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Delicious Easy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe with creamy cheese sauce and crunchy topping

Easy Baked Mac and Cheese

A comforting and creamy baked mac and cheese casserole that's simple to prepare and perfect for family dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 8 oz Elbow macaroni or any short pasta that holds sauce well
Sauce Ingredients
  • 4 tbsp Butter for sauce
  • 2 tbsp Flour to thicken the sauce
  • 2 cups Whole milk whole milk makes it richer, 2 percent works too
  • 2 cups Cheese mix of cheeses recommended (sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack)
  • 1 tsp Salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch Paprika optional
  • 1 pinch Garlic powder optional
  • 1 tbsp Mustard optional
Toppings
  • 1/2 cup Butter breadcrumbs optional topping
  • 1 cup Extra shredded cheese optional topping

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Boil the pasta in salted water until just barely done, then drain (do not rinse).
  2. In the same pot, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Cook for about a minute without browning.
  3. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking until the mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon, resulting in a smooth sauce.
  4. Turn the heat low and stir in the cheese gradually, tasting and adjusting with salt and pepper as needed.
  5. Stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, pour it into a buttered baking dish, and add optional toppings.
Baking
  1. Bake until bubbly and golden on top, about 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Let it rest for 10 minutes after baking to set the sauce. You can make this ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze it for later.