Name: Macaroni & Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 10 people
Ingredients: 1 pound elbow macaroni; 1 teaspoon salt; 8 tablespoon butter, cubed; 2 cups half-and-half; 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed; 1/2 cup shredded muenster cheese; 1/2 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese; 2 eggs, lightly whisked; 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

This From-scratch Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe is over the top! If you’re looking for a meal that’s sure to be a hit, look no further. This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by both children and adults. Well-balanced for a comforting dinner or as a holiday side dish!

Macaroni and Cheese

We use a combination of cheeses, layered in the dish as well as melted into a rich and creamy cheese sauce, and we are convinced this is the favorite macaroni and cheese recipe out there!

From-scratch Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients

Elbow macaroni
Salt
Butter, cubed
Half-and-Half
Velveeta cheese, cubed
Muenster cheese, shredded
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Monterey jack cheese, shredded
Eggs, lightly whisked
Seasoning salt
Black pepper

Oozing with FIVE different kinds of cheese, we just love comfort food! Mac and cheese is the quintessential comfort food. How can you go wrong with pasta and cheese?

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, including 1 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water for flavor. Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Add the cubed butter to the pot and stir until almost melted.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Add the remaining ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup of mixed cheese for the topping, and stir well. Pour the pot contents into a 9×13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes until edges become golden brown and bubbly.

More Cooking Options

Bacon – if you love bacon, feel free to add some crispy, crumbled bacon to the topping.
Panko – Consider adding 1 cup of panko with 2 Tbsp of melted butter and using that as a topping. 1 cup of crushed butter cracker crackers with 2 Tbsp of butter is also satisfying!
Different Baking Times – Bake this macaroni and cheese at 350 F degrees for 30 minutes, then as an option, broil for 2-3 minutes to get that gorgeous cheesy “crust”.

Creamy but not saturated like a pan mac and cheese, this recipe is, in our humble opinion, the well-balanced macaroni and cheese. Bring it to a potluck, add it as a dinner side, and Always Remember to whip it up on Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Prep 15 minutesCook 40 minutesTotal 55 minutesMakes 10 people

Ingredients

1 pound elbow macaroni
1 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoon butter, cubed
2 cups half-and-half
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1/2 cup shredded muenster cheese
1/2 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
2 eggs, lightly whisked
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 350F.
Cook pasta according to package instructions, including 1 teaspoon of salt to the boiling water for flavor.
Drain the pasta and return to pot. Add the cubed butter to the pot and stir until almost melted.
Add the remaining ingredients, reserving 1/2 cup of mixed cheese for the topping, and stir well.
Pour the pot contents into a 9×13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes until edges become golden brown and bubbly.

Notes

Like a crunch on your mac and cheese? Top with bacon, buttered breadcrumbs, crumbled crackers, or panko before baking.
Pro Tip: for the well-balanced ooey-soft-centered melted mac and cheese, shred your own cheese from blocks. Pre-shredded cheese from the store does not melt the same.
Broil for 2-3 minutes to get that gorgeous cheesy “crust”.