Here’s a creamy, cheesy, and comforting Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole recipe:
🧀 Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 3 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- Salted water for boiling
Cheese Sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk (whole milk preferred)
- 1 tsp mustard powder (optional, for flavor)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, for extra meltiness)
Topping:
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta
- Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to make a roux.
- Slowly whisk in milk, cooking until thickened.
- Add mustard powder, salt, and pepper.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheddar and mozzarella until smooth.
- Combine pasta and sauce
- Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce.
- Prepare topping
- Combine breadcrumbs, melted butter, and parmesan in a small bowl.
- Assemble casserole
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Pour macaroni mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly on top.
- Bake
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Serve hot
- Let cool slightly before serving for perfect slices.
Tips & Variations
- Add cooked bacon, ham, or sautéed vegetables for extra flavor.
- Swap half the cheddar for Gruyère or smoked cheese for a gourmet twist.
- For a crunchy top, broil the casserole for 1–2 minutes at the end.
I can also give a super creamy stovetop-to-oven shortcut version that reduces prep time without sacrificing flavor.
Do you want me to share that version?
