​
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Ebook!Subscribe to updates & get a recipe book!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

The Chunky Chef

Comforting Family Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Learn to Cook
  • Shop
    • My eBooks
    • Favorite Products
  • About
  • Contact
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

    My Saved Recipe Box
  • Browse By:
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Drinks
    • Desserts
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Sandwiches
    • Healthy-ish
  • Ingredient
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
    • Meatless
    • Pasta
  • Cuisine
    • Asian
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Hawaiian
    • Middle Eastern
    • Comfort Food
  • Method
    • One Pot
    • Crockpot
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven
    • Fried
    • Grilling/BBQ
  • Trending:

    Slow Cooker

    Easy Dinners

    Desserts

Home / Holidays and Events / Thanksgiving Recipes / Classic sides

Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

4.87
/5
35 minutes minutes
7,070 Comments
Jump to Recipe Print Pin
By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 09/30/2019

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Rich and creamy homemade baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses, smothered in a smooth cheese sauce, and baked until bubbly and perfect!
Rich and creamy homemade baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses, smothered in a smooth cheese sauce, and baked until bubbly and perfect!

This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by both children and adults. It uses a combination of cheeses, layered in the dish as well as melted into a rich and creamy cheese sauce, for the ultimate in cheesy deliciousness!  Perfect for a comforting dinner or as a holiday side dish!

Looking for other comfort food dishes?  Check out my Homemade Sloppy Joes, Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Crockpot Meatloaf, and Homestyle No-Boil Mashed Potatoes!

Rich and creamy homemade baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses, smothered in a smooth cheese sauce, and baked until bubbly and perfect! #macandcheese #comfortfood #macaroni #cheese #sidedish #comfortfood #holidayfood

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Baked mac and cheese.  It’s nearly the universal comfort food, and there are SO many variations!  In fact, I almost didn’t post this recipe, as there are SOOOO many mac and cheese recipes available, and most people already have their favorite way of making it.

Of course, there’s no “right” way or “wrong” way, so I’m here sharing the way I like to make my mac and cheese (the way my family loves it too).

Cheese sauce pouring over pasta to make homemade Mac and cheese

HOW TO MAKE MAC AND CHEESE

If you’ve never made homemade mac and cheese before, it can seem a bit daunting.  But don’t worry, we’ll break it down and take it step by step!

  • Boil the pasta, drain.
  • Make the cheese sauce by combining a fat (butter), and starch (flour), then whisking in the milk products.
  • Cook the sauce until it’s nice and thick.
  • Add in shredded cheeses, stir well.
  • Combine cheese sauce with cooked pasta.
  • Transfer half of the mac and cheese to a baking dish, sprinkle with more shredded cheese.
  • Top with the rest of the mac and cheese, top with more shredded cheese.
  • Bake and prepare to thoroughly enjoy!

Baked mac and cheese in baking dish

COOKING TIPS FOR BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

  • Boiling the pasta – cook the pasta less than you normally would.  I like to boil my elbow pasta for between 4 and 5 minutes.  The pasta will continue to cook in the oven, and you don’t want it to get mushy.
  • Use room temp liquids – if you can… cold liquids generally take longer to thicken than warmer ones.  I usually set my milk and half and half out while the water for the pasta is coming up to a boil.
  • The cheeses – use your favorites!  Our personal favorites are the cheddar and gruyere used in this recipe, but you can be very creative with the cheese selection here.  Mozzarella, gouda, smoked gouda, swiss, monterey jack, colby jack, colby.  There are plenty of reader comments down below the recipe that talk about the cheeses they used!
  • Shred your own – I know it’s a pain, and it’s SO tempting to use the pre-shredded cheese in the bags.  But those bags of cheese contain a starchy substance that keeps the cheese from clumping… which also prohibits it from melting as well as it should.

Bowl of creamy baked mac and cheese

VARIATIONS OF MAC AND CHEESE

  • Bacon – if you love bacon, feel free to add some crispy, crumbled bacon to the topping, or even inside the mac and cheese as well!
  • Stovetop – if you’d prefer not to bake this mac and cheese, you don’t have to! Make sure you boil your pasta until al dente (check the packaging for correct times), and you’ll only need about 3 – 3 1/2 cups of cheese total.  No need to layer the pasta and cheese, just add all the cheese to the sauce, then combine with the pasta.
  • Different Toppings – I’m a huge fan of the cheese layer on top, since it gets nice and crispy, but we also love tossing 1 cup of panko with 2 Tbsp of melted butter and using that as a topping.  1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers with 2 Tbsp of butter work amazingly well too!
  • Different Baking Times – the recipe calls for a lower baking temperature and time, but most of the time I find myself adjusting that based on my family’s tastes.  I like to bake this mac and cheese at 350 F degrees for 30 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes to get that glorious cheesy “crust”.

MAKING MAC AND CHEESE AHEAD OF TIME

  • Make as directed (but do not bake), transfer to baking dish and cool completely.  Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate 1-2 days ahead.
  • Before baking, let dish sit on counter for 30 minutes.
  • Bake at recipe temperature for 25-35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

As a caveat, this recipe, as with most mac and cheese recipes, loses some of it’s creaminess when made ahead.  This dish has been tested when made right away, which yields the best results.  

I would increase the amount of sauce slightly if you need to make this recipe ahead of time.

Forkful of cheesy mac and cheese

STORING MAC AND CHEESE

Any leftovers need to be refrigerated and covered tightly.  Mac and cheese can be stored this way for 3-4 days.

To reheat, stir in a little bit of milk or cream and microwave partially covered with plastic wrap.  Stir often as it reheats.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS RECIPE

  • Box Grater – remember, the best mac starts with freshly shredded cheese!

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO CHECK OUT OTHER READERS’ COMMENTS!

AND DON’T FORGET, IF YOU’VE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING!

Post has been updated in September 2019 with new photos and additional information.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Rich and creamy homemade baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses, smothered in a smooth cheese sauce, and baked until bubbly and perfect! #macandcheese #comfortfood #macaroni #cheese #sidedish #comfortfood #holidayfood

Creamy Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

4.87 from 3502 votes
Author: The Chunky Chef
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Calories: 665
Servings: 8 - 10 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by children and adults.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dried elbow pasta
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 1/2 cups half and half **see chef tips #1 below**
  • 4 cups shredded medium cheddar cheese divided (measured after shredding)
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese divided (measured after shredding)
  • 1/2 Tbsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. paprika smoked paprika is our favorite!

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9x13").  Set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente.  Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep from sticking.
  • While water is coming up to a boil, shred cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into three piles.  Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over MED heat.  Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine.  Mixture will look like very wet sand.  Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often.  Slowly pour in about 2 cups or so of the half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth.  Slowly pour in the remaining half and half plus the whole milk, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
  • Continue to heat over MED heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency.  It should almost be the consistency of a semi thinned out condensed soup.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine.  Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir until completely melted and smooth.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully.  Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.  Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
  • Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and lightly golden brown.  

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. Half and half is a common dairy product in the US - https://www.thekitchn.com/what-is-halfandhalf-ingredient-intelligence-205959
  2. Please feel free to add additional seasonings per your tastes, this is a base recipe that you can change up to make your own. Garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, smoked paprika, and hot sauce are some favorites of ours to add.
  3. To get the 4 cups of cheddar, use a 16 oz block of cheddar and shred. 
  4. To get the 2 cups of gruyere, use as close to an 8 oz block of gruyere as you can (different brands have different sized blocks), and shred.

Mac and Cheese can be made ahead:

  • Make as directed (but do not bake), transfer to baking dish and cool completely.  Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate 1-2 days ahead.  
  • Before baking, let dish sit on counter for 30 minutes.
  • Bake at recipe temperature for 25-35 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  

 

FIVE CHEESE VARIATION:

Replace cheese amounts with the following:
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Colby cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Muenster cheese, shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

 

FOR A CRUNCHIER TOPPING AND FIRMER CONSISTENCY:

  • Prepare recipe as directed but bake at 350 or 375 F degrees for 20-30 minutes.  Broil at the end of baking for approximately 2-5 minutes, until golden brown and crunchy.

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Did You Make This?Tag @the_chunky_chef on Instagram and hashtag it #thechunkychef so I can see what you made!
Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Save for Later Saved!

Rich and creamy homemade baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses, smothered in a smooth cheese sauce, and baked until bubbly and perfect!

Family Favorite Baked Mac and Cheese | Rich and creamy baked mac and cheese, filled with multiple layers of shredded cheeses and smothered in a smooth cheese sauce for the ultimate macaroni and cheese! | http://thechunkychef.com

 

You May Also Like...

  • This Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese has all the amazing flavors of the wildly popular appetizer, made into an ultra creamy and comforting baked Mac and cheese dish! | #macandcheese #jalapenopopper #comfortfood #macaroniandcheese #recipe
    Baked Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese
  • Creamy mac and cheese, made with double the cheeses, chipotle peppers, crispy bacon, and a buttery panko topping!  Perfect for a weeknight comfort food meal! #macandcheese #macaroni #bacon #chipotle #smoky #comfortfood #weeknightmeal #easyrecipe #homemade
    Smoky Chipotle Bacon Mac and Cheese
  • Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy, and SO easy!  No boiling pasta, no velveeta, and no condensed soups needed.  Perfect side dish or kid-friendly dinner option! #macandcheese #macaroniandcheese #crockpot #slowcooker #easyrecipe #sidedish #potluck #holiday
    Crock Pot Mac and Cheese
  • This ultra creamy Mac and Cheese recipe is made right in your slow cooker! Loved by both kids and adults, it's perfect for parties, potlucks, and more! #macandcheese #crockpot #slowcooker
    Ultra Creamy Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Previous Post
Next Post

Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

4.87 from 3502 votes (266 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question, comment, or review below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Kara says

    Posted on 4/4 at 4:44 pm

    Great side dish!

    Reply
  2. Marisa says

    Posted on 4/4 at 2:35 pm

    Turns out fabulous each time. Family new favourite fish

    Reply
  3. Ayanna says

    Posted on 4/4 at 12:29 pm

    Just made this and popping it in the oven! This was by far the easiest, delicious Mac and cheese recipe ever! I will be using this for every holiday! 10/10 recommend to use this recipe! I can’t wait to dig in soon!

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    Posted on 4/4 at 12:09 pm

    Uh Oh… All I have is 2% milk. Will that be okay??

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 4/4 at 9:36 pm

      I’ve not made it using 2%, but it should work. Might be a bit less rich/creamy, and take longer to thicken, but should still work out.

      Reply
  5. Heidi Rand says

    Posted on 4/4 at 11:12 am

    This is a family favorite! The Gruyere cheese makes all the difference! It takes a little extra time to shred the cheese yourself, but don’t take the shortcut and buy bagged cheese! You will not be happy. I have also made this recipe, but instead of 4 cups of cheddar, I added 2 cups of cheddar and 2 cups of pepper jack to the Gruyere. It is amazing!!

    Reply
  6. Dean says

    Posted on 4/4 at 10:36 am

    Super good
    Grandkids love it up!! Thanks made home made bread!!!!!
    For it!!
    The best

    Reply
  7. Linda F. Brown says

    Posted on 4/4 at 4:41 am

    Try can milk -instead of regular milk
    an half/half ..cheaper . also make
    your gravy w/ can milk..
    Tell me that it taste better??
    Right!! sincerely, LINDA BROWN

    Reply
  8. Linda F. Brown says

    Posted on 4/4 at 4:27 am

    Dear Amanda,My mother is cooking EASTER DINNER.SHE Is78
    and I 61 ,her first born of 5 boys..I
    got mac/cheese detail .Everyone loves it .my secrets are 1-2 cans hom milk .an with (thin slice) sharp cheddar cheese 1-2 cups..the more the better, also 2slices American cheese.
    The key is not to overcook (dry)
    remove from oven when it is real
    juicey..brown the top though, can
    milk makes it creamery!!😇

    Reply
  9. WenofSF says

    Posted on 4/3 at 9:45 pm

    I made this a few months back and it was a huge hit! I made one casserole for the party guests and a second to have for us….Well, everyone loved it, the first casserole dish was licked clean and I had to send home parts of the second casserole with friends!! 😁
    I’m making it again for Easter and popped in to say thanks for the great recipe! Happy Easter!

    Reply
    • Jillian says

      Posted on 4/4 at 6:18 pm

      Beautiful recipe! Gruyere cheese is the secret 🙂

      Reply
  10. Tina says

    Posted on 4/3 at 8:35 pm

    Hi. I’m wondering if I can make this then put it in a crockpot to serve. Thanks

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 4/3 at 10:16 pm

      I haven’t done it myself, but I know a lot of other readers have done that successfully 🙂

      Reply
  11. Brenda says

    Posted on 4/3 at 7:57 am

    Can I use just half and half if I don’t have milk?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 4/3 at 10:16 pm

      Yes 🙂

      Reply
  12. Jeanne Sparks says

    Posted on 4/2 at 5:56 pm

    Absolutely the best homemade mac and cheese I have ever made!

    Reply
  13. Monte says

    Posted on 4/2 at 5:37 pm

    Equal parts milk and equal parts heavy cream.

    Reply
  14. Lori says

    Posted on 4/2 at 9:14 am

    I have to make this ahead of time. How much extra milk or half and half should I add so it is not dry when I bake it?

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 4/3 at 10:19 pm

      It’s always going to be the most creamy when made right before baking, but I would just add about 1/2 cup each.

      Reply
  15. JoAnn Smith says

    Posted on 4/2 at 7:55 am

    I made your recipe exactly as written for my weekly Bible Study group and we all loved it! Very creamy and cheesy!

    Reply
  16. Michelle says

    Posted on 4/2 at 6:18 am

    Best Mac and cheese I have ever made. Thank you!

    Reply
  17. natjomin says

    Posted on 4/1 at 5:44 pm

    I LOVE this recipe
    thank you so much

    Reply
  18. Megan C says

    Posted on 4/1 at 4:53 am

    What is half and half please? Thanks

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 4/1 at 8:56 am

      Half and half is a common dairy product in the US that is part heavy cream and part milk.

      Reply
      • Megan C says

        Posted on 4/2 at 6:20 am

        Thank you, I’m from the UK so wasn’t sure. Can I use double cream then?

        Reply
        • Lora says

          Posted on 4/2 at 9:02 am

          Yes! You can use double cream but I’d suggest doing half milk and half cream, since that’s what Half and Half is, here in the states.

          Reply
          • Megan C says

            Posted on 4/2 at 10:54 am

            Thank you 😊

    • Jean says

      Posted on 4/1 at 5:00 pm

      Half and Half – aka – Creamo or Coffee Cream

      Reply
  19. Linda Brewer says

    Posted on 3/31 at 10:37 pm

    Delicious! Worth all the work for sure.

    Reply
  20. Karen Elder says

    Posted on 3/31 at 7:31 pm

    This is delicious! Just wondering if I can make this in a crockpot? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      Posted on 3/31 at 8:45 pm

      I’ve only tested this recipe as written. So without testing and retesting it myself, I can’t say for certain how well it would work out. I would think it would need substantial changes. I do know many readers have made it and kept it warm in a crockpot, if that helps. If you try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!

      Reply
Older Comments
Newer Comments

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

New! Save Recipes To Your Own Account!

Free eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

download now!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

Game Day Recipes!

These crowd-pleasing tender meatballs are smothered in a super flavorful honey garlic bbq sauce.  Perfect for parties, this crockpot meatball recipe couldn't be more simple to make! #meatballs #crockpot #slowcooker #honeygarlic #bbq #appetizer #party #honey #garlic #easyrecipe

Honey Garlic Crockpot Meatballs

2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Smooth and silky queso dip, made using NO velveeta!  Packed with flavor, yet so easy to make, and party ready in just 20 minutes! #queso #dip #cheese #mexican #appetizer #party #cincodemayo #easyrecipe

Queso Dip Recipe

20 minutes minutes

Creamy, cheesy, and oh so addicting, this bacon cheeseburger dip is just like your favorite gooey cheeseburger... but in a party-ready dip form! #bacon #gameday #cheesy #cheeseburger #party #appetizer #dip #easyrecipe

Creamy Bacon Cheeseburger Dip

32 minutes minutes

Insanely tasty chicken wing recipe, dry rubbed, then hickory smoked to perfection.  And don't forget the homemade bourbon bbq sauce! #chickenwings #wingrecipe #smoked #smoker #smokedchickenwings #bourbon #bbq #crispy

Bourbon BBQ Smoked Chicken Wings

3 hours hours

This easy game day appetizer combines classic buffalo wing flavors with cool creaminess in an easy dip made in the crockpot. Perfect for any party, serve it up with chips or celery sticks and watch everyone go back for seconds!

Buffalo Chicken Dip (Crockpot Recipe)

2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels | These pinwheels are filled with a creamy chicken taco filling, which is easily customizable, and rolled up to make a perfect appetizer or party food! | http://thechunkychef.com

Chicken Taco Mexican Pinwheels

15 minutes minutes

More Holiday Recipes >

Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Who doesn't love free stuff? Get an ad-free ebook of my most popular recipes, plus be the FIRST to know about new things coming to the site!

Looking for something?

As Seen On…

Stay Connected

subscribe to get new posts via email:

Quick & Easy

Dinner Favorites

Hearty and positively soul-warming, this beef barley soup simmers all day in the slow cooker, which makes for an incredibly rich soup recipe! #beefbarley #soup #slowcooker #crockpot #comfortfood #barley #beefsoup #easyrecipe #dinner
M

Crockpot Beef Barley Soup

white bowl of chicken and dumplings
T

Instant Pot Chicken & Dumplings

HONEY GARLIC SALMON - Succulent and tender salmon filets cooked in a mouthwatering simple honey garlic sauce, then broiled until sticky and caramelized.  Made with simple ingredients, in one pan, and in just 20 minutes! #salmon #honeygarlic #onepan #easyrecipe #dinner #seafood #fish
W

Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

Light and filling, this Italian Wedding Soup is perfectly delicious comfort food, all year round.  Made in one pan, and ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight meal! #soup #souprecipe #Italianweddingsoup #onepot #30minutemeal #weeknight #dinner #easyrecipe #homemaderecipe
R

Italian Wedding Soup

This Honey Garlic Chicken is one incredible weeknight dinner idea. Juicy chicken coated and cooked with a glorious sauce made with soy, hoisin, garlic, honey and more! Toss it all in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you! #dinner #chicken #asian #honey #garlic #honeygarlic #easyrecipe #weeknight #slowcooker #crockpot
F

Honey Garlic Chicken

S

Swedish Meatballs

free e-book!

Download MY Free Recipe eBook!

Subscribe & receive my most popular recipes compiled into an easy ebook format!

get my copy!

Subscribe & Receive My Free Recipe Ebook!

As Featured On:

Back to Top

Recipes

Dinners

Appetizers

Desserts

Slow Cooker

Learn to Cook

Start Here

Tips & Tricks

e-Cookbook

Easy Recipes

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Contact
© 2025 The Chunky Chef
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.