Description
This Crunchy Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food with creamy cheese sauce, tender pasta, and a crispy golden breadcrumb topping. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or holiday sides, this oven-baked mac and cheese delivers nostalgic flavor and unbeatable texture. Keywords: crunchy baked mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese recipe, cheesy pasta, comfort food, easy mac and cheese, creamy baked mac.
Ingredients
1 pound elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
0.5 teaspoon ground mustard or 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux and cook for 1–2 minutes.
3. Gradually pour in the milk and cream while whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth.
4. Reduce the heat and stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses until melted. Add salt, pepper, and mustard.
5. Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce and mix well.
6. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. In a bowl, toss panko breadcrumbs with olive oil or melted butter. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the pasta.
8. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the sides are bubbling.
9. Optional: Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end for a crispier topping.
10. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
For extra creamy texture, use a mix of milk and cream and avoid overbaking.
Panko breadcrumbs yield the crispiest topping—don’t skip the olive oil or butter.
To make ahead, assemble the dish and refrigerate unbaked for up to 24 hours.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Comfort Food / Pasta Bake
- Method: Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 90mg