Name: Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 16-ounce elbow macaroni (cooked and drained); 8 tablespoons unsalted butter; 8 tablespoons flour; 2 teaspoons mustard powder (optional, you may want a little more or a little less depending on your tastes); 2 cups milk (warm not hot); 2 cups half and half cream (warm not hot); 2 eggs; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Fresh ground black pepper (generously to taste); 2 cups medium cheddar cheese (about 1/2 pound, shredded); 3 cups sharp cheddar (This is about 3/4 pound 1 cup shredded, the rest cubed); 1 cup diced Swiss cheese (about 1/4 pound); 2 cups breadcrumbs (Panko works great - or use crushed Ritz crackers); 1/3 cup unsalted butter

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Creamy, gooey, mac and cheese topped with crispy, buttery breadcrumbs brings old fashioned goodness to your table whenever you need serious comfort food.

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Baked macaroni and cheese with a buttery crumb topping is legendary comfort food when each spoonful is an old fashioned delight of creamy sauce, tender macaroni, a scatter of crispy breadcrumbs, and a forest of gooey cheese strings stretching from casserole to serving spoon.

A red casserole dish full of baked macaroni and cheese. Title text overlay.

Serve this classic recipe along with your favorite family memories for a family dinner they’ll remember. Take a look at this Southern version with beer, too.

Ingredients

For this recipe you will need:

elbow macaroni
butter
all purpose flour
mustard powder
milk
half and half cream
eggs
salt
pepper
cheddar cheese – medium and sharp
Swiss cheese
breadcrumbs

The Best Macaroni and Cheese Maker Ever!

There is absolutely nothing that can boast its comfort food status better than a plate of old fashioned macaroni and cheese. The tender macaroni is not only is swathed in the rich, cheesy sauce but the macaroni soaks even more up while it’s baking.

My mother came from a family of seven.

Each of the girls, and the sisters-in-law had a specialty that they brought to each family gathering. Being in Michigan the foods were likely to be Jell-o salads, macaroni dishes, and such. Aunt Bernie was, I think, the hands down best cook in the family – her apple pandowdy was to die for!

But Aunt Lou made far and away the most magical, the cheesiest, the most amazing baked macaroni and cheese recipe in the history of the known world.

The edges were just a little crunchy and when you pulled the spoon out long, steaming strands of cheese would clutch at the dish until you took your finger and pulled those gooey cheese threads away. The top was strewn with crispy, buttery, bread crumbs and a generous twist of black pepper so that every bite was a contrast between rich/creamy and crunchy/crispy.

I can taste it to this day. I swear there has never been anything like it and I sure can’t do it justice, either. She obviously had the touch.

Old Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Tips

This baked mac and cheese is full of old fashioned goodness, crispy, buttery bread crumbs, and those tell-tale strands of gooey cheese. Making this family favorite from scratch instead of from a box is easy!

The main things to remember are:

The cheesiness comes from two kinds of cheese used in two different ways. You can use more varieties if you like.
Grate the cheese from a block of cheese – it will have a creamier texture when it melts.
I like to use Panko for the top because it stays crispier but homemade bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers are fine, too.
When you add the milk to the roux stir…stir…stir…. it will look like it’s clumping up but if you stir constantly it will smooth out. Stir until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.
Mac & Cheese is versatile, you can add almost anything. Bacon, smoked sausage, leftover roast beef, your favorite vegetables…
Put together this old fashioned macaroni and cheese casserole the night before if you like, just be sure to leave off the crumbs until you are ready to bake. When you get home from work the next evening, or get home from sky diving, or whatever it is you do then add the crumbs and slide it into the oven for a half hour while you relax with a glass of wine and your favorite reality show.
As much as I hate to say this – overcook the macaroni just slightly. You don’t want it a la dente for this dish. When it is soft (but not so much that it’s mushy) then it absorbs the cheese sauce a bit more. Everyone will want to know your secret.

Mac and cheese with a serving spoon in it.

What Cheese Is Best?

I like to make the ultimate baked macaroni and cheese with a mixture of cheeses that almost always includes sharp Cheddar. Cheeses to try are:

Pepper Jack
Colby
Swiss
Gruyere
Mild Cheddar
Parmesan
Mozzarella
American

How to Make Roux for Mac and Cheese

This old fashioned macaroni and cheese recipe starts with a roux, a cooked combination of flour and butter. If this is not done right the entire recipe will be off. If it’s undercooked it will taste like raw flour – over cooked and it will taste scorched.

Some mac and cheese recipes don’t use roux – they depend on just cheese and cream. As far as I know there’s not a right or wrong – I know that my Aunt Lou was making this macaroni and cheese recipe as written since before World War 2. I think she snagged my uncle with it.

To Make Perfect Roux

Starting with a low fire (or lowest heat on an electric) melt the butter in a heavy saucepan until it foams. Don’t let the butter brown.
Add the flour all at once and stir constantly.
Stir constantly while carefully watching the color of the butter and flour mixture. Don’t worry about it lumping up just keep it moving.
When the mixture becomes a light golden brown slowly add warmed milk and cream, whisking constantly.
The process takes about eight minutes at my house but don’t try to go by the clock. You have to go by the color.

FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Can you make mac and cheese ahead of time and bake later?

Yes you can. Cover it and refrigerate without the crumbs on top. Just before baking add the crumbs and you’re ready to go!

How long can you keep baked macaroni and cheese?

You can keep leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for at least 3 days and up to 5. I like to seal serving sized squares of it in my vacuum sealer so that during the busiest times the family can grab, microwave, and go!

Can you freeze homemade macaroni and cheese?

You can but the texture will change. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to three months.

How do you make mac and cheese creamy again?

Be sure to add some milk when reheating and keep the dish covered. That will revive it a little and keep it from drying out.

How do you reheat mac and cheese in the oven?

Cover with foil and bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

More Comfort Food From Restless Chipotle

When the weather starts getting chilly I start craving comfort food. Here are some of my favorites –

Chicken and Noodles casserole can be finished in the oven with a crispy topping or on top of the stove for old fashioned, creamy goodness.
King Ranch Casserole is made with chicken, Ro*Tel, and onion mixed with a creamy, rich sauce and layered in a casserole dish with corn tortillas and a generous amount of cheese. Very quick meal.
Cheesy Mexican Lasagne is the perfect mixture of Italian and Tex-Mex. Corn tortillas are layered with cheese, refried beans, and spiced ground beef to create an easy, make-ahead meal the whole family will love
Shepherd’s Pie with Leftover Pot Roast is a delicious way to use up leftover roast! Meat and vegetables are enveloped in a rich gravy and then covered with a creamy cloud of buttery mashed potatoes.
Old Fashioned Stuffed Bell Peppers are an inexpensive comfort food that can be made in the oven, crockpot, or top of stove. There are a lot of variations but here is how I like them, my Mom’s Depression era recipe.

If you are looking for a great vegan- gluten free mac and cheese check out this recipe from Minimalist Baker.

You May Need

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What’s new? A brand new store full of things to help you make the recipes, celebrate the days, and create the memories! Check out Restless Chipotle & Co. As always, thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

This red casserole dish is pretty enough to put right on the table or take to a potluck!