• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to home navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Top 10 Party Games
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Play.Party.Plan

Adding fun and creativity to everyday life

  • Fun Ideas by Occasion
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday
    • Game Night
    • Movie Night
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Graduation
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
    • Back to School
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Games
    • Adult Games
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday Party
    • Bingo Games
    • Board Games
    • Card Games
    • Christmas Games
    • Dice Games
    • Disney Games
    • Group Games
    • Holiday Games
    • Kid Games
    • Minute to Win It
    • Outdoor Games
    • Party Games
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Teen Games
    • Trivia Games
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Dishes
    • Party Food
    • Sides
    • TikTok Recipes
  • Free Printables
    • Crafts
    • Gift Tags
    • Kids Activities
    • Party Printables
    • Printable Games
  • Travel
    • Caribbean
    • Cruises
    • Disney
    • International
    • Travel Tips
    • United States
  • Popular Posts
    • Girl Baby Showers
    • Bridal Shower Games
    • Bachelorette Games
    • Diaper Cake DIY
    • DIsneyland Food
    • Dunkaroo Dip
    • Fun Math Games
    • Saran Wrap Game
    • SeaWorld San Antonio
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter
  • Join the Free Party E-Club!
Home Recipes Dinner Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

1 hour
Jump To Recipe Print Recipe
By: Britni Vigil
11/17/2020Updated: 4/08/2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Privacy policy.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

This easy baked macaroni and cheese combines cheese, butter, and a creamy bechamel sauce all baked together in one delicious side dish!

A bowl of baked macaroni and cheese with a spoon in it

Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that can be enjoyed for pretty much every occasion, during all times of the year, and by everyone. Kind of like Instant Pot fettuccine Alfredo.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer picnic, you name the theme and baked mac and cheese is a good fit. Plus, it’s just amazing for dinner or when you’re craving something cheesy.

This recipe is super easy to make – you just combine a few ingredients, add it to a pan, and bake with lots of yummy cheese on top. Kids will love it. Adults will love it.

And if you somehow have leftovers, the family can enjoy it warmed up the next day! Serve it with garlic parmesan wings and crescent rolls for a full meal!

Ingredients

Ingredients for baked mac and cheese in bowls with labels

Ingredient Notes

  • Macaroni – you could also make this recipe with something like small shells, but I don’t recommend using pasta larger than that.
  • Cheese – as long as you keep the same amount, you can use any cheese that melts well. I just like the cheddar cheese to keep it as kid-friendly as possible.

Instructions

Okay so this recipe really just takes a few steps – cooking your macaroni, making your cream sauce and baking. I mean it is baked macaroni and cheese after all!

1 – Cook your macaroni

Unlike with this baked ziti, the first thing you want to do is cook your macaroni just like the package says. It’ll likely take somewhere around 10-15 minutes.

While the macaroni is cooking, you can work on the butter cream sauce.

2 – Make Your Sauce

The best part of this recipe is the butter cream sauce that you put on top of the macaroni while it bakes. This combined with the cheese makes for the most creamy and delicious dish.

To make the sauce, melt 2 TBS of butter in a large saute pan. Watch it closely and move onto the next step as soon as it’s mostly melted – you don’t want it to brown.

Melted butter in a pan with cheese around it

Once the butter is heated, reduce the heat to low and add your flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and pepper.

Use a whisk and stir until the mixture is bubbly.

Then add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring the mixture constantly.

Woman's hand pouring milk into a pot with butter

Once it’s boiling, stir for one more minute then remove the mixture from heat. You should have a cream base that’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Woman's hand holding a whisk over a pan with milk and butter

3 – Bake

Before you bake, you’re going to create your layered mac and cheese. It’s kind of like a lasagna but macaroni and cheese instead.

Place half the cooked macaroni on the bottom of a squash baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp garlic salt.

Macaroni in a square baking dish

Top with half the shredded cheese.

Repeat the layers again – the other half of the macaroni noodles and the other half of the cheddar cheese.

Shredded cheese on top of macaroni in a white baking dish

Pour the white bechamel sauce over the top of the final cheese layer.

Add the cuber butter on top and ocver with foil.

White baking dish with cubed butter and bechamel sauce

Bake for 30 minutes covered then remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

Baked macaroni and cheese with bechamel sauce on top

Serve warm with your favorite main dish, as a side to a holiday feast, or just as a stand alone dinner on its own (like these coconut chicken tenders)! It’d be really good paired with these roasted root vegetables or some honey roasted carrots!

A pan of baked macaroni and cheese with a scoop taken out

Expert Tips

Double the recipe by simply doubling the ingredients and baking it in a 9×13 casserole dish instead. This is a great meal for a crowd, a party, or a holiday feast!

Stir the bechamel sauce constantly while you’re cooking it. You don’t want any part of it to burn or brown or it’ll change the flavor of the sauce.

Cook the macaroni to al dente since they’ll get cooked a bit more in the oven and you don’t want them to end up totally mushy.

Up the salt in the recipe by 1/2 tsp if you like your macaroni and cheese a bit salty. We like to salt to taste since my husband and I have different salt preferences – if you like a bit more salty, go for 1 1/4 tsp salt instead.

Recipe FAQs

Does mac and cheese have to baked?

This baked mac and cheese has to be baked or the cheese won’t melt and the bechamel sauce won’t combine into the cheese properly. There are plenty of other regular mac and cheese recipes out there, but this one needs to be baked.

How long does macaroni take to cook?

Macaroni typically takes somewhere between 7-10 minutes depending on what kind you’re using, if it’s organic, etc. Follow the directions on whatever package you’re using to cook the pasta to al dente.

What is the best cheese for mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese traditionally uses cheddar cheese but you can really use anything that melts well – white cheddar, gruyere, mozzarella, fontina, provolone are just a few others.

Can baked mac and cheese be made ahead of time?

You can definitely make this ahead of time and just reheat when you’re ready to serve. Keep it in a covered container in the fridge then heat back up in the oven when you’re ready to serve.

Can you freeze baked mac and cheese?

This also freezes extremely well, as do most baked pasta dishes. Freeze it in a freezer safe, airtight container. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight then reheat in the oven.

A bowl of baked macaroni and cheese with a spoon above it

More Easy Pasta Recipes

  • Ground turkey pasta
  • Spinach and artichoke pasta
  • Pasta with a Garlic Butter Sauce
  • Homemade egg noodles
  • Sweet spaghetti sauce
Want More Goodies?

Want more delicious recipes just like this one? Enter your first name and email address in the form below to join the Play Party Plan community! You’ll receive weekly recipes and party ideas directly to your inbox!

Print Rate
5 from 2 votes

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This easy baked macaroni and cheese combines cheese, butter, and a creamy bechamel sauce all baked together in one delicious side dish!
A bowl of baked macaroni and cheese with a spoon in it
Prevent your screen from going dark
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour
Serves8 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ lb uncooked macaroni noodles about 3 cups cooked
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3 TBS butter 1 TBS cut into small cubes
  • 2 TBS flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • While macaroni cooks, melt butter in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Reduce heat to low, add 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper to pan. Use a whisk to stir until the mixture is bubbly.
  • Add milk and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove bechamel sauce from heat.
  • Place half the cooked macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups) on the bottom of a square 9x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/8 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp garlic salt. Top with 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese. Repeat the layers one more time.
  • Pour white becamel sauce over the top of the final cheese layer.
  • Add cubed butter on top of sauce and cover with foil.
  • Bake for 30 minutes covered with foil. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until top is beginning to brown.
  • Serve warm

Tips & Notes:

Stir the bechamel sauce constantly while you’re cooking it. You don’t want any part of it to burn or brown or it’ll change the flavor of the sauce.
Cook the macaroni to al dente since they’ll get cooked a bit more in the oven and you don’t want them to end up totally mushy.
Double the recipe by simply doubling the ingredients and baking it in a 9×13 casserole dish instead. This is a great meal for a crowd, a party, or a holiday feast!
Up the salt in the recipe by 1/2 tsp if you like your macaroni and cheese a bit salty. We like to salt to taste since my husband and I have different salt preferences – if you like a bit more salty, go for 1 1/4 tsp salt instead.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 358kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 16g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 620mg, Potassium: 185mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 656IU, Calcium: 382mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Author: Britni Vigil
Course:Dinner
Cuisine:American
Did You Make This?Tag @PlayPartyPlan on Facebook and Instagram and hashtag it #playpartyplan so I can see your creations!
  • Facebook

you may also like…

  • This sparkling water watermelon juice is the perfect summer drink for a hot day or a great girls night drink!
    Drinks
    Sparkling Watermelon Juice
  • This easy butternut squash soup is like a healthy comfort food! Take some roasted butternut squash, mix it with broth in your Vitamix or other blender, and finish it off with some spicy pepitas. It’s creamy, dairy free, and one of the best butternut squash recipes I’ve tried!
    Soups
    Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
  • Desserts
    Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe
  • Christmas Food
    30 Easy Christmas Appetizers

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!
rate this recipe:




text here

Basket of homemade crescent rolls
Previous Post
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Next Post
Free Printable Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm
Britni

I love sweet treats, my family, games, and anything fun!

Read More

Ideas By Theme

Baby Shower Birthday Bridal Shower Disney Game Night Holiday Just For Kids Movie Night Outdoors

Popular Party Ideas

Bridal Shower Games

woman blindfolded with her hand in a plastic cup

Party Games

Kids Board Games

Blindfolded blocking is one of the best baby shower games

Baby Shower Games

Top Recipes

slice of chocolate dr pepper cake on a white plate

Best Party Foods

Wooden spoon stirring a batch of homemade Chex Mix

Homemade Chex Mix

cropped-best-buffalo-chicken-dip-recipe-11-of-14-e1609965122832.jpg

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Slice of peanut butter pie on two plates with a blue napkin

Reese's Pie

Free Party Ideas E-Club

Loading
As Featured On
connect
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter
  • Play
    • Board Games
    • Kids Activities
    • Minute to Win It
    • Scavenger Hunts
  • Party
    • Food
    • Games
    • Printables
    • Themes
  • Plan
    • Disney Trips
    • Easy Meals
    • Family Travel
    • Gift Ideas

Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Back to Top
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 · PLAY PARTY PLAN · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window