Go Back
–+ servings
5 from 7 votes

Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese

baked mac and cheese with a spoon in it in a baking dish
This is a comfort food classic and is especially enjoyed during the holidays. What is better than pasta and gooey cheese? Nothing! I use three different kinds of cheeses and start with a roux to make the sauce extra creamy. I bake it at the end with more cheese on top to develop a nice crispy crust for a contrast in texture. This is literally what dreams are made of.
Be sure to give this recipe a try and let me know what you think of it in the comments!
Happy Holidays :)
Serves 8 people
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:40 minutes
Total Time:1 hour
Share Pin Print

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Cavatappi or Elbow Pasta cooked, al dente according to package instructions
  • 3 cups Sharp Chedder grated fresh
  • 1.5 cups Gruyere grated fresh
  • 1.5 cups Smoked Gruyere or Smoked Gouda grated fresh
  • 5 tbsp Butter
  • 1/3 cup All-purpose flour
  • 4 cups Whole Milk
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp Spicy Mustard or Yellow Mustard
  • 1/2 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Smoked paprika

Panko Topping (optional but recommended)

  • 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs, seasoned
  • 1/2 tbsp Dried Italian Seasoning
  • Flaky salt & fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup Butter, melted

Instructions

  • In a large pot, add the butter and flour. Stir until this turns into light brown color and slightly thick just like a roux.
  • To this, add the milk. Keep stirring for about 5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.
  • Once this mixture starts boiling, start adding in the cheeses. Add a total of 4 (2 cheddar and 2 gruyere mixed).
  • Add the cheeses 1 cup at a time. Leave the remaining 2 cups layer into the pasta before baking. Stir until creamy in consistency. Add the mustard, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  • To this, add the cooked pasta and mix it all together.
  • In a large baking pan (roughly 9x13) which has been buttered, add half the pasta topped with 1 cup of cheese then the remaining pasta with the rest of the cheese on top followed by the panko.
  • Bake in a 350 F oven for about 25 minutes then broil for 1a minute until the top is lightly browned. Enjoy warm!
Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and a review!!