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Baked Mac and Cheese (Family Favorite)

A wooden spoon lifting a generous scoop of creamy, cheesy Baked Mac and Cheese from a white baking dish.
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A recipe for oven-baked macaroni and cheese using cheddar and Gruyere cheeses for a creamy, comforting family meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 1/2 cups half and half
  • 4 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese divided
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese divided
  • 1/2 Tbsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9×13″). Set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
  3. While water boils, shred cheeses and toss together to mix. Divide cheese into three piles: approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
  4. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often.
  5. Slowly pour in about 2 cups of the half and half while whisking constantly until smooth. Slowly pour in the remaining half and half plus the whole milk while whisking constantly until combined and smooth.
  6. Continue heating over medium heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency, similar to a semi thinned out condensed soup.
  7. Remove from heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine. Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese until completely melted and smooth.
  8. In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
  9. Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.

Notes

  • For a crunchier topping and firmer consistency, bake at 350 or 375 F degrees for 20-30 minutes. Broil at the end of baking for approximately 2-5 minutes until golden brown and crunchy.
  • To make ahead, prepare the recipe but do not bake. Cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for 1-2 days. Before baking, let the dish sit on the counter for 30 minutes. Bake at recipe temperature for 25-35 minutes until hot and bubbly.
  • For the five cheese variation, use 2 cups cheddar, 1 cup Colby, 1 cup Muenster, 1 1/2 cups Gruyere, and 1/2 cup mozzarella, all shredded.

Nutrition

Keywords: Baked Mac and Cheese, Cheesy Pasta, Family Favorite, Oven Baked, Creamy Sauce, Comfort Food

Find it online: https://www.meltitclean.com/baked-mac-and-cheese-family-favorite/