Description
Golden, bubbling, and outrageously creamy, this Rich Mac and Cheese is comfort food in its finest form. Each forkful of tender macaroni is wrapped in a luxuriously smooth cheese sauce and finished with a buttery breadcrumb topping that adds the perfect crunch. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, a family-friendly side dish, or an easy recipe that wins every time, this one ticks all the boxes.
Ingredients
2 cups elbow macaroni
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Boil 2 cups of elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour and cook for 1 minute.
3. Slowly whisk in 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream. Stir constantly until thickened, about 5–7 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to low. Add 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan. Stir until melted. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
5. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix well.
6. Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour the mixture into a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Mix 2 tablespoons melted butter with 1 cup panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the top.
8. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
9. Garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest sauce.
Add a pinch of cayenne if you like heat.
Reheat with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dish
- Calories: 565
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 685mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, cheesy pasta, dinner ideas, easy recipe