Baked Mac and Cheese
Baked Mac and Cheese is the true definition of comfort food! Tender macaroni noodles smothered in a silky, rich, creamy sharp cheddar and gruyere sauce, then baked to golden perfection with a crunchy panko topping. What more could you ask for?
Servings: 6
Calories: 709kcal
Ingredients
- 8 oz macaroni noodles dry, not cooked
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup butter unsalted
- 1/4 cup flour all purpose
- 3 cups whole milk aka homogenized, 3.25%
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 3 cups sharp cheddar shredded, divided
- 1 cup gruyere shredded
- 1/4 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
Panko topping
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 tbsp butter melted, unsalted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F. Fill a pot with water and add the bay leaves. Bring it to a boil, salt it generously, then add the macaroni noodles and cook al dente according to package instructions. Drain and discard the bay leaves.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour until completely smooth and let it cook for about 1 minute. Add the milk in 1 cup batches, whisking until smooth before adding more.
- Stir in the dijon mustard, onion powder, 2 1/2 cups of the cheddar, and the gruyere. Whisk until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir the macaroni noodles into the sauce to coat. Pour the macaroni into a 9x9" baking dish and spread it evenly from edge-to-edge. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over top of the macaroni.
- Mix the panko breadcrumbs with the parmesan cheese and sprinkle evenly over the shredded cheddar. Use a spoon to drizzle the melted butter over the panko topping, Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 20-24 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
Notes
This recipe will work with any type of small noodles. You could use farfalle, shells, penne, or rotini, for example.
If you prefer an extra saucy mac and cheese to a baked one, then skip steps #4 and #5. This recipe makes a very delicious regular bowl of mac and cheese as well.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is an estimate and can vary depending on the products used.
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Nutrition
Calories: 709kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 835mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1356IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 845mg | Iron: 2mg