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Baked macaroni cheese

A spoonful of creamy macaroni and cheese with crispy topping, held over a wooden table. Blue denim apron in the blurred background.

By Tom · Updated

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  • About 1 hour 6 min
  • Easy

This baked macaroni and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and packed with cheesy goodness. Perfect for family dinners, dinner parties, or whenever you need a cozy, homemade meal. Baked macaroni and cheese recipe - creamy, cheesy &.

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The recipe

Baked macaroni cheese

This baked macaroni and cheese recipe is rich, creamy, and packed with cheesy goodness.

  • 15 min prep
  • 51 min cooking
  • Easy

Times and difficulty are our estimates from the method, not stopwatch figures.

Quantities
Measurements

Ingredients

The topping

Tick things off as you go — they stay ticked if you close the page.

A dotted underline means the amount has been rounded to something you can measure.

Method

  1. Step 1

    Begin by grating both cheeses (160 g) on the large side of a box grater. Place a saucepan over low heat and add in the butter (70 g). Once melted stir in the flour (70 g) and cook for 3 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    Gradually pour in the milk (800 ml) in stages, stirring every time you add it to prevent lumps. Repeat until the milk is fully incorporated. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, making sure to continue stirring, and then add the grated cheese (160 g). Stir until the cheese has fully melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed and set to one side.

  3. Step 3

    To cook the pasta (400 g), bring a pan of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and add it to the sauce, mixing thoroughly. Place into an oven-proof dish or deep tray.

  4. Step 4

    To make the topping, add the garlic (1 garlic), parsley (5 g) and salt to a mortar and pestle or food processor and grind to a puree. Add the breadcrumbs (40 g) and grind/mix again. Finally, add the paprika (5 g) and grate in the parmesan and give it one more mix. Sprinkle the topping over your mac and cheese (160 g).

  5. Step 5

    Place into a preheated oven at 180°C for 30 to 40 minutes until golden and crisp on top. Enjoy.

  6. Step 6

    Tom's Tip: Place your mac and cheese (160 g) onto a larger tray to catch and sauce if it bubbles over in the oven.

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Questions people ask

How long does baked macaroni cheese take?

About 1 hour 6 min from start to finish, of which 15 min is prep and 51 min is cooking. That figure is worked out from the method rather than timed with a stopwatch, so give yourself a little more the first time.

How much does this make?

The original recipe did not state a yield, so nothing has been invented for it. The scale control on the recipe card multiplies the quantities instead, which is the honest version of the same thing.

Can I see the ingredients in ounces and pints?

Yes. The metric and imperial switch on the recipe card converts every quantity, rounded to amounts you can actually weigh or measure rather than to four decimal places. Your choice is remembered for every recipe on the site.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes, as written. If you are cooking for a strict vegetarian, the one to check is the cheese: several hard cheeses are made with animal rennet.