Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This baked mac and cheese recipe is the cheesiest!
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
MAC & CHEESE:
- 2 cups small (dry) elbow macaroni (or another small pasta)
- ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
TOPPING:
- 20 Ritz crackers (or another buttery cracker), crushed
- 4 slices cooked, crispy bacon, chopped
- 1 heaping tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni using package directions; drain.
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Place a rack on the lower-third rung in your oven. Spray 2½- quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring constantly. Whisk in the milk, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in the cooked pasta and cheddar cheese.
- Spoon the cheesy macaroni into the prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the cheesy macaroni. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 506mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1010IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 328mg | Iron: 1.3mg