Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This baked macaroni and cheese recipe combines delicious sharp cheddar and cream cheese for a flavorful and creamy cheese sauce. Before serving, top with breadcrumbs and bake. Breadcrumbs add a wonderfully crisp texture on top of the soft cheesy pasta.
Foto: Sally's Baking Addiction — Sally
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) dry elbow pasta or pasta shells
- 6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, divided
- 3 Tablespoons (24g) all-purpose flour
- 3 cups (720ml) whole milk*
- 3 and 1/2 cups (about 14 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese*
- 1/2 teaspoon each: salt, ground mustard, smoked paprika, and garlic powder
- dash of hot sauce (optional)
- 3 ounces (85g) full-fat brick cream cheese
- 1 cup (90g) Panko breadcrumbs*
- optional for serving: finely chopped fresh parsley
Steps
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Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
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In a large pot of boiling water, add a pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than the package cook time. Drain the cooked pasta, pour into a large bowl and stir in 2 Tablespoons of butter. Set pasta aside.
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In a large saucepan or 12-inch oven-safe skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour to form a thick paste. Cook and whisk the paste for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in the milk. Once all of the milk is added, continue to whisk. Bring to a simmer. Once simmering, whisk in the cheese until smooth. Whisk in the salt, ground mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and hot sauce (if using). Cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
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Pour the sauce over the buttered pasta. Add the cream cheese and stir everything together until the pasta is completely coated and cream cheese is melted. Scoop pasta back into skillet or a greased 9×13-inch pan.
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Melt the remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter and mix with the Panko. Sprinkle over pasta.
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Bake pasta for 30 minutes or until it is lightly browned on top and the sides are bubbling. I suggest covering the pasta halfway through bake time to prevent the top from burning.
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Allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving with a little fresh parsley. Careful, it’s hot!
💰 Cost Estimate
📋 Price Breakdown (10% ingredients detected)
| Ingredient | Amount | Unit Price | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pound | - | - | |
| 6 tablespoons | - | - | |
| 3 tablespoons | - | - | |
| 3 cups | - | - | |
| and 1/2 cups | 3 | Rp 35.000/kg | Rp 10.500 |
| each | 0.5 teaspoon | - | - |
| dash of hot sauce | - | - | - |
| 3 ounces | - | - | |
| 1 cup | - | - | |
| optional for serving | - | - | - |
*Estimated market prices, may vary by region
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