Baked Mac and Cheese with Bread Crumbs

A spoonful of mac and cheese with bread crumbs

4.72 from 14 votes

Baked Mac and Cheese with Bread Crumbs

This Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe with Bread Crumbs is the ultimate comfort food for every occasion. Imagine this: macaroni smothered in a rich and creamy white sauce that has 3 types of cheese: cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan, then topped with buttery breadcrumbs, and baked in the oven for the final touch. The very best homemade meal for kids and gown-ups alike this Thanksgiving or any other celebration.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 698kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

2 cups macaroni
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 ½ cup full-fat milk
¼ cup butter (50 g)
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 cup golden bread crumbs
2 tablespoon plain flour

Instructions

Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions.
While the pasta is cooking, add half of the amount of butter to a large pan, and melt on a low to medium heat.
Add the flour and whisk well to get a smooth paste.
Gradually add the milk, whisking well to avoid lumps, and continue to whisk until it thickens into a sauce.
Season with salt and pepper, add the dijon mustard and cheeses, and stir well to get a creamy sauce.
Remove from the heat.
When the macaroni is cooked, drain the water, and add them to the sauce.
Mix well.
Butter an oven-proof dish, then add the cheesy macaroni to it.
To make the topping, melt the remaining butter in a pan, add the bread crumbs and mix well.
Spread the crumbs all over the macaroni.
Bake in the pre-heated oven at 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) for 10-15 minutes or until bubbling hot.

Video

Notes

For a more flavourful topping, you can add parmesan, or fresh or dried herbs. You can also use panko breadcrumbs, or, if you have any stale bread around, add it to a kitchen aid and wizz until you get crumbs.
Now, the classic macaroni and cheese can be ready in about 15 minutes if cooked on the stove top only without bread crumbs. Or you can scatter the breadcrumbs around when serving.
While I always like to add some mozzarella cheese to make the cheese sauce creamier and stretchy, what really brings the flavour is a sharper kind of cheese.
Cheddar cheese always tops my list, but even here it's best to go for the mature cheddar, rather than the mild version. Parmesan, again, it's a classic, even if you add a little bit you will feel the difference straight away.
Other good options are gruyère, which has a delicate nutty flavour, which adds richness to the dish, red leicester cheese, for a bit of colour, or gouda. Now, I am not one to go for the smelly kind of cheese, or blue cheese in particular, but it you like it, why not.

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