Mac N Cheese Recipe
rich velvety cheese sauce topped with golden crisp cracker crust
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pasta
Cheese Sauce
Topping
Method
Cooking Pasta
- 1
Boil the Pasta
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Making Cheese Sauce
- 2
- 3
Add Milk
Slowly pour in 4 cups of milk while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Continue to cook until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Incorporate Cheese
Reduce heat to low and stir in 3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and 0.5 cups of cream cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- 5
Season the Sauce
Add 1 tsp of salt, 0.5 tsp of black pepper, 0.5 tsp of paprika, and 0.5 tsp of garlic powder. Stir well to combine.
Combining and Baking
- 6
Mix Pasta and Cheese Sauce
Combine the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce, stirring until all pasta is well coated.
- 7
Prepare the Topping
In a small bowl, mix 1 cup of breadcrumbs, 0.5 cups of grated Parmesan cheese, and 0.25 cups of melted butter until well combined.
- 8
Assemble and Bake
Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a greased baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy.