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A serving of macaroni and cheese on a black plate.
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4.57 from 46 votes

Baked Macaroni And Cheese

A perfectly cheesy and creamy baked macaroni and cheese that doesn't use processed cheese. Amazing flavor, sure to be a favorite of yours!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Resting time15 minutes
Course: pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked, cheese, macaroni
Servings: 12
Calories: 525kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup Butter unsalted
  • 1/2 cup Flour All purpose
  • 1 1/2 cup Half and half
  • 2 1/2 cup Whole milk
  • 3 cup Cheddar cheese grated, divided
  • 3 cup Sharp cheddar cheese grated, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper freshly ground

Instructions

  • Grate both the cheddar and sharp cheddar cheeses and combine together in a bowl.

Cheese Division - Divide into three groups

  • One group will make up the sauce – 3 cups
  • One group will be added in between layers of the macaroni and cheese – 1 1/2 cups
  • Last group will top the dish – 1 1/2 cups
  • Set groups of cheese aside.

Pasta Cook And Prep

  • Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot.
  • Add the pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 1 minute less than the package directs to cook pasta.
  • While the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease a 3-quart baking dish and set it aside.
  • Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Cheese Sauce

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Slowly add the flour in and whisk to combine. Continue to whisk and cook for about a minute.
  • Combine the milk and half and half into a large measuring cup.
  • Slowly pour in 2 cups of the half and half, whisking constantly. Whisk until smooth.
  • Slowly pour in the remaining half and half and the whole milk, whisking constantly, until smooth.
  • Whisking very often, continue to cook until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and add salt and pepper.
  • Add the cheese portion that makes up 3 cups. First, add half of it and mix to combine.
  • Once melted, add the additional 1 1/2 cups and continue to stir until melted and smooth.

Putting It Together

  • Place the cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl and add the cheese sauce. Stir until completely combined.
  • Pour half of the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese evenly across the macaroni mixture.
  • Add the remaining pasta mixture evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cup of cheese evenly across the pasta mixture.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F until the top is lightly golden brown and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow it to set up for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Shred your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose and will prevent the cheese from melting properly.
Make Ahead - Make the macaroni and cheese as directed but do not bake. Let cool to room temperature, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before baking. You might need to add 5 to 10 minutes of additional baking time.
Storing - Cool to room temperature, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Freezing - We don't recommend freezing macaroni and cheese. But you can freeze it if absolutely necessary. NOTE that it will not be the same creamy consistency. It tends to be much thicker and becomes clumpy.

Nutrition

Calories: 525kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 746mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 992IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 508mg | Iron: 1mg