Easy Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

“This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy for more information.”

Baked Macaroni and Cheese might seem like a lot of work, especially since it’s homemade from scratch, but it’s much easier than you think. And way more delicious than anything that comes out of a box with cheese powder. That’s for sure! There is a printable version of this recipe at the bottom of this post for your convenience.

My kids really love Mac n Cheese. When life gets really busy I tend to grab a box from the pantry and whip it up, but I really don’t like the boxed version. You can’t replace real cheese with a powder. So we try to make this version of Macaroni and Cheese more often. The delicious and flavorful sauce is to die for but then when you bake it with more cheese on top . . . it turns into something heavenly. This is the way grandma used to make it. I even throw in a little bit of love with every batch. Ha Ha! This recipe only uses 3 pans. One for the macaroni, one for the sauce and one for the baking. Well, I guess you could make it in two pans, if you cooked the macaroni first, then made the sauce in the same pan. But I’m all about getting the cooking over with as soon as possible so we can eat, so I cook the macaroni and the sauce at the same time in different pans.

The awesome thing about making Macaroni and Cheese from scratch is that you can make it your own. Throw in your favorite seasonings, use different cheeses. You can add veggies or bacon. YEP I think I’ll add bacon next time. Mmmmmm! So good.

The version we are making today is the basic recipe. I used sharp cheddar and then a Mexican Blend for the top. Be sure to buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. If you buy it pre-shredded, it will make your Mac’n Cheese grainy! If you have a picky eater, this is how they will like it. So let’s get down to business! Here is what you’ll need as far as kitchen gadgets are concerned. I use all of the products I recommend to you and I love them!

Easy Homemade Mac ‘n Cheese

• 4 cups dry macaroni noodles
• 4 Tablespoons real butter
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 pound sharp cheddar, divided, shredded at home
• salt and pepper to taste
• optional: cayenne pepper, thyme, paprika, crumbled bacon etc.

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter then whisk in the flour to create a roux. 
3. Let the butter and flour mixture turn a light golden brown while stirring constantly.
4. Whisk in the milk and stir well.
5. Let raise to a small boil, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened. About 5 minutes.
6. Add your desired seasonings- dry mustard, garlic powder and onion salt.
7. Add all but about 1 cup of the shredded cheese to the sauce and stir to melt. You’ll save the cup of cheese for the top.
8. Taste the mixture and make sure you’ve added enough salt.
9. Pour the cooked macaroni into the sauce and stir. 
10. Butter the bottom and sides of a baking pan (I use a 9×13″ glass pan).
11. Pour the macaroni and cheese into your baking dish and top with remaining cup of shredded cheese. 
12. Bake at 375° F for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the middle is bubbling.
13. Remove from oven and let sit about 5 minutes before serving. 
14. Enjoy with any extra toppings you desire.

Print

Yum

Easy Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 4 cups dry macaroni noodles
• 4 Tablespoons real butter
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 pound sharp cheddar, divided, shredded at home
• salt and pepper to taste
• optional: cayenne pepper, thyme, paprika, crumbled bacon etc

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter then whisk in the flour to create a roux.
3. Let the butter and flour mixture turn a light golden brown while stirring constantly.
4. Whisk in the milk and stir well.
5. Let raise to a small boil, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened. About 5 minutes.
6. Add your desired seasonings- dry mustard, garlic powder and onion salt.
7. Add all but about 1 cup of the shredded cheese to the sauce and stir to melt. You'll save the cup of cheese for the top.
8. Taste the mixture and make sure you've added enough salt.
9. Pour the cooked macaroni into the sauce and stir.
10. Butter the bottom and sides of a baking pan (I use a 9x13" glass pan).
11. Pour the macaroni and cheese into your baking dish and top with remaining cup of shredded cheese.
12. Bake at 375° F for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the middle is bubbling.
13. Remove from oven and let sit about 5 minutes before serving.
14. Enjoy with any extra toppings you desire.

Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes

0.1

https://www.tipsfromatypicalmomblog.com/2017/04/easy-homemade-baked-macaroni-cheese.html