Keep in mind it will taste different depending on the type of cheddar you buy. Now I've made plenty of mac and cheese recipes over the years with different types of cheese, but my go-to for dinner parties or family gatherings is this baked cheddar mac and cheese. Of course it was Kraft that made it famous in the mid 1930s. According to legend, it was Thomas Jefferson who encountered macaroni in Paris and brought back the recipe to the states. When writing this recipe, I was curious where my favorite dish originated from. And after experimenting, I believe I found it with this baked cheddar mac and cheese. I made it a goal to have what I thought was the best mac and cheese recipe. Once I started to get into cooking, one of the first things I wanted to make was homemade baked macaroni and cheese. Other short-cut pastas that work well for this recipe: Rotini, Radiatori, Fusilli, or Cavatappi.There is just something comforting about homemade macaroni and cheese - from a healthier version like baked butternut squash mac and cheese to something more decadent like smoked gouda bacon mac and cheese.īut to be honest, there isn't much better or easier than this easy baked mac and cheese with good sharp cheddar.Ĭhristmas is just around the corner, which means many families will be getting together for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinners.I’ve made this before with Gouda cheese and the smokey flavor was fantastic. Feel free to get creative with the cheese blend.Bake mac and cheese uncovered for 25-30 minutes until melted and bubbly. Repeat with the remaining pasta and shredded cheese. Pour half of pasta into a buttered 8×8 baking dish, and top with 1/2 cup remaining shredded cheese. Remove pot from heat and fold in 2 cups of grated cheese.Mixture should be smooth and light in color. Continue whisking for a few minutes until the mixture has thickened slightly to the consistency of a thin-medium gravy.

Whisk in remaining cream, ground nutmeg, kosher salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of cream until smooth.Sprinkle flour over garlic butter mixture and stir until well incorporated and a light paste forms. Add minced garlic and fresh thyme leaves, cook 1-2 minutes stirring often.In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Grate all cheeses and mix together in a medium mixing bowl, set aside.Add short-cut pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Prepare Noodles– bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.

Best baked white mac and cheese recipe