Baked Mac and Cheese
Baked mac and cheese delivers a creamy interior under a crunchy golden crust, the ultimate cheesy comfort. A proper cheese sauce and a crisp topping take it well beyond the boxed kind. It is the side dish that often steals the whole meal.
- ⏱ 50 min
- 📊 medium
- 🍽 Family
Ingredients
- 400 g macaroni
- 50 g each butter and flour
- 700 ml milk
- 300 g cheddar cheese
- 60 g breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni 2 minutes short of done and drain.
- Make a roux with the butter and flour, then whisk in the milk until thick and smooth.
- Stir in most of the grated cheese off the heat until melted and silky.
- Fold the pasta into the cheese sauce and tip into a baking dish.
- Top with the remaining cheese mixed with breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 190C (375F) for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Rest a few minutes, then serve.
💡 Chef's tip
Slightly undercook the pasta before baking, since it keeps cooking in the sauce and would otherwise turn mushy.
Grating your own cheese from a block melts far more smoothly than pre-shredded, which is coated with anti-caking starch that makes sauces grainy.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 540 kcal
- Protein: 22 g
- Carbs: 54 g
- Fat: 26 g
