If you haven’t ditched your boxed made Mac and Cheese yet, it’s time to do so! This Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese is so simple to make and the kids absolutely love it! It’s extra creamy, cheesy and topped with a layer of Panko bread crumbs. You can have this dish ready in just 30 minutes and can customize it to your likings by adding in some proteins, veggies and flavorful spices.
This Creamy Mac and Cheese recipe will change your life! Elbow pasta in a rich cheesy sauce, topped with a crispy Panko crust. This mac and cheese recipe will be your go-to comfort dish for any occasion! This comforting dish is pleasing for adults, crowds and kids, who are the most picky eaters ever.
If you love easy pasta dishes as much as we do, you can also try my Creamy Tortellini Chicken Pasta or my deliciously Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta. We can’t get enough pasta in this house and these are some of my go-to recipes!
Why you’ll Love this Cheesy Mac and Cheese Recipe
- A satisfying crunchy topping. Crisp panko breadcrumbs crown the mac and cheese recipe, giving a wonderful mix of textures in every bite.
- An easy weeknight meal. Only a handful of ingredients needed, you can whip this up for lunch or dinner in no time!
- It’s customizable. This macaroni recipe is exceptional as written, but you can easily add veggies, chicken, bacon and even lobster to customize this recipe.
Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients
- Elbow Pasta– Feel free to swap it with any other pasta you like.
- Shredded Cheese– use freshly grated yellow and white cheddar cheese, but feel free to use any cheese you like.
- Seasoning: a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground black pepper and salt.
- Pasta Water or Chicken Broth — I used pasta water but you can use low sodium chicken broth to add more flavor to the dish.
- Milk- use whole milk to make the sauce extra rich.
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated cheese gives the topping a nutty flavor.
- Butter– salted or unsalted is fine.
- Flour-to thicken up the sauce
- Panko Breadcrumbs-I prefer panko because it has a very nice crisp effect. Substitute with gluten free breadcrumbs for a gluten free recipe.
How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Cook your pasta to less than al dente, about one minute from package directions.
Cheese Sauce for Mac and Cheese
- To make the homemade mac and cheese sauce, you will need to melt the butter in a non-stick pan on low heat.
- Add in the flour and whisk or mix with a wooden spoon and continue stirring until the mixture bubbles up.
- Add in the milk, pasta water, spices, salt and continue whisking until the sauce is nice and smooth.
- Then add in the shredded cheese, both white and sharp cheddar (only use 1 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar, save 1 cup for topping)
- Continue to whisk the mixture together until some of the cheese melts a bit and incorporates with the sauce. The cheese does not have to melt all the way because it will melt in the oven.
- Next, drain the pasta from the water and add it to the skillet over the cheese. Toss the pasta around with the sauce to coat well.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish (11 x 9 inch). Add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese to the top.
- To prepare the panko crust, melt 1 tbsp. of butter in a non-stick skillet. Add in the panko crumbs, paprika and toast to give the crumbs a very light golden color. Turn of the heat and add in the grated parmesan cheese. Mix together and then top the cheddar cheese with the panko crumb mixture.
- Bake in a pre-heated 400 F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and allow the dish to cool for a few minutes. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley and serve.
Tips to Make the Best Baked Mac and Cheese
- Cook your pasta to less than al dente, about one minute from package directions.
- Whisk in cold milk, not warm to prevent the flour from clumping.
- Buy cheese in block form and take a few moments to grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese will not melt well and won’t create a truly smooth and creamy sauce.
- Proteins: If you’d like to add proteins, I recommend one of these proteins: Chicken, Shrimp, crab, or Lobster.
- Spices: Change up the flavor by using spices like Cajun, Chipotle, or Fajita seasonings.
- Make it Spicy: Add Tabasco or Sriracha sauce.
- Veggies: Add some steamed broccoli florets into this dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you don’t have to cover it with foil as it will steam the top crumb instead of giving it a crunchy texture.
Mostly people use mild or sharp cheddar cheese. You can also use Gruyere, or pepper Jack Cheese to add a little flavor to the dish. However if you use Gruyere, make sure you mix it with white cheddar or either mild/sharp cheddar. Do not use only Gruyere alone because some brands come out oily and a bit salty.
Here are some options to make your homemade backed mac and cheese even better.
Proteins: If you’d like to add proteins, I recommend one of these proteins: Chicken, Shrimp, crab, or Lobster.
Spices: Change up the flavor by using spices like Cajun, Chipotle, or Fajita seasonings.
Make it Spicy: Add Tabasco or Sriracha sauce.
Veggies: Add some steamed broccoli florets, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, or peas into this dish.
Leftovers can be store in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days. To reheat, stir in a little bit of milk and microwave covered with plastic wrap until hot. Stir often as it reheats.
You can make this creamy mac and cheese ahead of time, without the breadcrumb topping and store in the fridge for up to 2 days ahead. Before baking, let the dish sit on counter for 30 minutes. Prepare the crumb topping before baking.
Baked Mac and cheese goes with literally everything! Try it with one of these recipes.
Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
Best Homemade Chicken Nuggets
Oven Baked Chicken Cutlets
Crispy Baked Salmon
Air Fryer Butterfly Drumsticks
Other Recipes to Try
- Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Easy Cajun Mac and Cheese with Chicken
- Jalapeño Cheddar Mac and Cheese
After making this dish from scratch and realizing how easy it is, you will never buy boxed Mac and Cheese ever again! I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this Baked Mac and Cheese recipe. I hope you try it, enjoy it, rate it, and share it with your friends and family!
If you try this recipe and liked it, please leave a star rating and comment below. Use my hashtag to share it with me on Instagram so I can see your delicious recreations! Also, follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 12 oz. elbow pasta cooked for 5 minutes (see package directions)
- ¼ cup butter full fat
- 3 tbsps all purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup pasta water or more if desired
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded (save 1 cup for topping)
- 1 ½ cup white cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley optional
Bread Crumbs Topping
- 1 cup panko crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Cook your pasta to less than al dente, about one minute from package directions.
- To make the homemade mac and cheese sauce, you will need to melt the butter in a non-stick pan on low heat.
- Add in the flour and whisk or mix with a wooden spoon and continue stirring until the mixture bubbles up. Add in the milk, pasta water, spices, salt and continue whisking until the sauce is nice and smooth.
- Add in the shredded cheese, both white and sharp cheddar (only use 1 ½ cup of sharp cheddar, save 1 cup for topping)
- Continue to whisk the mixture together until some of the cheese melts a bit and incorporates with the sauce. The cheese does not have to melt all the way because it will melt in the oven.
- Toss the pasta around with the sauce to coat well. If you need the sauce to me more thin, add a little more pasta water and mix.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish (11 x 9 inch or similar). Add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese to the top.
- To prepare the panko crust, melt 1 tbsp. of butter in a non-stick skillet. Add in the panko crumbs, paprika and toast to give the crumbs a very light golden color.
- Turn of the heat and add in the grated parmesan cheese. Mix together and then top the cheddar cheese with the panko crumb mixture.
- Bake in a pre-heated 400 F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and allow the dish to cool for a few minutes. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley and serve.
Notes
- Cook your pasta to less than al dente, about one minute from package directions.
- Whisk in cold milk, not warm to prevent the flour from clumping.
- Buy cheese in block form and take a few moments to grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese will not melt well and won’t create a truly smooth and creamy sauce.
- Proteins: If you’d like to add proteins, I recommend one of these proteins: Chicken, Shrimp, crab, or Lobster.
- Spices: Change up the flavor by using spices like Cajun, Chipotle, or Fajita seasonings.
- Make it Spicy: Add Tabasco or Sriracha sauce.
- Veggies: Add some steamed broccoli florets into this dish.
Our absolute favorite meal to make. I drought this to a large family dinner and everyone fought over leftovers. 10/10 would recommend!
Thank you so much Bri. Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
How long do I bake it for in the oven?
Bake in a pre-heated 400 F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Literally my new favorite Mac and cheese dish. I have made it 3 times already, and I just found the recipe a month ago. Truly worth the time and effort. 10/10 would recommend.
Hi Eryn!
So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thanks so much for the review.
Thank you so much for this interesting article. ! So helpful!
Heets Abu Dhabi<
Thanks for your feedback and review!
wow!!!! I am really amazed with your blog so much depth information.
Thank You!
Could this be made up the night before and baked the next day?
Hi Tiffany,
Yes ofcorse, just save the crumb topping aside until you are ready to bake.
Hi. Looking forward to trying this. What size baking dish should I use?? Thanks.
Hi Mark!
You can use a 9 x 13 baking dish. Mine was an oval dish. But anything close to that is good enough.