Baked Mac and Cheese
This homemade baked mac and cheese has a creamy sharp cheddar cheese sauce with melted Gruyère and Parmesan on top. Baked for just 10-15 minutes, it stays creamy and cheesy without drying out.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 16 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups milk
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup grated Gruyère cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with avocado oil spray and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the flour and whisk until smooth, forming a roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously until the sauce is smooth and free of lumps.
- Turn off the heat. Add the sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Drain the macaroni and return it to the pot. Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and stir until evenly coated.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the grated Gruyère and Parmesan over the top.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese topping is melted and bubbly. Remove from the oven and serve.
Notes
- For the smoothest cheese sauce, grate the cheese yourself rather than using pre-shredded.
- Whole milk is recommended for the best texture.
- Sharp cheddar gives the sauce its main flavor. Mild cheddar will produce a much milder result.
- If using salted butter, omit the additional salt.
- Don't leave the macaroni in the oven after the cheese topping has melted. Baking longer can dry it out.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 407IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 253mg | Iron: 1mg