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Macaroni and cheese is always a safe main dish in our home because the entire family LOVES it! We make it for Sunday dinners, holidays – you name it!
This best homemade mac and cheese is filled with cheese, milk, butter, and topped with Panko, making it incredibly delicious. We love it as a pasta dish to enjoy all year long, but it’s also a classic side dish for big family gatherings and special meals.
The kids have claimed it the “BEST homemade mac and cheese recipe out there” – and we have to agree!
If you love this mac n cheese, you’re sure to love Mac N Cheese with Ham, Velveeta Mac N Cheese, Chik Fil A Mac N Cheese.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- This dish is SO simple! It’s prepped in 15 minutes and on the table in 40.
- It’s extra cheesy and delicious. With Panko bread crumbs on top and loads of cheese in between, everyone loves this recipe.
- Can be made ahead of time. For busy nights and holidays (like Thanksgiving and Christmas), it’s always great to have dishes that can be prepared in advance.
Homemade Mac and Cheese Ingredients
- Elbow macaroni (1, 16-ounce package): Classic shape that traps sauce in every bite for maximum creaminess.We prefer elbow macaroni, but other pastas to use are: shell, Cavatappi, penne, Farfalle, fusilli, or rotini.
- Salted butter, divided (½ cup + 2 tablespoons): The main fat for the roux and for toasting crumbs, adds rich flavor and silky texture.
- All-purpose flour (½ cup): Whisked into butter to form a roux that thickens the sauce until smooth and velvety.
- Garlic salt (1 tablespoon): Seasons the sauce quickly and adds a savory garlic note without extra steps.
- Pepper (to taste): Balances the richness with a gentle bite; add more for a little warmth.
- Milk (4 cups): The liquid base that turns the roux into a creamy cheese sauce.
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese (6 cups): Melts into bold, tangy flavor and body for that classic pull. We also like equal parts mozzarella, cheddar, and American. Other cheeses include Parmesan, White Cheddar, Fontina, smoked Gouda, Gruyere, Colby Jack, and Gorgonzola.
- Panko breadcrumbs (½ cup): Toasted in butter for a crisp, golden topping that contrasts the creamy pasta. We use plain Panko breadcrumbs, but flavored crumbs or regular breadcrumbs work. Crushed Ritz crackers and crushed cornflakes also work.
How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese
PREP. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
PASTA. Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
SAUCE. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic salt and black pepper. Slowly pour in milk and whisk until smooth. Heat to a low boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4–5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
COMBINE. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a lightly greased 9×13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the pasta. Pour thickened cheese sauce over pasta and cheese. Let it sit until the cheese has melted, then stir together.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Finally, sprinkle on the bread crumb topping, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
BAKE. Bake for 14–15 minutes. Serve warm.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated and doesn’t melt as well.
- This recipe uses a flour roux as a thickener. It takes a bit of time for the sauce to simmer before it thickens, so be patient.
- Warm the milk before adding to the roux, it blends faster and stays lump free.
- For extra creaminess, stir in a splash of milk after baking if the pasta absorbed more sauce than you like.
- Some easy variations include mixing the cheddar cheese with other cheese, adding bacon bits, diced ham, or broccoli florets, or making it spicy using jalapenos or red pepper flakes.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Follow Steps 2 and 3, then pour hot pasta into a greased slow cooker.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese over pasta, followed by thickened cream sauce, and stir together. Cook on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Make breadcrumbs as directed in Step 4 and pour over macaroni. Let warm for 5 minutes before serving.
Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package elbow macaroni
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons salted butter, divided
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt
- pepper, to taste
- 4 cups milk
- 6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt ½ cup butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add garlic salt and pepper. Slowly pour in milk, whisking until smooth. Heat to a low boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Drain pasta and transfer to a baking dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese over pasta. Pour thickened cream sauce over pasta and cheese. Let it sit until the cheese has melted, then stir.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, 3–5 minutes. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
- This recipe uses a flour roux as a thickener. It takes a bit of time for the sauce to simmer before it thickens, so be patient.
- Shred your cheese. Preshredded cheese is coated and doesn’t melt as well.
- Some easy variations include mixing the cheddar cheese with other cheese, adding bacon bits, diced ham, or broccoli florets, or making it spicy using jalapenos or red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Prepare as directed above, but do not add the buttered breadcrumbs. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours or wrap tightly with plastic and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge, add breadcrumbs, and bake per recipe directions.
Allow the mac and cheese to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container(s). Store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, or wrap it tightly and freeze it for up to 3 months.
To reheat: Thaw, if needed, and reheat, covered, in the oven or microwave. Add a splash of milk or cream to prevent dryness.
Complete The Meal
Main Dish
Desserts
Apple Pie Recipe
3 hrs 45 mins
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
4 hrs 45 mins
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
15 mins
Homemade Brownies
45 mins
More Mac and Cheese
Velveeta Mac and Cheese
43 mins
Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
2 hrs 15 mins
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
42 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published January 2017.
Amazing and makes a lot
Makes a ton which we love to eat as leftovers
My favorite recipe….use it all the time. Family dinners, holiday dinners, and potlucks!🤗😋
Just enough creamy goodness and the bread crumbs on top is perfect. My kids and I love it.
This is our family’s favorite!!! I even make it with unsweetened almond milk & it was STILL awesome!!! 😉 SO. GOOD.
This is the best Mac-n-cheese I’ve had in years❣️
I have been making this Mac and cheese for every holiday for years— I love love love it. It always gets so many compliments!
The best Mac n cheese! Everyone loved it! I was afraid the roux wasn’t thickening up because I used almond milk instead of regular milk but it just took time to get the right consistency. I also prepared it the night before and the next day I baked it and it still came out wonderful. Thank you!
This Mac and Cheese had potential, but unfortunately, the flavor was overpowered by the tablespoon of garlic salt. After making this dish I thought that perhaps I’d read the instructions wrong. But that wasn’t the case. It calls for a TBS of garlic salt.
All seven of us who had tried it all agreed that the garlic was overpowering. I honestly think if it had half or 1/4th of the garlic it would’ve been fantastic. I’m willing to give it another go but with less garlic — maybe none at all.
Thanks so much for the feedback! You can definitely play with the amount of garlic if the recipe has more than your family prefers. 🙂
I love every single recipe.My sis n law has diabetes and can’t eat much sugar.My email is [email protected]… I was wondering if you could send some tasty sugar free cookies and cakes ,candy and pies. I made her fudge from your site and she was so happy she had tears coming down her face. She goes by her Drs instructions so good. She’s my best friend and I love her so much.This year we drew names 1st time since my mother passed and that’s when she found out she had diabetes. It was another shocker and heart ache over and over. I had lung cancer and she took me and went in every time. So could you help me ,make this Christmas the best one since we lost Mama.(13 yrs ago). With pandemic n all the bad news and life being crazy on its own. So would you or could you if you have a minute Help Me Please. Thank you,Wanda Burt ,Thomaston Ga. God bless and keep you safe
What a beautiful and sweet tribute to your sister! I imagine the shift in her dietary needs has been difficult. We have a few recipes I can think of that use Splenda Naturals Stevia in place of sugar. Here are a couple of those: https://lilluna.com/mini-chocolate-chip-cookies/ https://lilluna.com/homemade-applesauce/ https://lilluna.com/chocolate-mug-cake/. You can also take a recipe from our site that calls for sugar and replace it with a sugar free substitute. Best wishes and blessings to both you and your sister!
I made this last Sunday and it was a big hit. Thank you Lil Luna
You’re welcome!! So glad to hear you all enjoyed the Mac and Cheese!