Baked mac and cheese is a nice side to any dish, or if you are like my kids, it is the main dish. So whatever you prefer is fine. Try making a batch of baked mac and cheese tonight. And if you have a cheese that you enjoy better than the sharp, you can use any cheese that you want.
I remember when I was young, my mom would cut up hot dogs and put in mac and cheese. Did your mom ever do that and did you like it? I must say that it was okay, but not my favorite. I love mac and cheese that isn’t from a box. It just tastes like when I was a kid growing up.
I am not sure when my mom started buying the box kind, but I know that we didn’t have it very often. Perhaps that is why I don’t really enjoy it that much. I do love the memories of being able to come in from doing the chores and eating a bowl of real mac and cheese.
I know that growing up on a farm, things always seemed to taste so good and I think that part of the reason for that was because first of all, we went about four or five hours without food, and the second reason was because we worked so hard that we were starving by the time we got into the house!!
Wouldn’t you agree that things just taste so much better when you are really hungry? I think that they do, and I appreciate food a whole lot more when I’m really hungry.
What Ingredients Do I Need For Baked Mac and Cheese?
Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make this Mac and Cheese (scroll down for the full recipe):
Macaroni:
- Elbow macaroni
- Butter
- Flour
- Powdered mustard
- Milk
- Yellow onion
- Bay leaf
- Paprika
- Large egg
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
Topping:
- Butter
- Bread crumbs
How Do I Make Baked Mac and Cheese?
Here’s the simple steps you’ll follow to make this Mac and Cheese (scroll down for the full recipe):
Macaroni:
- In a large pot, boil water, add 1/4 tsp salt, and add macaroni and cook to al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pan, melt the butter.
- Whisk in the flour and mustard, keep stirring it for about five minutes, removing all lumps.
- Add milk, onion, bay leaf and paprika.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, and remove the bay leaf.
- Add egg in slowly.
- Stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheese.
- Season with the salt and pepper.
- Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheese.
Topping:
- Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.
- Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
I hope that you will give this recipe to your kids that are going off to college, and tell them that sometime when they have a few minutes, to try something new, and see if they don’t appreciate the real stuff. It tastes a little gourmet. And they will really be proud of their accomplishments.
And mom will give you an A and she will be so impressed too. Better yet, you can make it for mom when you go home on the weekend. Maybe you could make it for her while she does your laundry or something like that.
We mom’s are all too nice, do you do your kids laundry? I know that I try not to, but sometimes they conveniently leave their clothes in the washer or the dryer and then they leave. I think that they make sure that they do their laundry on the days that they know mom is going to be doing her laundry. So when you go to use the washer, you have to move their clothes to the dryer and when you need the dryer you have to take their clothes out!
What Cheese Should I Use For Baked Mac And Cheese?
- I use Sharp Cheddar, but you can substitute your favorite cheese for the cheddar.
- Colby, Monterey Jack, and Gruyere are some of my favorite options.
They think that you are not very smart and that they are tricking you. Ha we mom’s aren’t as dumb as kids think we are. We are just super nice and we know who will be taking care of us when we get old. Heaven forbid. Maybe we could start logging our time and see if it comes out equal. I must say, that I don’t think that we will ever be able to repay our mothers. I know my mother put a lot of hours in on my behalf.
It is all worth it when our kids have kids. But don’t ever wish the same torture on your kids as they gave you, because those cute little grand kids come to visit. Why not make them some baked mac and cheese too?
More Macaroni Dishes For You:
Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese with Mushrooms
Baked Mac and Cheese
Baked mac and cheese is a nice change form the regular box mac and cheese. So cheesy and just the right amount of onion to give it a formal taste.
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (cooked al dente)
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp flour
- 1 Tbsp powdered mustard
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced or chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 large egg, whipped
- 12 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Topping:
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil water, add 1/4 tsp salt, and add macaroni and cook to al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pan, melt the butter.
- Whisk in the flour and mustard, keep stirring if for about five minutes, removing all lumps.
- Add milk, onion, bay leaf and paprika.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, and remove the bay leaf.
- Add egg in slowly.
- Stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheese.
- Season with the salt and pepper.
- Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheese.
Topping:
- Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.
- Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield
10Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 342Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 12gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 76mgSodium 648mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 15g
Mac and cheese IS THE BEST!! Homemade macaroni and cheese always reminds me of my mom and when I was growing up. Her from scratch recipe was my favorite dinner. I will have to try yours. Xoxo
Exactly, the homemade is the best. I’m almost old enough to remember when there wasn’t a box to make mac and cheese from – or maybe my mom just never bought it???