Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that I will literally never get tired of, and it’s delicious in all of its forms. So, while I love our classic mac and cheese recipe, this thicker casserole-like Baked Mac and Cheese is absolutely divine. It’s my go-to option whenever I want a thicker, cheesier mac with a crunchy, buttery topping. Okay, I need to stop talking and show you how to make this like, RIGHT NOW.
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“So flavorful! All the seasonings make such a big difference to make this bold without being overpowering. My family goes crazy for the crunchy topping as well. It was easy to mise en place so I could cook/bake it up quickly after a busy day. Can’t wait to make it again.”
Gretchen M
Why Bake Macaroni and Cheese?
Usually, when I make mac, I’m in a hurry to eat that creamy, cheesy goodness, so I just eat it straight out of the pot without taking the time to bake it. But if you want even MORE cheese and a crispy, crunchy, flavorful topping, baked mac and cheese is the way to go. The pasta soaks up all that delicious flavor, and you get a super-rich mac and cheese casserole that is unparalleled. Adding these few extra steps gives this macaroni and cheese main character energy, taking it from just another side dish to the star of the show.
Recipe Success Tips
- Turn the heat down when making the sauce. Once everything comes up to a gentle boil, I drop the heat right away. This keeps the dairy from curdling or breaking, which can happen fast if it bubbles too hard. A lower heat lets the sauce thicken slowly and stay silky, so the cheese melts in like a dream.
- Try different cheeses! Cheddar cheese is the classic option, of course, but I decided to mix in some store-bought shredded Italian cheese blend, too. The cheddar adds that classic flavor, while the Italian cheese blend gives it a more complex taste. Other cheeses you could add are Gouda, Monterey jack, pepper jack, fresh Parmesan, goat cheese, or brie.
Baked Mac and Cheese
Cost $5.13 recipe / $0.85 serving
Ingredients
Baked Mac and Cheese
- 1 cup chicken broth ($0.18)
- 1 cup heavy cream ($1.63)
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika ($0.02)
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper ($0.01)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02)
- ½ tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded, $0.93)
- 1 cup Italian cheese blend (shredded, $0.93)
- 8 oz. macaroni (uncooked, $0.49*)
Seasoned Breadcrumbs
- 2 Tbsp butter ($0.28)
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs ($0.25)
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.02)
- ¼ tsp salt ($0.02)
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese (shredded, $0.23)
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper to a sauce pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally.
- Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium and allow the mixture to simmer for 7 minutes, whisking often, to reduce.
- Remove the sauce from the heat. In a separate bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese and Italian cheese blend. Reserve about 1/4 of the cheese mix to use as a layer in the casserole dish. Add the remaining cheeses to the sauce a handful at a time, whisking it into the sauce until fully melted before adding more. Continue whisking in the cheese until all of it has been added and the sauce is smooth. Set the sauce aside (whisk occasionally to prevent a skin from forming).
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the macaroni. Once boiling, add the macaroni and boil just until tender (about 7 minutes). Drain the macaroni in a colander.
- While the macaroni is boiling, make the breadcrumbs. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the Panko, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes, or just until the breadcrumbs begin to toast. Remove the breadcrumbs from the heat and allow them to cool slightly.
- Stir the drained macaroni into the cheese sauce until well combined. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- Layer half of the macaroni into the baking dish. Sprinkle the reserved shredded cheese mixture over the macaroni. Layer the second half of the macaroni over the cheese.
- Combine the cooled breadcrumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, then sprinkle over top the macaroni and cheese.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling up around the edges and the breadcrumbs on top are golden brown. Allow the mac and cheese to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
- Large Pot
- 8×8” Baking Dish
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese Step-by-Step Photos
Make the sauce: Preheat the oven to 375ºF, then begin the cheese sauce. In a medium saucepot, combine 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, ¼ tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper, and ½ tsp salt.
Whisk the ingredients together and heat over medium-high until the liquid comes to a simmer. Once simmering, turn the heat down to low and let simmer for about 7 minutes to reduce.
Combine 1 cup of shredded cheddar and 1 cup of shredded Italian cheese blend in a bowl. Set aside about 1/2 cup of the mixed cheese to layer between the pasta in the casserole dish. Remove the sauce from the heat and begin adding the remaining cheeses to the sauce, one handful at a time, whisking until fully melted before adding more. Reserve the remaining cheese for the topping.
Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, boil 8 oz. macaroni noodles just until tender (about 7 minutes). Do not overcook the noodles, as they will soften more while baking. Drain the noodles, then return them to the pot with the heat turned off.
Make the topping: While the macaroni is boiling, make the seasoned breadcrumbs. Combine ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs, 2 Tbsp butter, ¼ tsp Italian seasoning blend, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked pepper in a skillet. Heat over medium-low until the butter has melted and everything is coated evenly in spices. Set the breadcrumbs aside to cool.
Combine the pasta and sauce: Stir the cooked and drained macaroni into the finished cheese sauce until all of the noodles are coated in sauce. Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
Assemble: Sprinkle half of the macaroni and cheese into a 8×8-inch baking dish, then layer in the reserved ½ cup shredded mixed cheeses.
Add the remaining half of the macaroni and cheese on top. Add ¼ cup shredded cheddar to the seasoned breadcrumbs, then sprinkle the mixture over the macaroni and cheese.
Bake the macaroni and cheese: Bake in the preheated 375ºF oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling around the edges and the breadcrumbs on top are browned. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Serve and enjoy: Yaassss oven-baked mac and cheese heaven! 🙌
How to Give Mac and Cheese More Flavor
This baked mac and cheese isn’t your regular mac. It’s EXTRA. I gave the cheese sauce two extra punches of flavor with chicken broth and a HEFTY dose of herbs and spices. Not only is the cheese sauce seasoned throughout, I then topped the casserole with a buttery mix of breadcrumbs and even MORE SEASONING. I’m telling you, this mac and cheese casserole is a force to be reckoned with.
Serving Suggestions
I personally LOVE serving this oven-baked mac and cheese recipe as a main course with a simple side salad. But it’ll always be welcome on my plate with some fried chicken, cauliflower steaks, or BBQ ribs as a delicious side. And not to mention, baked mac and cheese is one of my favorite dishes to make for Christmas! It can easily feed a crowd and goes great with a festive baked ham or tender turkey breast. Have you ever tried cranberry sauce on a side of creamy mac over the holidays? Believe me, it’s good.
Storage and reheating
This recipe is a little less saucy than its stovetop counterpart, and the macaroni will continue to absorb the sauce as it’s refrigerated. So, while I happily wolfed down bowl after bowl of this mac after reheating, it doesn’t stay quite as saucy. For a recipe that’s a little saucier upon reheat, check out our super creamy stovetop mac and cheese.
Made this today for the first time and it was great. I doubled everything to make more servings and it came out so well. Only thing I skipped was cayenne pepper due to my complete lack of hot spice tolerance. Plenty of flavor even without it.
Delicious. I really liked this as written, but I think it would be even better with some sort of vegetable included. Broccoli? Peas? Mixed vegetables? Not sure
In the recipe you don’t mention adding the paprika to the pan with the broth, cream etc. I assume you do and that was just left out? Or do you reserve all the paprika for the topping?
This is the best Mac and cheese I’ve ever had!
Delicious
Hands down the best recipe I’ve followed for Mac and cheese. Yummy 😋 I have tried other recipes and struggled i need more of Beth’s recipes
Great recipe! Everyone loved it, especially the crunchy topping
I only have beef broth, would that be a problem?
It would definitely have a different flavor that I don’t know that I would recommend without trying it first.
Love your recipes.
Best baked Mac n cheese around! The whole family loves it!
This meal is so good
Where is the butter and flour? That is what makes the sauce. Next time will sauté butter and flour and then add the spices and then add the liquid.
I agree, my sauce was completely liquid . Had to add the roux after to thicken
HOW DO I HANDLE MEGA CHEESE CLUMP?? 😭
I made this last night and it was really delicious! Definitely will be making it again.
So flavorful! All the seasonings make such a big difference to make this bold without being overpowering. My family goes crazy for the crunchy topping as well. It was easy to mise en place so I could cook/bake it up quickly after a busy day. Can’t wait to make it again.