Baked Mac and Cheese
This Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is cheesy, comforting, and incredibly easy to make! 🧀
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Why You Will Love Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients Needed for Homemade Mac n Cheese
Ingredient quantities for this easy macaroni and cheese recipe are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Elbow macaroni
- Butter
- Flour
- Heavy whipping cream
- Cheddar cheese (freshly shredded)
- Mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded)
- Smoked gouda cheese (freshly shredded)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried thyme
How To Make Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
The steps below are just a quick overview of how to make the recipe. The full process in detail is located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
First, cook the elbow macaroni to al dente per package instructions.
Then, heat butter in a large skillet and whisk in flour.
Next, stir in heavy whipping cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 cup gouda cheese, salt, pepper, and thyme.
For the best texture, make sure to freshly shred your cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents, which don’t melt well and will result in a clumpy texture.
Cook until cheeses melt and mixture is combined.
Add your cooked and drained pasta.
Add the pasta mixture to an 8″ x 8″ casserole dish, then top it with the remaining cheese.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
Dig in and enjoy!
If you find yourself with leftovers the next day, this dish tastes great reheated.
Easy Thanksgiving Sides
This mac and cheese is great for any Thanksgiving foods menu! Here are some more Thanksgiving-friendly side dish recipes and appetizer recipes:
- Buffalo chicken dip is the starter’s starter for our favorite parties and gatherings. Your family and friends will devour this dish! It will be so popular that you will be requested to make it for almost every event, including as one of your football game day foods.
- This southern dish, easy sweet potato casserole, will put you in a position to serve a delicious dessert during your dinner that your guests will praise you relentlessly for.
- Another big winner when served as a holiday starter is these sausage balls. They will get eaten up fast and furious!
- Make this delicious easy homemade cranberry sauce for your family and friends. They will adore you for introducing them to fresh cranberries!
- Make a traditional mega-popular Thanksgiving side dish, green bean casserole—a side so good you’ll find yourself making it over and over again for both family gatherings and holiday events.
- A sensationally smokey and sweet bacon and green beans dish will blow the minds of your guests after they taste it!
- This sausage stuffing recipe is great for any holiday you celebrate and as a stand-alone meal where your family will savor every bite.
- Corn casserole is a big hit for corn lovers! Its creamy cornbread flavor that you will adore. This recipe is pure magic!
Just look at that creamy deliciousness down there 😍
Easy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes
Once you decide on your side dishes, you will need some holiday treats that are so good, the compliments will flow. I’ve got you covered! Try one of these dessert recipes:
- Kick off the Thanksgiving season with this classic pecan pie. It is beloved, traditional, and delicious! Additionally, you can score big by making a traditional pumpkin pie. The praise you get by continuing the tradition of these holiday classics will be plentiful!
- A filling and fabulous pumpkin cheesecake recipe opens the door for your audience to enjoy flavors that will enhance their holiday experience! (Yes, it is that incredible.)
- It is a good time to make a chocolate pudding pie during any holiday or party! There is just something about that pudding flavor and texture that makes it sooo easy to devour.
- Need a treat in a time crunch? A delicious no-bake pumpkin cheesecake recipe can be made quickly and efficiently, and still deliver a wonderful flavor!
- Pumpkin fans in your family will thank you for making either pumpkin bars with cream cheese or pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips. Or, better yet, make them both! The cream cheese icing is an incredible treat by itself.
- Here is another pumpkin lovers option—pumpkin cheesecake fluff dessert. A fluffy pumpkin recipe that may become the “new thing” that your family requests year after year! It can be served as a fluffy dip or as a dessert.
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Baked Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/3 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1/3 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 1/3 cups freshly shredded smoked gouda cheese
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Cook elbow macaroni to al dente per package instructions.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add flour; stir with a whisk and cook for 1 minute. Stir in heavy whipping cream, 1 cup Cheddar cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 cup gouda cheese, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook until cheeses melt and mixture is combined.
- Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture; stir well to coat.
- Transfer mixture to an 8” x 8” baking dish.
- Mix remaining cheese together in a small bowl, then sprinkle on top of the macaroni mixture.
- Bake at 350 F for 25-30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling on the edges.
Notes
- Smoked gouda may be substituted with regular gouda, gruyère, or Parmesan.
Nutrition Estimates (Per Serving)
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition Estimates are per serving and included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed.
