This macaroni and cheese baked recipe is literally out of this world. We’re talking a crispy and crunchy top with a gooey, hot, cheesy inside. This recipe screams homemade mac and cheese, blowing the boxed stuff out of the water. Read on to learn how to make the best baked mac n cheese. Then we cover all of your macaroni and cheese questions!

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 2 Minutes

Cook Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients:

1lb Uncooked Large elbow Macaroni

1/2 Cup Of Butter

1/3 Cup Of All Purpose Flour

2 Cups Of 2% Milk

3.5 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 1/2 Cup Small Curd Cottage Cheese

2 Large Eggs (Beaten)

2 tsp Salt

1/4 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook macaroni according to box instructions. Drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. In that large pot, melt butter over low heat, then whisk in your flour until smooth. (cook for about one minute while whisking)

3. Gradually whisk in your flower, cook ver medium heat until thick and bubbly (1-2 minutes).

4. Stir in 2 1/4 cups cheddar cheese, your cottage cheese, salt, and eggs. And stir over medium heat until one even cheesy mixture.

5. Add back in your pasta and mix till it’s totally coated (you have delicious mac n cheese at this point).

6. Grease a glass, ovenproof pan, and transfer the mac n cheese to it and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the panko over the top evenly.

7. Bake for 25 mins at 350.

Mac N Cheese FAQs

How do you make mac n cheese from scratch?

Making perfect mac n cheese comes down to 3 steps. First, cook your pasta. Then you make a roux with flour and butter, and add your cheese to make a sauce. Then you combine them and sometimes bake it, like in our full mac n cheese recipe.

What is the best cheese to use for Macaroni and Cheese?

If you’re only going to have one cheese, make it Cheddar. A combination of cheeses is often great for macaroni and cheese, but Cheddar is really the core cheese for any great mac n cheese.

What’s the difference between homemade and boxed mac n cheese?

The major difference is the cheese. Boxed cheese is typically powdered, or even a preservative filled cheese sauce. Whereas homemade features a from scratch cheese sauce made with fresh cheese. You can see and taste the difference with a good homemade mac n cheese recipe.

What can I put in macaroni and cheese?

You can put veggies or meats in with your mac n cheese! We suggest keeping it kind of simple by adding just one addition. Maybe a some steamed broccoli to get in some greens (goes great with cheese). Or perhaps some crispy bacon, because why not.

How to keep mac n cheese creamy?

Creamy mac n cheese comes from making a perfect roux for your cheese sauce. Use 1/2 cup flour, 1/3 cup butter, add two cups of milk, and then you have a great base to add your cheese. We give you the perfect recipe here.

Is mac n cheese healthy?

No.

Let’s be honest, noone is eating mac n cheese, at least real mac n cheese, on any sort of diet. It’s typically a hefty portion of carbs and saturated fat. You do get some protein from cheese, and can always add in some veggies, but overall mac n cheese is not healthy.

What is baked mac n cheese?

Baked mac n cheese is essentially regular creamy mac n cheese, put into a baking dish, and cooked in the oven to crisp up the top. Add breadcrumb and cheese on top to make the ultimate topping.