Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese

There is nothing better than Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese. If you’re looking for the best comfort food dinner recipe ever, then this is your recipe!

Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese

CHEESE. I love cheese of every kind, color and nationality. It’s part of my happy existence, and I just can’t say no to it all that often. Because of that, I tend to buy GOOD cheese. I love the gourmet cheese section at specialty markets, and I’m in heaven when I’m lucky enough to actually spot a cheese shop! So you probably wouldn’t be terribly surprised to learn that I absolutely adore a good, homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese and this one is the best!

🛒Ingredients needed:

• elbow macaroni
• butter
• flour
• milk
• cream cheese
• Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper
• sharp cheddar cheese
• Ritz crackers
• bacon
• fresh parsley

✏️How to make Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese:

*The complete, printable recipe with all ingredients and instructions is at the end of this post.

1. Cook the macaroni using package directions; drain.
2. Preheat the oven to 400℉. Place a rack on the lower-third rung in your oven. Spray 2½- quart baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring constantly. Whisk in the milk, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in the cooked pasta and cheddar cheese.
4. Spoon the cheesy macaroni into the prepared baking dish.
5. In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the cheesy macaroni. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

➡️Recipe Tips:

• Experiment with the flavor by substituting out the shredded Cheddar cheese with a different cheese you like. I think a smoked Gouda or a nutty Swiss cheese would be nice.
• Cook the macaroni until just al dente (still a little firm). It will cook further during the baking and you don’t want it to get mushy.
• If you’re a vegetarian leave off the bacon. You could think about replacing it with toasted pecans.

✔️What to serve with Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese:

• This depends on the role of the Mac & Cheese in your meal. If it’s going to be the star of the meal, a luscious green salad would be perfect alongside it.
• If you’re serving it as a side dish, it goes with just about everything, but I particularly like it with meatloaf. Double the comfort food in that meal!
• A fruity red wine like Pinot Noir pairs well with Baked Macaroni and Cheese.

★How to Store:

Leftovers of Macaroni and Cheese store well in the refrigerator or the freezer. In the refrigerator it should be good for 3 to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

❤️Why I love this recipe:

• I just love that bacon and butter-cracker crumb topping on top of this Baked Macaroni and Cheese. That crunchy topping takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness.
• This recipe makes a lot, so there’s enough to spread the cheese love and bring some to neighbors.
•  Yes, this is a rich dish, but sometimes it’s worth it to cave into the craving. This is one of those recipes!

Cheesy recipes you might like:

• Mac and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes
• Pork and Melted Cheese Hoagies
• Three Cheese Stuffed Shells with Creamy White Sauce
• One Pan Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken
• Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

5 from 5 votes

Homestyle Baked Macaroni and Cheese

By RecipeGirl.com

This baked mac and cheese recipe is the cheesiest!

Prep: 25 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 55 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

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Ingredients

MAC & CHEESE:

• ▢ 2 cups small (dry) elbow macaroni (or another small pasta)
• ▢ ¼ cup (½ stick) salted butter
• ▢ 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• ▢ 2 cups milk
• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ▢ salt and pepper, to taste
• ▢ 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese

TOPPING:

• ▢ 20 Ritz crackers (or another buttery cracker), crushed
• ▢ 4 slices cooked, crispy bacon, chopped
• ▢ 1 heaping tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions 

• Cook the macaroni using package directions; drain.
• Preheat the oven to 400℉. Place a rack on the lower-third rung in your oven. Spray 2½- quart baking dish with cooking spray.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Cook until smooth and bubbly, stirring constantly. Whisk in the milk, cream cheese, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in the cooked pasta and cheddar cheese.
• Spoon the cheesy macaroni into the prepared baking dish.
• In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the cheesy macaroni. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 507kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 31g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 84mg, Sodium: 506mg, Potassium: 271mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1010IU, Vitamin C: 0.7mg, Calcium: 328mg, Iron: 1.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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