Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Macaroni and Cheese by DK on Jan 19, 2008

Baked Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe | Comfort Food

WARNING : If you are on a diet, don't read this post! One of the very first recipes I made when I came to the US was Mac n Cheese! The idea that a simple dish of cheese and pasta could create such sensations to one's palate never ceased to amaze me. There are millions of variations ranging from the simple of ingredients to complex assortment of cheeses. Be it from using almost fat free version to adding veggies to it, the flavor that it imparts is so soothing. Cold, rainy days makes me crave for spicy, fried and cheesy goodies.There is something so comforting about a crusty and gooey cheese that melts and clings on your sides of your mouth and goes sliding down your throat! Yum!

Cook time: 30 min to 1 hour
Prep time: Under 15 min
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

2 cups Macaroni Pasta (elbow pasta )
2 cups 2% Milk
1 Bay Leaf
3 tbsp Butter
3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
1 cup grated Cheddar
1/4 cup Parmesan,grated
1 cup Mozzarella,grated
1/2 cup Monterey Jack,grated
1/2-1 cup Bread crumbs
Salt and Pepper to taste

Tips

You can try any variation on this like adding vegetables or more spices to this. I use this recipe as a base to develop on other flavors into this classic comfort food.

Method

1. Preheat the Oven to 350F.Cook the pasta as per the instructions in the packet. Cooking upto 90% is enough since more cooking will take place in the oven.

2. In a saucepan or microwave, warm the milk slightly with Bay leaf. Allow it to infuse for 5 min.

3. Meanwhile heat a non stick or heavy bottomed pan. Add the butter and melt it on medium heat.

4. Add the flour and whisk it well.

5. In 2-3 minutes you will notice that it starts foaming (with little bubbles on the surface) and getting a lightly toasty smell. Take care not to burn it/darken it.

6. Remove the bay leaf from the milk and add it along with this flour mixture and whisk well till it thickens in consistency, approx 5-6min.

7. Remove from heat and add all the cheeses to it. Mix it till it melts into one solid mass.

8. Now add the pasta to this mixture. Make sure you have drained the pasta well.

9. Do a taste test and season it if needed. Mix until well combined.

10. Pour it out onto a well greased baking dish.Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs

11. until it covers the top completely (you can also drizzle some olive oil on top or dot it with some butter to give it a nice red/brown color) and bake it in the oven for 30-40 min

12. till it starts bubbling and the top is browned. Its a good idea to place a foil or another oven proof dish to catch any spills from the dish when its bubbling.Scoop it on a plate and get ready for a heavenly experience.

See the crusty top? That crust combined with the gooey cheesy pasta makes it a heaven on a plate kinda experience. A simple yet addictive version, this recipe is a keeper for me.

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from my kitchen notes

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1 Member Reviews

By Ramya on Oct 7, 2010

:) Thanks for the easy and tasty recipe... I added a little zing to it with chili flakes and red &green peppers :)

20 Comments

By Rida on Sep 15, 2014

simply divine

By Katja on May 27, 2014

Hey i just bumped into this mouthwatering recipe. My question is why to cook the pasta first?! Can't I just add it raw since it will cook in the oven anyway for 30/40 min, doesn't it?! Thank u very much

By bhuvana on Jul 22, 2011

drooooooooooooooling

By Krithika on Mar 9, 2011

Hi this looks yummy. Is all purpose flour the same as maida or self raising flour? Am totally confused with flours. :(

All Purpose flour is Maida. A Self raising flour is a flour which has leavening agents added to it like Baking soda.

By neha on Jul 7, 2010

do i need to put al d mentioned cheese or 1 cheese cn do too?

I have already replied to ur comment - see ur prevs comments here

By neha on Jul 4, 2010

hi dis recipe is really amazin. jus wanted to kno do i NEED all cheese mentioned or 1type wil do too?

By neha on Jul 4, 2010

hey recipe is amazin... feelin hungry already :-D but vl u plz tel m wat to do if so much variety of cheese isnt available.. i mean do i NEED to put al d cheese or 1 cn do a bit too.

There are almost never specific do's and don'ts for a recipe. You can use a given recipe as a guideline and make changes to suit your needs. But I wud have to say that each cheese adds a different element to the flavor of course in this recipe and skipping all and using just one would make that cheese stand out perfectly well. So though it would still probably taste good, it just wont taste the way it did when using this recipe - that's all :)

By uma sekhar on Mar 25, 2010

:-P Hi. Your mac and cheese recipe is great! Love the beautiful pictures. It's very tempting. Why not add some vegies like peas & carrots to make your kids eat some veggies? Anyway, thanks for a good recipe. Bye. uma.

By roma on Jan 11, 2010

hi, nice recepie. you didnt mention which flour you used. kindly let us know thanks

Thanks Roma :) I meant all-purpose flour --DK

By Poonam on Feb 9, 2008

Mac and Cheese..a true comfort food!

By Brilynn on Feb 8, 2008

I don't believe in diets, but I do believe that mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, this looks amazing!

By Kribha on Jan 29, 2008

Yum... This is my comfort food too. But I'm sad that I'm on diet. :-((((

By Sagari on Jan 21, 2008

wowwww wowwww wowwwwwwwww u made me crave for mac and cheese

By Gretchen Noelle on Jan 21, 2008

It has been a long time since I have had mac & cheese! This looks delicious!

By Meeta on Jan 21, 2008

I'd give up my diet for this! Nothing like a good mac n cheese as comfort food!

By Siri on Jan 20, 2008

Oye dear... are u (not) actually have such cheesy food?.. huh?..

either ways, it looks delicious and indeed a treat to these sore, hungry eyes!..:)))

~ Siri

By Jeena on Jan 20, 2008

This looks so delicious I agree on a cold rainy day this would be such a treat. :-)

By Rajitha on Jan 20, 2008

yum! ..love mac and cheese..but with lots of hot sauce on it ;)

By Jayashree on Jan 20, 2008

Somehow, Iam not an avid fan of mac and cheese but i do love your pics.

By Coffee & Vanilla on Jan 19, 2008

Looks delicious, that is a pity that I'm actually on diet... :(

Margot