This Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni Cheese recipe is ultra creamy, cheesy, and decadent! It definitely passes the Thanksgiving-worthy test!
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How to make old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese:
The first step is to start your pasta. I like to boil mine in a combination of chicken broth and water to add extra flavor. You'll also want to boil it for about 2 minutes less than what it says on the pasta box. The pasta will continue to soften as it bakes so you don't want it to get over cooked.
While your pasta is boiling, you can start the cheese sauce. The MOST important part of this is to shred your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that keep it from clumping together and will ruin your sauce. I like to use a rotary cheese grater (it also slices veggies) and it makes shredding cheese super easy!
Once your cheese is shredded, you can start making the cheese sauce. This recipe starts by making a roux, which is just butter and flour. You'll melt the butter, then sprinkle in the flour and cook for just a couple of minutes. This is what will thicken your sauce.
After cooking the flour, you'll add in the evaporated milk, cream, and seasonings. (I told you this recipe was decadent!)
Once your sauce has started to bubble, turn the heat to low and add in your cheese. (Be sure not to add it all in and to save 3 cups of it)
When the cheese is fully melted into the sauce, you can add in all of the pasta and stir it to coat all of the noodles. (Make sure to taste a cheesy noodle...for quality control) 🙂
Next, you'll add HALF of the macaroni to a sprayed 9"x13" baking dish then sprinkle on HALF of your remaining cheese. Then pour the remaining pasta in and sprinkle with the rest of your shredded cheese. (Layer: Pasta, shredded cheese, pasta, shredded cheese)
This gets baked in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes then broil it to brown the top for just about 2 minutes. Keep a close eye on it when it's broiling since it can burn very quickly and everyone's ovens are different.
I also like to garnish it with a little bit of parsley just to make it pretty but you don't need to if you don't have any.
You've now made you own old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese and you're ready to indulge!
Other Recipes You'll Love:
- Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Creamy Italian Pasta (with cream cheese)
- Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound cavatappi pasta (or shape of your choice)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 16 ounce can of evaporated milk
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded by hand)
- 16 ounces white cheddar cheese (shredded by hand)
- 8 ounces sharp yellow cheddar cheese (shredded by hand)
Instructions
- Bring the chicken broth and 6 cups of water to a boil and cook your pasta for 2 minutes less than directed on the pasta package.
- While the pasta is boiling, you can shred your cheese. You do not want to use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Once the butter is melted, add in the four and whisk for about 2-3 minutes to cook the raw flour.
- Slowly add in the evaporated milk and the heavy cream while stirring. Allow everything to come to a slow bubble and add in the seasonings and stir as the sauce thickens. (This should take about 5-7 minutes)
- Reserve 3 cups of cheese and set it aside for layering and topping.
- Turn the heat down to the lowest setting before adding in the cheese.Add the remaining cheese, one handful at a time, to the cream mixture. Make sure each handful is melted before adding in the next.
- Once the cheese is melted into the sauce, add the pasta to the sauce and stir.
- Spray a 9"x13" pan with non-stick spray then add in HALF of the pasta/cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle half of the reserved shredded cheese over the pasta then pour in the remaining pasta and top with remaining cheese. (Layer: Pasta, shredded cheese, pasta, shredded cheese)
- Bake in the oven at 375 for 20 minutes then broil for about 2-3 minutes or until the top is golden browned.
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