Who doesn't love mac and cheese? I know I'm not raising my hand on that questions a dish I love to eat in restaurants, but until recently, didn't make it at home because I never could get the perfect cheese sauce and don't care for the box mix style, which has absolutely no personality.
But now, thanks to a recipe on Pinterest, I can make my own super version of mac and cheese at home, using any type of cheese I want.
I don't want to sound unpatriotic, but plain American cheese just wasn't cutting it for me when it came to this dish---although it did remind me of some fond childhood memories.
Check This: Chicken and Rice Casserole
I wanted to make a dish you could embellish with any type of cheese you choose, “grown-up” but also one that was creamy, delicious and just as memorable as it was when I was a child. That was a tall order.
This recipe has it all, primarily because you don't make a cheesy sauce first, but grate the cheese on top of the macaroni.
Then pour a creamy sauce over it, top it with Pounded Doritos (or Panko breadcrumbs browned with butter). But I like the taste of Doritos instead (it's only a matter of preference) but highly recommended.
That may not seem like a huge difference since you could always add any cheese to the sauce you wanted, but it is.
What's the reason? I can make as many as four different types of mac and cheese at once!
The key is that you top the pasta with the cheese. So if I want a combination of Gouda and white cheddar, I only put that shredded cheese on one quarter, one third or one half the pasta and then top the other sections based on my family's or guest's taste.
To finish off this delight, just pop it in a preheated 325° F oven for 12 - 15 minutes and you have the perfect grownup mac that will please everybody at the table. You can even use plain ole' American cheese if you're hankering for a blast from the past.
What to do with the leftover mac and cheese?
Well, you can transform the leftover Mac and Cheese into an amazing, yummilicious Mac and Cheese Balls. They are perfect finger foods for weekend family gatherings or your Super Bowl party!
Interesting Reads:
- 9 Substitutes for Milk in Mac and Cheese
- Mac and Cheese Breadsticks
- Trisha Yearwood Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- What Goes Well with Mac and Cheese
For soggy overcooked pasta:
Toss some butter over the freshly drained macaroni pasta. Doing this will slightly coat the noodles to help stop from absorbing more liquid as it bakes.
Remember, hot pasta absorbs more liquid easily. Therefore, it's better to cool them down before mixing the sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 4 cups milk
- 3 cups sharp or white Cheddar (freshly shredded)
- 3 cups Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ cup Doritos (or Panko bread crumbs)
Seasonings
- garlic powder (1 tsp)
- onion powder (1 tsp)
- mustard powder (1 tsp)
- adobo seasoning (1 tsp)
Step by step instructions
for Pasta:
1 Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook per package directions. Drain the water and add the 1 tablespoon of butter, toss until melted. Set aside to cool down.
for creamy Mac and Cheese sauce
1 Melt butter over low heat in a large saucepan. Add the flour and whisk constantly until smooth for about a minute.
2 Gradually pour 1 cup of milk, keep whisking to mix and dissolve the flour, then add the remaining milk and whisk until lump free.
3 Season with the seasonings above and adjust according to your taste.
4 Keep stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a creamy consistency. Turn off the heat.
for the assembling:
5 Grease a baking dish and add the pasta. Sprinkle the 6 cups freshly shredded cheese over the top. Pour the creamy sauce over the cheese, wait a bit and stir everything together.
6 Now, pound 1 cup Doritos and sprinkle them on top of the Mac and Cheese.
7 If you are using Panko Crumbs - Melt 1 tablespoon butter and add ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs. Stir constantly until golden brown and sprinkle over the Mac and Cheese.
Bake in a pre-heated 325°F oven for 12 -15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Watch The Video Below
More Sauce, More Creamy Mac and Cheese
Who wants a dry Mac and Cheese? I don't like my Mac and Cheese where there's no sauce left after it came out from the oven, so I added more sauce.
The result is cheesy, creamy sauce for my Mac and Cheese and my family loves it.
Related recipes
Full Recipe
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients:
- 8 oz. elbow macaroni
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 4 cups milk
- 3 cups sharp or white Cheddar (freshly shredded)
- 3 cups Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ cup Doritos (or Panko bread crumbs)
Seasonings :
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
Watch the Video:
Instructions:
PASTA:
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring it to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook per package directions.
- Drain the water and add the 1 tablespoon of butter, toss until melted. Set aside to cool.
Creamy Mac and Cheese Sauce (You Can Watch the Video Above):
- Melt butter over low heat in a large saucepan. Add the flour and whisk constantly until smooth for about a minute.
- Gradually pour 1 cup of milk, keep whisking to mix and dissolve the flour, then add the remaining milk and whisk until lump free.
- Season with the seasonings above and adjust according to your taste.
- Keep stirring constantly until the mixture thickens into a creamy consistency. Turn off the heat.
Assembling:
- Grease a baking dish and add the pasta. Sprinkle the 6 cups freshly shredded cheese over the top. Pour the creamy sauce over the cheese, wait a bit and stir everything together.
- Now, pound 1 cup Doritos and sprinkle them on top of the Mac and Cheese.
- If you are using Panko Crumbs - Melt 1 tablespoon butter and add ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, stir constantly until golden brown and sprinkle over the Mac and Cheese.
- Bake in a pre-heated 325° F oven for 12 -15 minutes
Nutrition Information:
Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.
Cora J says
I LOVE THIS RECIPE... thank you for posting.. my picky kiddo just love this mac and cheese, I cant believe he would ask for second.
Miriam Cayton says
I love this Mac and cheese topped with DORITOS. My picky eater kiddo wants for a second all the time. This is super creamy and yummy!!! We love it.. thank you for sharing.
Agness of Run Agness Run says
Who doesn't love a good mac and cheese recipe, right?! Can't wait to try it, Calleigh! Well done!
Sami Summers says
This sounds fantastic! I've been on a hunt to find the perfect baked mac and cheese. So excited to try this out!
Lauren says
Literally afraid to make this because I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner....forever.
Shannon says
This looks AMAZING!! Pinned for future reference, thank you!!
Mimi says
This looks delicious! I love mac and cheese 😀
Christopher Mitchell says
I just had dinner and now I'm instantly desperately hungry. For that I both thank you and despise you. Joking aside, thanks for the post on this dish, it looks just delicious!
Tiina A says
Nothing beats a good mac and cheese! It must be creamy and a bit crispy too. Lots of cheese and some herbs or other spices. Thanks for remaining me of this dish 🙂
eliza says
OMG! Mac and Cheese is my superb favorite - and adding more cheese - making more creamy is totally awesome for me. I truly love your post and almost memorize it -- because we will have this dish on weekend. Thank you
five little doves says
YUM!! Mac and cheese is THE only dish I know I can make and all of my children will eat it! I don't eat it with being GF but I am salivating at the thought right now!
Ana De- Jesus says
Mac and cheese is one of my favourite dishes so I was excited to read your recipe on how to make a baked mac and cheese. I really love how you topped it with Doritos crumbs that is truly original x
Amalia says
I love Mac and Cheese and this looks delicious!!
Our Family World says
Oh wow. Baked Macaroni is good as it is, but to bake it with additional cheese on top made it level up the ladder of deliciousness. Thanks for sharing your idea.
Sreekar says
Loved such simple dishes. We do it differently at home. Will surely try your recipe come Sunday!
Star harford says
I always get soggy pasta so tossing some butter over the freshly drained macaroni pasta to coat it is a great tip! The recipe looks delicious!
Emily says
Cheesy comfort food is the best, I love the crunchy topping!
Debra C. says
Oh my goodness, just look at that cheesy stretch - yes, I think you've achieved pasta perfection!!
Elizabeth says
Oh gosh this sounds amazing! I have a sudden craving for a helping of delicious mac and cheese now! Love the idea of putting crushed Doritos in it!
Ayngelina Brogan says
I've been craving comfort food and this looks perfect.
Sara says
This looks super creamy ! I love mac and cheese!