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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this baked macaroni and cheese recipe. Deliciously crispy and perfect for any meal.
Baked macaroni and cheese. For any Catholic kid growing up in the 60’s and 70’s, it was the go-to Friday night dinner. It’s also the definition of comfort food. I am ashamed to admit that when my kids were growing up, I didn’t make this. I know…I really owe them an apology! I made the blue box Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Both of my kids loved it, and it was something I knew they would always eat. Plus it was easy and fast. There were many nights when that little blue box saved my life!
A few years before my mom passed away, when I started cooking for my parents, my Dad asked me to make my Mom’s macaroni and cheese recipe. I took her recipe, and combined it with one from a friend. This combination of recipes is what I make now. I came up with the fresh bread crumb topping, but it’s an optional step. It adds a lovely crunchy texture, and only takes an extra minute. When my mom made macaroni and cheese, she didn’t bake it. She served it straight from the stove top.
How To Make
- Cook macaroni as directed on package. Drain.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- When melted, add flour, salt, pepper and mustard while whisking.
- Add milk and Worcestershire sauce whisking constantly.
- Bring to a full boil while still stirring.
- Lower heat and add cheese.
- Stir until cheese is completely melted.
- Stir in cooked macaroni. You want it to be a little soupy so you may not use all the macaroni.
- Pour into buttered casserole. Top with fresh bread crumbs.
- Drizzle with melted butter or olive oil.
- Bake at 375 degrees F about 30 min.
- It’s done when the sides get bubbly and the top is light brown.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese Tips
- During the season of Lent, this is a great Friday meal…although it’s not really much of a sacrifice because it’s so delicious. It is meat-less though, so it fits the bill.
- If you serve this baked macaroni and cheese as a main dish, it feeds 4 or 5. If you serve it as a side dish, it would feed between 6 and 8.
- I made this for my dad on Ash Wednesday, and he gave it a thumbs-up. That’s always a good feeling!
- If you like the macaroni and cheese from Chick-fil-A, this has a very similar taste. Of course, it’s not exact, but it’s close!
HOW TO MAKE FRESH BREAD CRUMBS
My favorite thing to use for fresh bread crumbs is left-over hamburger buns. Place the buns in a mini food processor and pulse until you have tiny crumbs. Any kind of stale bread can also be used.
What Readers Are Saying
“We made this tonight and it was delicious! Easy to put together and very creamy!”
~Mary
What To Use Instead Of Bread Crumbs
If you don’t want to go to the trouble of making fresh bread crumbs, panko crumbs will work great. Other substitutions are crushed Ritz crackers, or crushed potato chips.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 oz. Elbow Macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
- 1/3 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 2 cups Milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
- fresh bread crumbs and olive oil
Instructions
- Cook macaroni as directed on package. Drain.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- When melted, add flour, salt, pepper and mustard while whisking.
- Add milk and Worcestershire sauce whisking constantly.
- Bring to a full boil while still stirring.
- Lower heat and add cheese.
- Stir until cheese is completely melted.
- Stir in cooked macaroni. You want it to be a little soupy so you may not use all the macaroni.
- Pour into buttered casserole. Top with fresh bread crumbs.
- Drizzle with melted butter or olive oil.
- Bake at 375 degrees F about 30 min.
- It’s done when the sides get bubbly and the top is light brown.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you
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We made this tonight and it was delicious! Easy to put together and very creamy!
I’m planning on trying your Mac/Cheese recipe…..looks easy and yummy!
I’ve already made your Ham and Swiss sliders and they were amazing!!
I saw a funny thing on Facebook this morning. It said “did you ever think that the hardest part of adult life would be what to plan for dinner for the rest of your life?”😀 I totally agree. It’s even harder for me now that I’m not always able to go out to the grocery. So I really have to plan! In my younger years I could just run to the store anytime. Thanks for these recipes.
Love your recipes Ann. I’ve made your baked beans several times and people love them. Your recipes are easy but give you that good feeling of serving something homemade. Thank you for sharing!
These ingredients are exactly what my mom used too! When I tell others what’s my favorite recipe they say whaaaaat? dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce? Yes and baking it with bread crumb topping, oh yummm. Any doubters? Try it – it’s the BEST. I know what I’m having for dinner 😋
Thanks for sharing Ann.
It is amazing to see how everyone makes the different versions of mac and cheese. I layer mine. Using angel hair pasta sharp cheddar grated, mix my milk and 1 or 2 eggs depending on size of dish, pouring some of milk mixture over, then layer again until dish is full ending with pouring last bit of milk and egg mixture. Top with bread crumbs or ritz crackers. Nake til brown and bubbly. Remove and let set a few mins. My family loves it.
Love your blog and decorating ideas.
Thanks
Good afternoon Ann;
I would just like to say how refreshing your website is. It’s easy to following, clean, and not full of all kinds of nonsense. I have tried many of your recipes with full success and rave reviews. And your decorating ideas are now on my radar when shopping. I make a list of things to look for to get that “just right look”. Thank you so much for your insight and dedication to your readers. I look forward to opening my email every time I receive one from you. You are a true inspiration to those of us in a decorating delimma. Have a great day and keep smiling.
Hi Dee…thank you so much for your kind words. They completely just made my day. Happy Spring!
Your blog today brought back a sweet memory for me. When my daughter was about 11, she was invited to a friends home for dinner. She came home raving about the delicious macaroni and cheese they served. I had always made a recipe from my grandmother similar to yours, especially that little jolt of dry mustard. At their next soccer practice I asked the mom if she would be willing to share her recipe as my daughter loved it. She looked at me quizzically and said, “I just use the directions on the box”. So much for homemade.