I make this on nights when the day runs long and everyone needs a warm bowl that hugs back. Pasta cooks in one pot. A quick cheese sauce comes together while the water bubbles. We pour it all in a dish and let the top turn golden. No fuss. Big payoff. The mac and cheese recipe stays simple and steady. Milk and a small roux give the sauce body. Cheddar brings tang. Parmesan adds a little bite. Bread crumbs give crunch. You can bake it or serve it straight from the pan for a stove top mac and cheese recipe that saves time. I grew up on a box mix and still crave that creamy pull. This home made mac and cheese recipe beats the box by miles, but it keeps the same comfort. When I have broccoli in the crisper, I steam a handful and fold it in for a broccoli mac and cheese recipe twist. Busy day and no oven space. I go with a fast mac and cheese recipe. Need to skip gluten. Try a gf mac and cheese recipe with your favorite pasta. If videos help, I watch mac and cheese recipe videos while I stir. We eat happy.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
- 4) How to Make Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
- 5) Tips for Making Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
- 6) Making Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Mac And Cheese
- 8) Try these pasta recipes next
- 9) Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
Creamy sauce meets tender pasta and a light crisp on top. The steps stay simple. The result tastes rich and cozy.
You cook pasta. You whisk a quick sauce. You bake for a short spell until the crumb turns golden. Dinner lands fast.
Kathy writes for Simply Cooked Recipes at https://www.simplycookedrecipes.com and keeps flavor first. Pantry staples do the heavy lift here.
Think of it as a classic cheesy macaroni that works every time. For a baked macaroni and cheese night the top goes crisp and the middle stays silky. On a sprint night the fast mac and cheese route wins and no one complains.
2) Easy Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe
When I say easy I mean it. This mac and cheese recipe fits a weeknight. This mac and cheese recipe fits a lazy Sunday. Two pots. One dish. Zero stress.
We boil pasta while we whisk a thick cheese sauce. The sauce clings to every curve. The bake gives a light crunch. The bite feels creamy and steady.
I learned this method during a busy season. It saved my sanity and my budget. Friends still ask for it by name and I never mind.
3) Ingredients for Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
Macaroni Short tubes hold the sauce well and keep each bite even.
Butter The base for the roux. It brings body and mild flavor.
Flour A spoon or two thickens the sauce so it coats and clings.
Milk Warm milk helps the sauce stay smooth and silky.
Cheddar Sharp cheddar gives tang and that classic pull.
Parmesan A small handful adds depth and a salty edge.
Garlic powder A clean hint that supports the cheese.
Breadcrumbs A thin blanket for a crisp top that shatters.
Parsley Fresh flecks brighten the warm flavors.
Salt and pepper Season the water and the sauce so the pasta sings.
4) How to Make Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
Step one Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until just tender then drain.
Step two Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat whisk in flour and cook a minute to form a smooth paste.
Step three Stream in warm milk while whisking. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
Step four Off the heat stir in cheddar and parmesan until melted then season with garlic powder salt and pepper.
Step five Fold pasta into the sauce. Pour into a baking dish. Dust with breadcrumbs and bake until the top turns golden.
Step six Rest a few minutes then finish with parsley and serve warm.
5) Tips for Making Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
Salt the cooking water well so the pasta tastes good from the start. It matters more than any last minute fix.
Grate cheese fresh when you can. It melts cleaner and makes a smoother body for a classic macaroni and cheese feel.
Want speed. Skip the oven and go with a stove top creamy mac and cheese finish. The crumbs can toast in a pan and go on at the end.
6) Making Easy Baked Mac And Cheese Ahead of Time
Cook the pasta one minute shy of tender then cool on a sheet pan. This keeps the shape and the bite.
Stir the sauce and pasta together then cool and cover. Hold the crumbs back until bake time for better crunch.
Reheat covered until hot. Add a splash of milk if the sauce feels tight and it loosens right away.
7) Storing Leftover Mac And Cheese
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. They keep well for three days and taste even better on day two.
Warm gently on the stove with a spoon of milk. Stir until the sauce loosens and turns smooth again.
For a new spin stir in steamed broccoli for a broccoli mac and cheese recipe move that adds color and crunch.
8) Try these pasta recipes next
9) Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
Mac And Cheese Recipe Easy Baked Comfort Dinner
Ingredients
- 250 grams macaroni or another short pasta
- 30 grams butter
- 30 grams all purpose flour
- 500 milliliters milk
- 1 and 4 teaspoons mixed spice small pinch works too
- 1 and 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 200 grams cheddar cheese grated
- 50 grams parmesan cheese grated
- 50 grams bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional add ins cooked broccoli florets cooked bacon hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180 C.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until just tender. Drain.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook one minute.
- Slowly add the milk while whisking. Cook until the sauce looks thick and smooth.
- Season with the garlic powder mixed spice salt and pepper.
- Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the cheddar and parmesan until melted.
- Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce so every tube gets coated.
- Tip the pasta into a baking dish. Mix the bread crumbs with a little melted butter if you like and scatter over the top.
- Bake about 10 minutes until the top looks golden and crisp.
- Finish with chopped parsley. Rest a few minutes so the sauce sets. Serve warm.
10) Nutrition
A small bowl sits around five hundred calories with a balance of carbs fat and protein. The mix fuels a busy evening without a heavy feel.
Sodium changes with your cheese choice. Use low sodium stock in place of some milk if you want a lighter touch.
For a gf mac and cheese recipe use gluten free pasta and a gluten free crumb. The method stays the same and the result stays creamy.
This method plays nice with many shapes of pasta bake and it stays friendly to a homemade baked macaroni plan. If videos help check a few mac and cheese recipe videos while the water heats.
Written by Kathy for Simply Cooked Recipes at https://www.simplycookedrecipes.com where comfort stays simple and clear.
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