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baked macaroni and cheese in a bowl next to a baking dish

Easy and Delicious Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese is the ULTIMATE comfort food! This baked mac and cheese has a delicious cheese sauce, with 3 different cheeses, and baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Cheese
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baked macaroni and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, old fashioned baked mac and cheese
Servings: 6 -8 Servings
Calories: 594kcal
Author: Tamara

Ingredients

  • 1 16 ounce box Large elbow macaroni
  • 1 tablespoon Salt or Chicken bouillon to season boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons Butter unsalted
  • 2 cups Heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard powder
  • 1 teaspoon each of Salt and pepper adjust to your taste
  • 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 cups Colby jack cheese shredded
  • 2 cups Monterey jack cheese shredded
  • 2 teaspoons Paprika to sprinkle over the top

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Once the water is boiling, add in a heaping tablespoon of salt OR chicken bouillon.
  • Now gently pour your elbow pasta into the boiling water. Allow the pasta to cook until it is al dente (do not overcook the pasta because it will continue to cook in the oven. After about 7-10 minutes, drain the pasta and set it aside.

Make the Cheese Sauce

  • Heat up a medium saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add your butter into the skillet and allow it to melt. Now gently pour 1 cup of your heavy cream into the pan, and mix it in with the butter.
  • Now begin to sprinkle about 1/4 cup of each of your shredded cheeses into the butter cream mixture. Stir continuously until the cheese begins to melt.
  • If the sauce is too thick, add more of the heavy cream, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Now mix in your seasonings including the garlic powder, mustard powder, salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Assemble the Mac and Cheese to Bake

  • Add your cooked pasta into a large bowl, sprinkle in 1/4 cup of each of your shredded cheeses and stir it up until everything is mixed well.
  • Now pour your cheese sauce into the bowl with the pasta, and stir it up well.
  • Pour half of the macaroni and cheese into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle a little bit more of the cheddar cheese over the top (leave enough to cover the final layer).
  • Add the rest of the macaroni and cheese and then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese right over the top.
  • Cover the baking dish with foil and wrap it tightly around the edges. You can place the dish on a flat sheet tray before placing it in the oven, just in case the cheese overflows.
  • Place it in the oven and bake it covered for 20 minutes.
  • To Brown the Top: Remove the foil from the baking dish, and change the oven to BROIL. Broil the mac for 3-5 minutes, keep a close eye on it so that it does not burn. Once it's golden brown and bubbly, remove it from the oven and let it sit for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. And enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 594kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 156mg | Sodium: 1557mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
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