phillyjaycooking.com
World's Best Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipe (Made With Homemade Cheese Sauce)
Gourmet baked macaroni and cheese featuring an ultra-creamy homemade cheese sauce and a crispy golden-brown crust. The ultimate side dish for a soul food dinner.
Prep
30 min
Cook
30 min
Total
1h
Serves
6
Instructions
- 01
Place a large pot over high heat.
- 02
Add cool water and salt, then stir well.
- 03
Meanwhile, shred the white Cheddar and 4 oz of yellow Cheddar for the sauce.
- 04
Slice the Velveeta cheese into smaller pieces.
- 05
Once the water comes to a boil, add the macaroni.
- 06
Stir well and boil until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- 07
Drain the hot water and set it aside.
- 08
Place a large pot over medium heat.
- 09
Add the butter and flour, then stir well.
- 10
Once the butter has melted and the flour has dissolved, pour in the milk.
- 11
Slowly stir for 30 seconds.
- 12
Add the chopped and shredded cheese.
- 13
Stir periodically until it fully melts.
- 14
Stir in the seasonings and remove from heat.
- 15
Preheat oven to 375°F.
- 16
Add the macaroni to a baking dish.
- 17
Add the cheese sauce to the macaroni and fold well.
- 18
Shred the remaining 4 oz yellow Cheddar and cover the top.
- 19
Optional: Garnish with Paprika or Parsley if you like.
- 20
Bake for 30 minutes, until golden and crispy on top.
Variations & swaps
Add-ins & Variations:
- Lobster: Folding in some butter-sauteed lobster tail chunks takes this mac and cheese straight to luxury status. If you love seafood, you should try doing this. People enjoy crabmeat in mac and cheese too.
- Ham: Diced or cubed ham is a popular add-in. It adds a nice savory, salty bite that blends right in with the rich cheese sauce.
- Ranch or Buffalo: If you want to elevate the flavor profile, you can swirl in a little Buffalo sauce for a tangy kick or a splash of ranch for a creamy, herbaceous twist. Ranch seasoning works too.
- Breadcrumbs on top: Some folks like a crunchy topping, so you can sprinkle some panko or traditional breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter right across the top before it goes in the oven.
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