Top 10 party Games
50 fun minute to win it games
40 best party food ideas
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Spring Parties
    • Summer Parties
    • 4th of July
    • Fall parties
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Adult Birthday
    • Kids Birthday
    • Birthday Party
    • Baby Showers
    • Bridal Showers
    • Disney Party
    • Game Nights
    • Girls Night
    • Movie Nights
    • Teen Parties
    • Adult Games
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday Party
    • Bingo Games
    • Board Games
    • Christmas Games
    • Dice Games
    • Disney Games
    • Game Night Games
    • Group Games
    • Halloween Games
    • Holiday Games
    • Kid Games
    • Minute to Win It
    • Outdoor Games
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Summer Games
    • Teenage Games
    • Trivia Games
    • Appetizers
    • brunch foods
    • Charcuterie Boards
    • Desserts
    • disney recipes
    • Drinks
    • finger foods
    • no bake desserts
    • party dips
    • party snacks
    • Crafts
    • Decorations
    • Free Printables
    • Gift Ideas
    • Party favors
    • Printable Games
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • Printable Games
    • our Favorites
Play.Party.Plan
  • TikTok
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Search
  • Holiday Party Ideas
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Spring Parties
    • Summer Parties
    • 4th of July
    • Fall parties
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Party Ideas
    • Adult Birthday
    • Kids Birthday
    • Birthday Party
    • Baby Showers
    • Bridal Showers
    • Disney Party
    • Game Nights
    • Girls Night
    • Movie Nights
    • Teen Parties
  • Party Games
    • Adult Games
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday Party
    • Bingo Games
    • Board Games
    • Christmas Games
    • Dice Games
    • Disney Games
    • Game Night Games
    • Group Games
    • Halloween Games
    • Holiday Games
    • Kid Games
    • Minute to Win It
    • Outdoor Games
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Summer Games
    • Teenage Games
    • Trivia Games
  • Party Food
    • Appetizers
    • brunch foods
    • Charcuterie Boards
    • Desserts
    • disney recipes
    • Drinks
    • finger foods
    • no bake desserts
    • party dips
    • party snacks
  • Printables
    • Crafts
    • Decorations
    • Free Printables
    • Gift Ideas
    • Party favors
    • Printable Games
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Shop
    • Printable Games
    • our Favorites
all Party Games
Holiday Party Ideas
Party Food
party ideas by theme
free printables
shop printabless
Home ‏‏‎ ‎/‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ Party Food ‏‏‎ ‎/‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ Dinner ‏‏‎ ‎/‎‎‏‏‎ ‎ Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

By:

Britni Vigil

03/14/2025
5 from 4 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Privacy policy.

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

Want to save this Idea?

Enter your email below and we’ll send this idea straight to your inbox (plus you’ll receive tons of fun weekly ideas from us!)

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Loading

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, grilled corn, and crescent rolls for a full meal!

heart

Why you’ll love this Recipe

  • Simple comfort food – is there anything that comes to mind that is more comfort food than macaroni and cheese? This baked version is a simple version of the classic comfort food everyone loves.
  • Inexpensive – this baked mac and cheese is great to make for a crowd because the ingredients are inexpensive, it’s filling, and it goes a long way!
  • Perfect to make ahead – make this the night before then bake or reheat right before serving! It’s the perfect way to save time the day of an event or meal!

check

Ingredients

Ingredients for baked mac and cheese in bowls with labels

sync-alt

Ingredient Notes

  1. Macaroni – you could also make this recipe with something like small shells, but I don’t recommend using pasta larger than that.
  2. Cheese – as long as you keep the same amount, you can use any cheese that melts well. I just personally like the shredded cheddar cheese to keep it as kid-friendly as possible.
  3. Butter – I always recommend using salted butter that’s high-quality but for this recipe it’s really okay if you use any type of butter.
  4. Milk – I recommend using whole milk to keep this as creamy as possible. If you don’t have milk and have heavy cream on hand, that works as a substitution as well. If you’re looking for a healthier mac and cheese, you can go with skim milk but it’s not going to taste the same!

utensils

How to make Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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! If you’d prefer something you can set and forget, try this crockpot mac and cheese.

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 four tablespoons of butter in a large pan over medium heat. 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 constantly until the mixture is bubbly, about a minute.

Keeping the pot over medium heat, slowly add the milk and bring to a boil, whisking the mixture constantly until it thickens. This typically takes anywhere from 3-5 minutes, just watch it closely and stir constantly.

Woman's hand pouring milk into a pot with butter

Once milk has thickened, add in two cups of the shredded cheddar cheese and whisk until the cheese has melted into the mixture completely.

Taste the salt and add more salt if you think it needs it.

Once the bechamel sauce is done, add the cooked macaroni into the sauce and toss it to combine. You can either do this in the pot the sauce cooked in if it’s large enough or do it in a separate bowl.

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 coated macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups) on the bottom of a squash baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt.

Macaroni in a square baking dish

Top with another 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese.

Repeat the layers again – the other half of the macaroni noodles and the final 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese.

Shredded cheese on top of macaroni in a white baking dish
White baking dish with cubed butter and bechamel sauce

Add the cubed butter on top of the cheese and cover with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the top is beginning to turn golden brown.

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.

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

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!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Loading
A bowl of baked macaroni and cheese with a spoon in it
Print Rate
5 from 4 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!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Cook: 1 hour hour
Total: 1 hour hour
Serves 8 servings

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions.
    1/2 lb uncooked macaroni noodles
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • While macaroni cooks, melt four tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium heat.
    4 TBS butter
  • Reduce heat to low and add the flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper to pan. Constantly whisk the mixture for one minute.
    4 TBS flour, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Increase the heat to medium heat then add milk slowly and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Whisk constantly until the milk thickens, 3-5 minutes.
    2 cups milk
  • Once milk has thickened, add in two cups of cheddar cheese and whisk until the cheese has melted. Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed.
    5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Toss cooked macaroni with the bechamel sauce.
  • Place half the coated macaroni (about 1 1/2 cups) on the bottom of a square 9×9 baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt. Top with 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese.
    3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp garlic salt, 5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • Add the other half of the macaroni on top then the final 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese and sprinkle with the final 1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt.
  • Add cubed butter on top of the cheese layer and cover with foil.
    4 TBS butter
  • Bake for 20 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: 494kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 895mg, Potassium: 216mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 982IU, Calcium: 583mg, 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!
Share Pin It Rate It

Want More Fun Ideas?

Want more fun ideas 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, party ideas, games, and more directly to your inbox!

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Loading
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

rate this recipe:




Have a question? Use the form above to submit your question or comment.
I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!

  1. Cindy Jenkins
    07/21/2023

    Hi. In your directions you forgot to mention when to add the flour to the sauce.

    Reply
    1. Britni Vigil
      08/29/2023

      You’re so right, sorry about that. I just fixed the recipe to make sure adding the flour was included in the recipe card.

      Reply

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

Buffalo Chicken Dip

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

Reese’s Pie

Free Party
Ideas E-Club

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Loading

As Featured On

Free Party Email Club

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Loading
Play.Party.Plan

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Let’s Connect

  • TikTok
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Contact
Work with Me
Privacy
Accessibility

© Play Party Plan. Branding by MRD. Theme by OC.

Review This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.