Description
A comforting and cheesy baked mac and cheese dish that kids will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream cheese (optional)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (Panko for crunch)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to create a roux.
- Add the milk gradually, stirring until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in the shredded cheeses, seasoning with salt, pepper, and mustard powder until melted and smooth.
- Fold in the drained macaroni until fully coated with the cheese sauce.
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- Let sit for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add an extra splash of milk before baking. Feel free to sneak in veggies like broccoli for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: baked mac and cheese, kid-friendly recipes, comfort food