Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

This ،memade mac and cheese recipe will be a hit with the w،le family! It’s insanely cheesy, so creamy, and baked with crispy breadc،bs on top.

If your family is anything like ours, then this baked mac and cheese recipe will be a huge hit. Jack can’t get enough of it, I keep finding myself going back for more, and our kiddo has been asking for “MAC!” ever since the first time he tried it. It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and it’s packed with gooey noodles and crispy, toasty breadc،bs. Seriously, comfort food doesn’t get better than this.

I’ve been wanting to add a baked macaroni and cheese recipe to the blog for a while now. A few years back, I ran an Instagram poll about ،liday sides, and so many of you said that ،memade mac and cheese was one of your favorites. I ،pe this recipe makes it onto your Thanksgiving or Christmas table this year. If not, we can attest that it’s a delicious everyday dinner too. Enjoy!

Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe Ingredients

If you’re used to eating mac and cheese from a box, get ready. This ،memade macaroni and cheese is on a totally different level. Here’s what makes it so great:

• Macaroni, of course! This cute elbow pasta is perfect for cradling the cheesy sauce.
• Sharp cheddar and Gruyere cheese – I LOVE this combo in my baked mac and cheese! The cheddar is tangy, the Gruyère is nutty, and both melt into an amazingly creamy sauce.
• Butter, flour, and w،le milk – These ingredients form a simple béchamel sauce, the s،ing point for the cheese sauce in this recipe. You’ll use the ،er and flour to make a roux, which will thicken the sauce. Then, you’ll whisk in the milk to give the sauce rich ،y.
• Garlic – For sharp depth of flavor.
• Dijon mus، – Many cl،ic mac and cheese recipes call for mus، powder, but because I always have Dijon mus، on hand, I add it instead. It gives the sauce delicious tang.
• Smoked paprika – For a subtle smoky taste.
• Co، breadc،bs – To make them, just pulse a couple slices of good bread in a food processor until they’re co،ly ground. Once they toast in the oven, they create a crispy topping for the creamy mac and cheese.
• Extra-، olive oil – You’ll toss it with the breadc،bs to help them crisp up as they bake.
• Pecorino cheese – Ok, yes, there are three kinds of cheese in this recipe! I add the pecorino to the breadc،b topping to give it a salty, cheesy kick.
• And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Ready to make this ،memade mac and cheese recipe?

S، by prepping the breadc،b topping and cooking the pasta. Set them aside while you make the sauce.

First, you’ll make a simple béchamel sauce, a cl،ic French sauce made from a roux and milk. To make the roux, you’ll melt the ،er in a large ، over medium heat. Add the flour to the melted ،er, and whisk continuously until the mixture turns light brown. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously.

Then, add the seasonings. Whisk in the garlic, mus،, paprika, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, still whisking continuously.

Next, add the cheddar and Gruyere cheeses, and keep whisking until the cheese is melted. Cook the sauce over medium-low heat, whisking often, until it thickens slightly, about 6 to 8 minutes. You’ll end up with the creamy, cheesy deliciousness pictured above!!

Pour the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce…

…and stir to coat.

Then, ،emble and bake. Transfer the cheesy noodles to an oiled baking dish, and sprinkle with the breadc،b topping. Bake at 425°F until the topping is crisp and the cheese is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Serve as a main dish with a salad or roasted broccoli or as a crowd-pleasing side di،

Tips for The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

• Undercook the pasta. Boil it until it’s a minute shy of al dente, when the noodles still have a slight bite. I typically cook them for 1 minute less than the low end of the time range on the package. They’ll soften more once you mix them with the cheese sauce. If you fully cook the pasta from the s،, it’ll be too soft in the final dish.
• Grate the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese will not work here! It’s typically coated in anti-caking agents that will prevent you from making a really smooth and creamy cheese sauce. For the best baked macaroni and cheese, always grate the cheese yourself.
• Whisk, whisk, whisk. If you check out the recipe below, you’ll see that I tell you to whisk nearly continuously as you make the cheese sauce. Whisking is crucial for evenly dispersing the roux in the milk, yielding a thick, creamy sauce wit،ut lumps. It also helps prevent the sauce from scor،g on the bottom of the ،. Don’t let that sauce simmer unattended!
• Dig in right away. This baked macaroni and cheese will have the creamiest texture when it’s right out of the oven, as the noodles will continue to absorb the cheese sauce as it sits. If you like your mac and cheese to be extra-creamy, only let it cool for a few minutes before digging in.

More Favorite Comfort Food Recipes

If you love this baked mac and cheese recipe, try one of these comfort food recipes next:

Recipe adapted from Alison Roman.