Go Back
–+ servings
a spoon lifting a scoop of macaroni and cheese out of a baking dish
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

My Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This rich and creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese is the perfect go-to crowd-pleaser, kid-winning, soul-warming recipe. You'll have it whipped up in under an hour & ready for the ultimate cheesy dinner.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

  • 1 pound macaroni noodles
  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 16 ounces cheese (I usually use a combo of 4 oz. muenster, 4 oz. gruyere 4-8 oz. sharp yellow or white cheddar, and 4-6 slices of provolone or havarti, if I have some on hand)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni noodles and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain well and return to the pot.
    1 pound macaroni noodles
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter is completely melted, sprinkle the flour over the butter and whisk in to form a roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbly.
    1/2 cup salted butter, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Gradually whisk in the milk, onion powder, creole seasoning, salt, pepper, and paprika, then continue to cook, whisking frequently until slightly thickened, around 3-5 minutes.
    3 1/2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon creole seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • Sprinkle 1/4 of the cheese over the sauce and whisk it in until melted. Repeat with another 1/4 of the cheese.
    16 ounces cheese
  • Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and stir to coat.
  • Add 1/2 of the macaroni and cheese sauce to a 9x13-inch pan. Arrange 4 slices of cheese on top and sprinkle with another 1/4 of the shredded cheese. Spread the remaining pasta and sauce on top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
  • Bake for 10-20 minutes until cheese it melted on top and everything is hot throughout.

Nutrition

Calories: 415kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 529mg | Potassium: 229mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 821IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 366mg | Iron: 1mg

QR code

Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.

qr code