Just as much as kids adore creamy baked mac and cheese, adults do as well! If you’re looking for a grown-up twist to this delicious dish, you’re found it. This recipe amps up the flavors with onion powder, gruyere, cheddar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper for an elevated taste. This will quickly become your go-to macaroni and cheese on a chill day.

🔪 How To Make Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe?

No need to worry about this cheesy sauce, it's perfectly smooth and seasoned. Begin by cooking 2 cups of elbow pasta following the packaging directions. Then, turn in your oven to 350 F.

Meanwhile, start on your bechamel sauce:

Put ¼ cup of butter to melt in a pan, then mix in ¼ cup of flour. Let cook for around 2 minutes.
Add in a cup of milk bit by bit using a whisk to mix, along with 1 and ¼ of half and half. Continue stirring until there aren’t any more clumps.
Sprinkle in your pepper, salt, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Let simmer for 3 minutes until it thickens
Take the pan off the heat and place in ½ cup of gruyere cheese and 1 cup of grated cheddar. Stir until cheesy and smooth.
Strain your pasta and combine it with the sauce.
Transfer half of your macaroni and cheese into an oiled 7x11 baking dish, and sprinkle ¼ cup of grated gruyere and ½ cup of grated cheddar on top.
Top with the remaining mix and put the leftover cheddar and gruyere over it.
Cook in the oven until your cheese is soft for 15 minutes.

💭 Tips For Making The Best Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

Don’t forget to season your pasta while it’s boiling with some salt.
I prefer my pasta al dente, just make sure it’s not overly done because it’s going to cook further in the oven.
Make sure to cook your flour with the butter for a couple of minutes, otherwise your bechamel will taste funky and undercooked.
The whisk will help you get rid of any clumps you don’t want.
Your powders will also gather in one spot if you don’t whisk them.
You want your sauce to be thick but not too much, since it tends to get creamier when it cools down.
Store-bought grated cheeses don’t melt as well as freshly grated ones. It is important that you do so yourself.
Enjoy as soon as you take it out of the oven otherwise your sauce won’t stay creamy.

🍽 Can I Make Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Ahead of Time?

Definitely. Follow all the steps except baking. Leave it aside to fully chill, wrap in two layers on plastic wrap, and keep it in your fridge for 2 days. When ready, bring it back to room temperature before baking. It probably won’t taste as good as fresh, but it’s still delicious.

🌟 How To Reheat Creamy Mac and Cheese Leftovers

Keep any leftovers in the fridge for 4 days stored in a sealed container. Frozen mac and cheese is a no for me. Before reheating, pour in a tablespoon of milk for each cup of mac and cheese because it tends to dry out when chilled.

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Easy Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Just as much as kids adoremac and cheese, adults do as well! If you’re looking for a grown-up twist tothis delicious dish, you’re found it.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Casserole, Cheese, Creamy, Dinner, Pasta

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 661kcal

Ingredients

2 cups of elbow pasta
¼ cup of salted butter
¼ cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of milk
1 and ¼ cups of half and half
2 cups of freshly grated sharp cheddar
1 cup of freshly grated gruyere cheese
⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon of onion powder
¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
Pepper and salt

Instructions

Turn on your oven to 350 F. Boil your elbow pasta al dente following the packaging directions.
Meanwhile, put your butter to melt in a pan. Mix in your flour and let simmer for 2 minutes.
Gradually add in your half and half and milk using a whisk. Stir until there aren’t any clumps. Sprinkle in the pepper, salt, garlic and onion powders, and cayenne pepper. Whisk for about 3 minutes until it thickens
Take it off the heat and mix in your grated gruyere and cheddar.
Strain your pasta and add it to your sauce.
Place half of the mixture in your baking dish, top with ¼ cup of gruyere and ½ cup of cheddar.
Finish up with the rest of the mac and cheese and the rest of the cheeses. Cook in your oven until melty for 15 minutes.