Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese | Simple Cooking with Pep
Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese
30 mins prepServes 8
This Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese will quickly become a favorite in your household. Tender elbow macaroni noodles are tossed in a creamy cheese sauce.
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl with a lid, add gruyere, gouda and cheddar cheese. Place lid on bowl and shake to mix cheese. Set aside.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta one minute shy of al dente. Drain pasta and stir with a drizzle of olive oil. Set aside.
4. In a large skillet, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute. Pour in milk and heavy cream. Whisk in the salt, pepper, paprika and nutmeg. Whisk constantly until sauce thickens slightly.
5. Add 1 ½ cups shredded cheese to sauce. Whisk until smooth. Stir in another 1 ½ cups shredded cheese and whisk until creamy and smooth.
6. Pour in the cooled pasta. Stir to fully coat pasta in cheese sauce. Pour half of pasta in prepared pan. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups cheese over pasta. Pour remaining pasta in pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 13 minutes, then switch to broil in the last 2 minutes to lightly brown the top of the mac and cheese. Keep an eye on the pasta so it doesn’t get too dark. Allow to cool before serving as the cheese sauce can be hot. Enjoy!
8. See notes for if you make this mac and cheese in advance.
