The Best Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Tender macaroni noodles get smothered in gooey cheese then made piping hot in the oven. It's as good as you remember from childhood, it's... the Best Creamy Baked Mac 'n' Cheese!
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. uncooked elbow macaroni about 1 ½ cups
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups milk any kind
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish or a similar size.
- Cook the macaroni until al dente, as per the package instructions. Once done, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- For the sauce, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, salt, and pepper, and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually pour in the milk and half and half, stirring constantly. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens to a gravy-like consistency, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese into the sauce until just melted. Then, add the cooked macaroni to the sauce, tossing to coat evenly.
- Assemble the dish by pouring half of the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Add the remaining pasta on top and finish with the remaining cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 507kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 23gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 664mgPotassium: 318mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 828IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 549mgIron: 1mg
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