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    Home » Recipes

    2nd March 2021 Dinner

    Home » Recipes

    Best baked Mac and Cheese

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    This is the Best baked Mac and Cheese ever! It is the richest, most comforting and creamy Mac recipe with a gorgeously crunchy topping. 

    Baked Mac and Cheese in a clear oval dish

    Best baked Mac and Cheese

    The most luxuriously dreamy Mac and Cheese that is perfect for gatherings/parties. This version is for a glossy, velvety and rich Mac. There is no chance that it will be dry or become brick like! 

    how to make the Best baked Mac and Cheese

    This is a recipe that is pretty straight forward. Here is how to make it.

    • Make a Cheese Sauce by melting Butter, adding Flour and whisking in Milk. Cook until thickened.

    Butter melting in pot

    Foaming Butter and Flour in pot

    Thickened flour and butter in pot

    Thickened roux with a little milk being stirred in

    Creamy flour and milk sauce being whisked in pot

    Thickened Flour & Milk Sauce in pot

    • Season. Add in Cheeses and stir well. Add Nutmeg and Mustard. 
    • Stir in Cream.

    Seasoning adding to thickened sauce in pot

    Cheese being stirred into sauce

    Mustard being added to cheese sauce

    Nutmeg being stirred into cheese sauce

    • Boil the pasta in salted water and drain. Reserve some of the water.

    Pasta being stirred into cheese sauce

    Mac and cheese in dish with breadcrumbs on top

    • Add to Cheese Sauce.
    • Top with more Cheese. Then bake.
    • Serve!

    Baked Mac and Cheese in oval dish

    Mac and Cheese in bowl

    tips and faq’s for best baked mac and cheese

    Boil the Pasta less then the pack suggests – I like to boil the pasta for 2 – 3 mins less then the pack suggests as it will continue to cook in the sauce.

    Grate Cheese – Always grate your own Cheese where possible. Pre grated Cheeses usually have a coating on them which stops them from clumping together in the bag but it also stops them from melting as smoothly.

    Use Pasta Water – Pasta Water helps the sauce to emulsify which makes it cling to the pasta better.

    Cheese – use your favourite Cheese here. I love to use a combination of cheeses such as Mozzarella, Gruyere and Cheddar. Red Leicester is also lovely here. 

    Milk and Butter – It is best to use room temp milk and butter. I add a lot of Milk and some cream too because I wanted a really creamy comforting Mac and Cheese.

    variations of mac and cheese

    • Pasta Shapes – You can use any shape Pasta that you like – Fusilli, Farfalle, Penne all work well.
    • Add Protein – Stir in your favourite cooked protein at the end, such as Chicken, Ground Lamb, Prawns.
    • Veggies – Add Mushrooms, Sweetcorn, Broccoli or Leafy Greens such as Spinach, Chard or Kale.
    • Seasonings – Add spices or seasonings of your choice.
    • Sauces – Stir in some Hot Sauce or Chilli Oil at the end.
    • Lemon –  Add the zest of a Lemon.
    • Breadcrumbs - Add a sprinkling on top along with the cheese before baking, for extra crunch.

    storing leftovers

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the Microwave or on the hob over medium low heat, with a sprinkling of water for a few minutes.

    To freeze – Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat gently in the microwave or stove top.

    more recipes you will love:

    Buttermilk Roast Chicken

    Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb

    One Tray Greek Chicken and Potatoes

    Masala Lamb Chops 

    **if you make something from  tiffin and tea, i would love to see your creations! don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below! we love to hear from you. safira x

    Baked Mac and Cheese in oval dish
    5 from 2 votes
    Print

    Best baked Mac and Cheese

    This is the Best baked Mac and Cheese ever! It is the richest, most comforting and creamy Mac recipe with a gorgeously crunchy topping. 

    Course Dinner, Lunch
    Cuisine American, british
    Keyword Baked mac and cheese, Creamy Mac and Cheese
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 6 as a side
    Calories 791 kcal
    Author Safira

    Ingredients

    Mac

    • 60 g Butter
    • 60 g Plain Flour
    • 900 ml Milk
    • 200 ml Double Cream
    • Salt and Pepper
    • 100 g Gruyere Grated
    • 75 g Mozarella Grated
    • 100 g Cheddar Grated
    • 35 g Parmesan Grated
    • 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
    • ½ tsp Nutmeg Powder
    • 300 g Macaroni Shells

    Topping

    • 75 g Mozarella Grated
    • 100 g Gruyere Grated
    • 25 g Parmesan Grated

    Instructions

    1. Melt butter in a pot over medium heat until foaming and add Flour. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes stirring to combine. 

    2. Add flour and stir in and cook for 1 - 2 minutes. 

    3. Gradually whisk in the Milk until it is lump free. Do this in stages making sure you whisk all the time. Simmer for a few minutes until thickened.  

    4. Season with Salt and Pepper.

    5. Stir in the Cheeses then add Mustard and Nutmeg. Stir in Double Cream.

    6. Boil Pasta in salted water for 2 minutes less then the packet suggests. Reserve some of the Pasta Water. Around 70 ml. 

    7. Stir the Pasta into the Cheese Sauce along with the Pasta Water. Cook for 1 - 2 minutes on low heat.

    8. Add the Cheese for the topping on top and stick under the grill till golden. 2 - 3 minutes.

    Recipe Notes

    tips and faq’s for best baked mac and cheese

    Boil the Pasta less then the pack suggests – I like to boil the pasta for 2 – 3 mins less then the pack suggests as it will continue to cook in the sauce.

    Grate Cheese – Always grate your own Cheese where possible. Pre grated Cheeses usually have a coating on them which stops them from clumping together in the bag but it also stops them from melting as smoothly.

    Use Pasta Water – Pasta Water helps the sauce to emulsify which makes it cling to the pasta better.

    Cheese – use your favourite Cheese here. I love to use a combination of cheeses such as Mozzarella, Gruyere and Cheddar. Red Leicester is also lovely here. 

    Milk and Butter – It is best to use room temp milk and butter. I add a lot of Milk and some cream too because I wanted a really creamy comforting Mac and Cheese.

    variations of mac and cheese

    • Pasta Shapes – You can use any shape Pasta that you like – Fusilli, Farfalle, Penne all work well.
    • Bake it – Layer the Pasta and Cheese into a dish and bake with more cheese on top.You can also add some breadcrumbs or crushed ritz  with butter on top with the cheese.
    • Add Protein – Stir in your favourite cooked protein at the end, such as Chicken, Ground Lamb, Prawns.
    • Veggies – Add Mushrooms, Sweetcorn, Broccoli or Leafy Greens such as Spinach, Chard or Kale.
    • Seasonings – Add spices or seasonings of your choice.
    • Sauces – Stir in some Hot Sauce or Chilli Oil at the end.
    • Lemon –  Add the zest of a Lemon.
    • Breadcrumbs - Add a sprinkling on top along with the cheese before baking, for extra crunch.

    making creamy mac and cheese in advance

    This keeps well in the fridge for 3 – 4 days. To reheat, add a splash of milk or water before reheating on the hob or in the microwave.

    storing leftovers

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the Microwave or on the hob over medium low heat, with a sprinkling of water for a few minutes.

    To freeze – Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat gently in the microwave or stove top.

     

    Nutrition Facts
    Best baked Mac and Cheese
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 791 Calories from Fat 450
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 50g77%
    Saturated Fat 30g188%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 159mg53%
    Sodium 1419mg62%
    Potassium 434mg12%
    Carbohydrates 34g11%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 11g12%
    Protein 35g70%
    Vitamin A 2058IU41%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 917mg92%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    1. Stephanie says

      March 22, 2023 at 9:24 pm

      5 stars
      This mac and cheese was hands down the best I have had. EVER! All of the adults and most kids gave it a 10/10. One child voted 9/10 because he likes his mac and cheese orange and it tasted "a little too fancy".

      Reply
      • Safira says

        March 23, 2023 at 4:23 am

        Hi Stephanie,

        Im so glad you all enjoyed it. Thankyou so much for the feedback.
        Haha love that it was a little too fancy! 🙂

        Reply

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    hey...I’m safira! I share accessible Global Recipes as well as Baking recipes for home cooks. One of my passions is to teach home cooks to become more confident in the kitchen and this comes with time and experience.

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    32 shares