Description
Comfort classic good ole fashion mac and cheese recipe brings nostalgic warmth to dinner tables across America. Creamy cheese sauce envelops tender pasta, creating a memorable meal that satisfies deep cravings you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 cups dry elbow macaroni
Dairy and Binding Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (4 tbsp) salted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cans (12 ounces each) evaporated milk
- 1/3 cup milk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Cook macaroni in generously salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender. Drain thoroughly and return to the original cooking pot.
- Incorporate softened butter into the warm macaroni, stirring until completely melted and creating a glossy coating.
- Whisk evaporated milk, regular milk, eggs, and garlic salt in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture becomes smooth and uniform.
- Combine shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses in a separate bowl, ensuring an even distribution of both varieties.
- Prepare the baking vessel by lightly coating a 9×13 inch dish with cooking spray and positioning the oven rack in the center position.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), creating an ideal environment for baking.
- Create alternating layers of macaroni and cheese mixture, dividing ingredients into three even portions. Repeat layering process until all components are utilized.
- Gently cascade the milk mixture over the layered macaroni, ensuring even coverage across the entire dish.
- Dust the surface with a light sprinkle of paprika for added color and subtle flavor enhancement.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese melts completely, the surface turns golden brown, and the edges become deliciously bubbly.
Notes
- Select high-quality cheese for richer, more complex flavor profiles that elevate the classic mac and cheese experience.
- Use whole milk or mix with cream to increase richness and create a more luxurious, velvety texture.
- Experiment with adding crispy bacon bits, caramelized onions, or roasted garlic for unexpected depth and complexity.
- Toast breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle on top for an extra crunchy, golden-brown crust that adds delightful textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg