Baked Macaroni and Cheese is one of my favorite recipes. This is pasta baked in a gooey and flavorful cheese sauce and then toasted to create a cheesy crust. I love changing up the cheese blend and type of pasta I use or even adding veggies and meat. With the recipe below you can customize your own too!
Happy (and cheesy) Baking!
Click here to download and print the recipe via Google Docs
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Total Time - 2 hours
Prep Time - 30 minutes
# Servings - 18
Cost ~$25
Ingredients:
16 oz. of block cheese
6 cups of shredded cheese
1 lb dried pasta
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 quart of half and half
1 and 1/4 cup heavy cream
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. dried garlic powder
1 tsp. dried parsley
Materials:
A 9x13 baking pan, a 4 quart cooking pot and mixing spoon are needed. A strainer is also needed to strain the water from the pasta. You may also need a knife to cut your cheese into smaller pieces for ease of melting. Foil will be used to cover your pasta while baking.
Instructions:
1. Cook your pasta as the pasta instructions state.
2. Pre heat your oven to 350F
3. Let the strained pasta sit in the baking pan to chill while you make your cheese sauce.
The pasta is made first so any water left on the pasta can steam away before the cheese sauce is added. This way more cheese can soak into the pasta!
4. In the same pot you cooked your pasta in place the half and half, butter and seasonings. Bring this to a simmer.
5. Cut your block cheese into 1/2 pieces.
6. Add the block cheese and 4 cups of the shredded cheese to the bubbling dairy pot of goodness.
7. Let the pot come back up to a simmer then turn off the heat to let the rest of the cheese melt. This will take about 20 minutes.
8. Taste your cheese sauce. Try not to drink it. Add additional seasonings to your sauce if desired.
9. Add your cheese sauce to your pasta until the sauce level is 1/4 inch under the rim of your pan.
10. Mix pasta and sauce well to ensure as much cheese is mixed in.
11. Use the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese to evenly cover the top.
12. Bake for 40 minutes at 350F covered with foil until bubbling.
13. Bake an additional 10 to 20 minutes uncovered until the top is as golden brown as desired!
Happy (and cheesy) Baking!
Click here to download and print the recipe via Google Docs
Baked Macaroni and CheeseTotal Time - 2 hours
Prep Time - 30 minutes
# Servings - 18
Cost ~$25
Ingredients:
16 oz. of block cheese
6 cups of shredded cheese
1 lb dried pasta
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 quart of half and half
1 and 1/4 cup heavy cream
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. dried garlic powder
1 tsp. dried parsley
Materials:
A 9x13 baking pan, a 4 quart cooking pot and mixing spoon are needed. A strainer is also needed to strain the water from the pasta. You may also need a knife to cut your cheese into smaller pieces for ease of melting. Foil will be used to cover your pasta while baking.
Instructions:
1. Cook your pasta as the pasta instructions state.
2. Pre heat your oven to 350F
3. Let the strained pasta sit in the baking pan to chill while you make your cheese sauce.
The pasta is made first so any water left on the pasta can steam away before the cheese sauce is added. This way more cheese can soak into the pasta!
4. In the same pot you cooked your pasta in place the half and half, butter and seasonings. Bring this to a simmer.
5. Cut your block cheese into 1/2 pieces.
6. Add the block cheese and 4 cups of the shredded cheese to the bubbling dairy pot of goodness.
7. Let the pot come back up to a simmer then turn off the heat to let the rest of the cheese melt. This will take about 20 minutes.
8. Taste your cheese sauce. Try not to drink it. Add additional seasonings to your sauce if desired.
9. Add your cheese sauce to your pasta until the sauce level is 1/4 inch under the rim of your pan.
10. Mix pasta and sauce well to ensure as much cheese is mixed in.
11. Use the remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese to evenly cover the top.
12. Bake for 40 minutes at 350F covered with foil until bubbling.
13. Bake an additional 10 to 20 minutes uncovered until the top is as golden brown as desired!