Description
A creamy, cheesy baked mac and cheese topped with golden croutons for the perfect crunch. The ultimate comfort food made easy for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup crushed toasted croutons
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes.
- Slowly add milk while whisking constantly. Cook until slightly thickened, about 4–5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Reduce heat and add cheddar and parmesan cheese. Stir until melted and smooth.
- Fold cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce until fully coated.
- Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish and spread evenly.
- Top with crushed croutons.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for best melt and flavor.
- Don’t overcook pasta—it will continue to soften in the oven.
- Crush croutons just before using for maximum crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta, easy dinner