Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe – Sharmis Passion

Baked Mac and Cheese is a classic and comforting pasta that’s great any time and is popular during Thanksgiving and Christmas. My Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is creamy, cheesy with a buttery crunchy topping and gooey cheese. Recipe includes video and step-by-step pictures with instructions, stove top method is also given.

Baked Mac and Cheese is a family favorite that both the kids and husband love. While I was browsing pasta recipes, I found this Baked Mac and Cheese recipe quite interesting and I started trying it. Since then it has been on our regular menu at least once a month.

jump to:

About Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is made by first cooking the pasta, then adding a creamy cheesy white sauce and then finally adding the cheese and breadcrumbs to a baking tray and baking it. We absolutely loved it as it had soft cheesy pasta with a crusty top over breadcrumbs – totally delicious.

My family loves all types of pasta and white sauce pasta is their favorite. I am the odd one out in the family because I don’t like pasta at all but I would love to make it. Buttery, crunchy with panko, it’s extra cheesy and tastes out of this world.

I would recommend eating this as a brunch (skip the meal) so you don’t feel guilty eating cheesy pasta. But guess what, a day of cheese indulgence is okay?! I’ve also given notes on a stove top version for those who want to make it without an oven.

Baked Mac and Cheese is the perfect thing for a special dinner or holiday. There are lots of mac and cheese recipes out there but this is our family’s favorite. It works best as is but you can serve it with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole or just with crisp toast.

At first when I tried it I used a combination of regular cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. But now when I wanted to shoot a video, I wanted to make a classic recipe that uses Orange Cheddar Cheese as the main ingredient. And you know it is not easy to find this Orange Cheddar Cheese in my place, but luckily one day my husband found it in the supermarket and since then he has not looked back.

Baked Mac and Cheese Video

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtDFnV0Eumk[/embed]

breadcrumbs

You can also use regular breadcrumbs but panko breadcrumbs work best. These are before and after shots of toasting the breadcrumbs. Frying breadcrumbs in butter adds flavor and added crunch.

use cheese

Cheddar cheese is the main ingredient here so you can use either regular white cheddar cheese or orange cheddar cheese. The other cheese can be either mozzarella or a combination of processed or Gouda cheese.

Baked vs Stovetop

Baked Mac and Cheese has a crispy crust on top with a gooey mac and cheese inside. With the stovetop version you will miss the crusty top otherwise the taste will remain the same.

Check out Step 28 for the stove-top version.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients

• macaroni pasta – The macaroni pasta variety is preferred for this recipe and I would suggest sticking with it.
• Milk – Use full fat cream milk for a creamy rich sauce.
• Cheese Cheddar cheese is the main ingredient here, apart from this you can also add processed or mozzarella cheese.
• Flour – Generally flour is used but you can also take wheat flour instead of it.
• breadcrumbs – I used panko breadcrumbs which worked best although you can use regular breadcrumbs as well.
• spices Nutmeg, paprika and black pepper powder are used here.

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese Step by Step

1. Keep 4 cups of water to boil in a big vessel. Get ready with all the remaining ingredients. When water starts boiling, add 1 teaspoon oil along with salt in it.

2. Let it boil well.

3.1 Add heaping cups of macaroni pasta variety.

4.Give a quick mix.

5. Cook until fork tender. This may take 5-6 minutes depending on the type and size of the pasta. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water for later use.

6. Drain the water and keep aside.

7. Wash it with cold water to prevent overcooking. Keep it aside.

8. Keep the flame low. Now add 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy bottomed vessel, let it melt a little – whisk quickly.

9. Add 2 tbsp flour.

10.Whisk quickly until dry flour is no longer visible.

11.Immediately add 2 cups milk (boiled, cooled).

12. Keep stirring continuously. Once it starts thickening, use a spatula.

13. Keep stirring it continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Within a few minutes it will form a slightly thick layer on the ladle.

14.Now add salt as per taste, ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, ½ teaspoon paprika powder and a pinch of nutmeg powder.

15. Mix it well.

16.Now add grated 1 cup orange cheddar cheese and ½ cup processed or mozzarella cheese – I used processed cheese.

17. Beat well until the cheese melts and becomes smooth and creamy.

18. Add cooked macaroni pasta.

19. Mix it well. Let it remain sticky, only then it will not dry out while cooking.

20. Mac and cheese is also ready to serve. But we are making the baked version so let’s proceed with the steps below.

21.Look how creamy and sticky it is. Cancel. Preheat the oven at 190 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.

22. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small pan and add ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs.

23.Fry it until it turns golden brown and keep it aside.

24.Now spoon the previously prepared mac and cheese into a baking tray.

25. Sprinkle with toasted breadcrumbs.

26.Add ¼ cup cheddar cheese.

27. Add 2 tablespoons regular processed cheese.

28.Bake in preheated oven at 190 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Baked Mac and Cheese is ready to serve!

For the stove top version, put the prepared mac and cheese in a flame-safe bowl, then add the toasted breadcrumbs, cheese topping and cook on the lowest heat for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Baked Mac and Cheese is ready!

Expert Tips

• Macaroni pasta is best suited for this recipe.
• You can also use ramekins to bake for individual servings. I baked in 3 small oven proof trays.
• Use boiled warm milk, I would not recommend using raw milk.
• If you don’t have panko breadcrumbs you can also use regular breadcrumbs.
• Cook on low flame and then add paneer. While adding milk, keep stirring continuously so that there are no lumps.

service and storage

Serve it hot with toasted bread or it tastes great just like that. I would not recommend storing as it tastes great when warm and the consistency of the mac and cheese changes when cooled or stored. So always serve hot!

general questions and answers

1. What’s the best cheese to use for mac and cheese?

Cheddar cheese is essential for this recipe. If you can’t find orange cheddar cheese it’s fine to use yellow cheddar cheese. Also use a combination of gouda cheese, mozzarella cheese and processed cheese.

2.I don’t have an oven, can I make this mac and cheese?

Yes definitely. You can make the mac and cheese as directed, then add the toppings at the end and cook on the stovetop for 10 minutes. Or until the cheese melts.

If you have any further questions about this Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe Mail me at sharmispassions@gmail.com. Also, follow me Instagram, Facebook, pinterest, youtube And Twitter,

tried this Baked Mac and Cheese recipeDo let me know how you liked it. Tag us @sharmispassions on Instagram and hash tag #sharmispassions.

📖 Recipe Card