Mac and Cheese
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Ultra-creamy with a blend of three cheeses and topped with golden, crispy panko, this homemade mac and cheese is second to none.
Great homemade mac and cheese starts with al dente noodles—the kind with lots of crevices, like elbow macaroni or cavatappi—and a rich sauce made from butter, flour, milk, and heaps of good-quality shredded cheese. The noodles are tossed with the cheesy sauce, spread in a baking dish, topped with crispy breadcrumbs, and baked until bubbling and golden. Since many homemade mac and cheese recipes tend to be a bit dry, I developed this version to be ultra-creamy. The crispy panko and herb topping, inspired by a “fancy” mac and cheese I enjoyed at a restaurant, truly makes the dish!
“I took it to a dinner party last night and it was an absolute hit with all of the adults and children. Gone in minutes and I doubled the recipe!”
What You’ll Need To Make Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Macaroni, cavatappi, or penne pasta: Elbow macaroni is traditional, but any pasta with lots of nooks and crannies to hold the creamy cheese sauce will work beautifully.
- Unsalted butter: Creates the base of the roux and adds richness to the sauce; also used to grease the pan.
- All-purpose flour: Thickens the sauce to give it that perfect creamy texture.
- Whole milk: The liquid base of the cheese sauce, adding creaminess and richness.
- Gruyère, extra-sharp Cheddar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano: A combination of these three cheeses adds depth and dimension. Gruyère brings a nutty flavor, Cheddar adds sharpness, and Parmigiano-Reggiano contributes a salty, umami kick.
- Nutmeg: Adds a subtle warmth and enhances the overall flavor of the cheese sauce.
- Panko bread crumbs: Gives the topping a nice crunch and golden brown finish.
- Herbes de Provence or dried thyme: Adds depth of flavor and an herbal note that complements the rich cheese sauce.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Boil the Noodles
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, or just slightly underdone. (It will continue to cook in the oven so you don’t want it fully cooked.) Drain well and rinse with cold water.
Step 2: Make the Cheese Sauce
Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium (2-quart) pot over low heat and add the flour. Stir with a whisk until the flour is combined. This mixture is called a roux. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes. The roux will look foamy.
While whisking constantly, pour in the milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook for a few minutes more, until thickened and smooth. This French “mother sauce” is known as béchamel, or a sauce made from a white roux and milk.
Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Whisk until the cheese is completely melted; if necessary, place the pan back over low heat but do not boil. The finished cheese sauce is known as Mornay sauce, or a béchamel sauce to which shredded or grated cheese is added.
Step 3: Combine the Noodles with the Sauce
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce.
Stir to combine. It will seem way too soupy and creamy – that’s okay, that’s what you want! Pour into a buttered 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
Step 4: Prepare the Crispy Topping
In a small sauté pan over medium heat, melt the remaining butter and add the panko. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown, and then stir in the herbes de Provence or thyme. This step of browning the panko may seem unnecessary—you’d think it would brown in the oven—but I find it needs a head start on the stove to get really golden and crispy.
Sprinkle the toasted panko over the pasta and cheese sauce, followed by the remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Step 5: Bake
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
Serve warm out of the oven and enjoy.
Video Tutorial
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Mac and Cheese
Ultra-creamy with a blend of three cheeses and topped with golden, crispy panko, this homemade mac and cheese is second to none.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (16 ounces) macaroni, cavatappi or penne pasta
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, divided, plus more for greasing the pan
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 5 cups whole milk
- 12 ounces Gruyere, shredded (about 4 cups)
- 8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 2 cups)
- ⅔ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for the pasta water
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, or just slightly underdone. (It will continue to cook in the oven so you don't want it fully cooked.) Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water.
- Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter in a medium pot over low heat. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, gradually add the milk. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, for a few minutes more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, whisk in the Gruyere, Cheddar, ½ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. (If the cheese doesn't fully melt off the heat, it's okay to place the pan back over low heat, but do not let the sauce boil.) Add the cooked pasta and stir well. It will be very soupy; that's good. Pour into the prepared baking dish and set aside.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add the panko and cook, stirring often, until golden brown. Stir in the herbes de Provence or thyme. Sprinkle the toasted panko mixture over the pasta and cheese sauce, followed by the remaining tablespoon Parmigiano-Reggiano. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Note: To reheat leftovers, cover with aluminum foil and warm in a 300°F oven. Do not microwave.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: This can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook it, defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then proceed with the baking instructions in the recipe.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Calories: 807
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated fat: 26 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Sugar: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Comments
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Delish! Made as directed but omitted the bread crumbs on top! Family loved it & have made it twice since then with same outstanding results!
Excellent!!! I’ve been looking for a good macaroni and cheese recipe since losing a great recipe I had years ago. This is just as good as my original recipe. I don’t like parmigiano-reggianno so I just substituted more cheddar and might try Fontina next time.
I’m excited to make this for tonight’s dinner. Minor quibble: the recipe calls for whisking in “the hot milk”, but nowhere does it say to heat the milk. I like to have my mis-en-place ready before I start cooking, and had I not studied the recipe, I would have gotten to the step of adding the milk and had to stop and heat it.
Love all your recipes, and I’ll come back and rate this one after we eat it.
Hi Tom, So sorry – that’s a typo. There’s no need to heat the milk, although it’s fine if you do. Thanks for catching that!
Made this dish tonight. Heating the milk helps. It’s the best Mac and Cheese we ever ate. I can see adding lobster or crab meat to this dish. Truly awesome. Thanks again.
I would like to make this recipe for Thanksgiving, as a side dish. Would you simply double your recipe?
I’m excited to try this 5 star recipe
Thank you
Rita
Yep and cook in a 9×13-inch dish; be sure to increase the cooking time to 30-35 min, too.
I’m thinking about Thanksgiving myself– could I make and refrigerate early in the day and bake before dinner?
Hi Martha, Sure it’s fine to make it ahead — just wait to add the breadcrumbs until right before you put it in the oven. Hope everyone enjoys!
Hi Jen! I’m a super-fan of your website and I have your book, in addition to the binder full of all your recipes that I’ve printed! So you see, I had made my own version of your new book before you even had it published!! : – ) Your recipes are a real blessing — they never fail! The photos are compelling, the instructions are clear, and the results are excellent! The only downside is that I spend way too much time reading them over, trying to figure out which one to try next.
I have a question regarding your Mac n’ Cheese recipe — it has Freezer-Friendly Instructions indicating it can be frozen for up to 3 months, but in the review section you responded to a reader’s question about freezing with the comment that you wouldn’t recommend freezing this dish because of all the dairy it contains. So which is it…??
Thank you for your answer and for making our meals so enjoyable!
Hi Toni, So glad you’re enjoying the site and the cookbook! Sorry for the confusion — the dish can be frozen unbaked but not after it’s cooked. 🙂
Hi Jenn,
Should it be frozen with or without the panko and additional cheese?
Thanks!!!
Hi Katy, You can freeze it with toppings. 🙂
Jenn, hello. Can you make the mac and cheese recipe ahead of time? If I made it early a.m. put in the frig then cooked it around 12:30 would that be ok?
Thanks.
Barb
Sure, Barb, that will work – just add breadcrumbs just before putting it in the oven. Hope you enjoy!
Jenn,
I’m a huge fan, love your recipes!
I only have regular bread crumbs
in the pantry 🙁
Will topping be ok without panko?
Nancy
So glad you like the recipes! Sure, regular bread crumbs will work here. Enjoy! 🙂
How would I make this in a large crockpot.
Hi Janice, I don’t have any experience using a slow cooker, so I’m not sure how well it would convert. Here are some tips that may help. I’d love to hear if you try it and how it turns out!
I made this last night for dinner. Another winner! I didn’t have Gruyere, so I used Parmigiana-Reggiano per recommended in a previous review. I altered the amount of cheese by adding 1 less of the PR and 1 more of the cheddar. It was delicious! Thanks again Jenn! My son had been requesting Mac and cheese and he thoroughly enjoyed this one.
~ your cookbook is supposed to arrive today and I’m super excited!!!
Even my fussy eaters loved it!
Hi Jenn, Love so many of your recipes.
Just tried the mac and cheese. It was excellent. Just wondering if you could recommend another cheese instead if Gruyere. Thanks, Nicole from Canada
Nicole, so glad you’re enjoying the recipes! If you’d prefer a different cheese, you could use Swiss, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Cheddar.