Name: Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 10 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb elbow macaroni; 0.5 cup butter; 0.5 cup flour; 3.5 cups whole milk; 1.5 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning blend; 4 cups cheddar cheese; 2 cups Gruyere cheese

Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese cover

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Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 325℉. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions; Drain and set aside.

While the pasta is cooking, shred the cheeses and combine in a large bowl.

Melt butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for one minute or until the mixture becomes pasty.

Slowly pour in the milk while continually whisking until the mixture is smooth.

Add the all-purpose seasoning blend and cook the sauce until it begins to thicken, about 5 minutes, whisking often.

When the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat and stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheeses.

Stir until completely combined.

Add another 2 cups of shredded cheeses and stir until completely combined. The mixture should be very thick.

Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish and pour the cheese sauce over the pasta.

Stir until it’s completely combined.

Top with remaining shredded cheese and bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbly.

Video Tutorial

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Toast Your Pasta Slightly 🍝
Cook your elbow macaroni 1-2 minutes under al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven and absorb sauce without becoming mushy or breaking apart.
Make a Proper Béchamel Base 🧈
Cook your roux (butter and flour) for 1-2 minutes before adding milk to eliminate raw flour taste and create a silky, lump-free cheese sauce foundation.
Blend Your Cheeses Strategically 🧀
Reserve a quarter of your Gruyere for the topping and mix the rest with cheddar into the sauce for deep flavor, while the reserved cheese creates a gorgeous golden crust.
Temperature Control for Creamy Texture 🌡️
Heat your milk to just below boiling before adding to the roux, and never let the cheese sauce boil after adding cheese to prevent it from breaking and becoming grainy.
Seasoning Before Baking 🧂
Season your sauce generously before baking since flavors mute during cooking—taste and adjust your all-purpose seasoning blend while the sauce is still hot on the stovetop.