Perfect for weeknight comfort food or your holiday table.

This Baked Mac and Cheese has a rich, creamy cheese sauce and a crispy panko topping for the ultimate comfort food. It’s an easy mac and cheese recipe that pleases everyone!

Two white ramekins filled with baked Mac and cheese with a baking dish and silver spoon in the background.

Mac and Cheese Debate

I feel like over the last couple of years mac and cheese preferences have been heavily debated all over social media. Pasta shape, too much cheese, not enough seasoning. I won’t lie, it can be tricky to find a ratio that really suits your personal preferences.

I have tested mac and cheese variations for years. Yes, years! For the Thanksgiving table, for football Sunday, to serve to my guests or to serve alongside rotisserie chicken when I crave comfort food. I have tried the artificial cheese all the way to a mix of havarti and gouda. And yes, both are good but in their own ways.

This Baked Mac and Cheese recipe kind of sits right in the middle. Classic, not overly fussy, suits many palettes.

Ingredients

You probably won’t be surprised by any of the ingredients below. We start with a roux, build our cheese sauce, season, and top with a delicious breadcrumb topping!

Mac and Cheese Ingredients

elbow pasta – or any shape you prefer, elbow is just the classic shape
unsalted butter
all-purpose flour
whole milk
heavy cream – adds richness, but we use more whole milk to keep it balanced
extra sharp cheddar cheese – for cheesy flavor, extra sharp is important
american cheese slices – gives us a nice, cohesive sauce and cheese pull
mustard powder – enhances the cheese flavor
kosher salt – I use Diamond Crystal
hot sauce – only a little, doesn’t make it spicy but deepens the flavor
black pepper – only a few grinds, we don’t want obvious pepper dotted throughout

A measuring cup of heavy cream and milk, a bowl of shredded cheese, a bag of elbow pasta, a nob of butter, and two small bowls of seasoning and hot sauce.

Breadcrumb Topping Ingredients

plain panko breadcrumbs – plain so we can season ourselves!
unsalted butter, melted – helps get a nice crisp
extra sharp cheddar cheese
parmigiano reggiano – adds the best flavor
kosher salt
garlic powder
paprika – more for color than anything else

Small clear bowls with cheese, panko breadcrumbs, seasoning, and a tablespoon of butter.

How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese

Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until almost al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make the Cheese Sauce: Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat, whisk in the flour, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cream, then simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheeses, mustard powder, salt, hot sauce, and pepper until smooth.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, then pour into a baking dish.
Make the Topping: Stir together the panko, melted butter, cheddar, parmigiano reggiano, salt, garlic powder, and paprika.
Bake: Sprinkle the topping over the mac and cheese. Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, then broil 1-2 minutes for a golden crust.
Rest and Serve: Let rest for 10 minutes and serve!

Instruction to make baked Mac and cheese, starting with melting butter in a silver pot with a pink spatula, adding milk, adding cheese, pouring into a square, tan baking dish, topping with shredded cheese, and then adding breadcrumbs on top.

Make Ahead Instructions

Even though you can whip this mac and cheese up pretty quick, you can prep it ahead of time!

Make until Step 7, when you combine the cheese sauce with the cooked pasta. Let come to room temperature, tightly wrap it and place in the fridge. Wait to mix the breadcrumb topping and top the mac and cheese until you’re ready to bake it off. Take out of the fridge and let sit on the counter 30-45 minutes before you are ready to bake it. It will likely take at least 10 minutes longer, but keep an eye on it. It will be ready when the edges are bubbling and the top is turning golden.

If you just want to prep to make it, which is typically what I do, I get all the cheeses shredded and measured out and that reduces a lot of prep time when you’re ready to start cooking.

A square baking dish of Mac and cheese with an extra toasty breadcrumb topping.

Looking for other dinner sides? These Maple-Dijon Green Bean Bundles and Creamy Mashed Potatoes are tried and trues!