until combined and smooth.
- Whisk in the black pepper, pinch of nutmeg, garlic powder and ground mustard and heat, stirring, until sauce comes to a simmer and begins to thicken.This will take about 6 – 8 minutes. When the sauce coats the back of a wooden spoon, you should be able to draw a path with your finger. Then you know the sauce is ready.
- Reduce the heat to low and working in increments, add the cheddar cheese stirring until well combined and completely melted. Add the Gruyere cheese and mix well. The sauce should be smooth and creamy. Remove from the stove.
- Pour the cheese sauce into the cooked pasta and mix until evenly coated. Add the White Cheddar cheese and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the cheesy pasta into the baking dish and smooth the top into an even layer. Sprinkle the panko topping and bake for 20 minutes. If the top is not golden enough, place the baking dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. Keep an eye on it.
- Remove from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Chef’s Tips
- After adding the cheese, do not let the sauce boil.
- Don’t over bake. If you would like the topping extra golden, place the pasta bake under the broiler for a few minutes. Over baking may result in dried mac n cheese.
- Add about 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese to the Panko topping for extra cheesiness.
Nutrition
This post was first published in 2018 and has been updated to provide the reader with additional information. The recipe remains the same.
Nell says
Thank you for this recipe. I was wondering if the Mac and Cheese could be cooked in the crockpot instead?
Kathy says
Sure thing!
Jess b says
So so so good!!! I added a little chopped onion and fresh garlic to the roux and it lever it up even more! To top it off I added some crispy bacon! This did not disappoint!!!
Kathy says
Thanks for the feedback Jess. Onion, garlic and bacon always make things better!!
Jennifer A Stewart says
I love all your tips! So many times I tried to make mac and cheese and it turned out grainy! Once I started with a roux, everything changed. And of course, that perfectly salted water to cook the pasta in! Can’t wait to make this for Connor!
Kathy says
Thank you! Yes salting the water is a must. Enjoy
Madi says
This looks like the perfect mac and cheese! This would be so perfect for dinner tonight!
michele says
Oh boy… this is calling my name. … of course I love all Mac and cheese but Ive never tried baking one…. I have to make this asap! I love the topping too!
Kathy says
Thank you! The crispy topping rocks!
Sandra Shaffer says
Nothing tastes as good as homemade mac and cheese! So creamy and delicious. Looking forward to sharing this with my family.
Healing Tomato says
You have me at mac and cheese! This looks so good and nothing beats a homemade mac and cheese.
Julie says
I love mac and cheese and this one looks creamy delicious!
debi at Life Currents says
Homemade mac & cheese is one of life’s little pleasures that should never be forgotten. Your recipe looks amazing.
Kathy says
Thank you!!!