Creamy 'Lazy' Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Creamy 'Lazy' Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted, for topping
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs, panko or regular, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the 1/4 cup unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Gradually whisk in the warmed whole milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in 2 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, the Monterey Jack cheese, and the cubed cream cheese until fully melted and smooth. Add the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring until evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
In a small bowl, combine the 1 tablespoon melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the macaroni and cheese is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown. If the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy 'Lazy' Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk, warmed
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened, cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted, for topping
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs, panko or regular, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the 1/4 cup unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to create a roux.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Gradually whisk in the warmed whole milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in 2 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, the Monterey Jack cheese, and the cubed cream cheese until fully melted and smooth. Add the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring until evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the top.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
In a small bowl, combine the 1 tablespoon melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the cheese layer.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the macaroni and cheese is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown. If the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min