This easy Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese is comforting and hearty. It's a classic recipe that's simple to make using macaroni pasta, butter, flour, milk, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and a few seasonings. Nothing is pre-grated or boxed, it's all made from scratch! This Mac and cheese is a family favourite around the festive and winter season so give it a go and I hope you enjoy!
Don't get me wrong, a boxed Mac and cheese that you just place onto the stovetop is great for a quick dinner, but it's...
- Not as healthy due to all the artificial ingredients, and
- It's no where near as tasty as an old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese that's comforting and delicious and gooey and homemade!
If you're a fan of cheesy bakes, then why not check out my creamy chicken and broccoli pasta bake that's very similar to a Mac and cheese just with extra ingredients! A simple weeknight dinner option is my chicken alfredo pasta with broccoli. My baked chicken with cream of chicken soup is always a crowd-favourite too, just serve it with your favourite pasta! Last but not least, my one-pan gorgonzola pasta is rich and creamy and takes no time to cook!
Jump to:
Why you'll love this recipe
Simple: This old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese is made from scratch, but it is so simple to make. You only need a handful of basic ingredients and you'll end up with the most delicious cheesy pasta bake.
Great for crowds: If you've got family or friends coming over and need something easy and delicious to make, then this baked Mac and cheese recipe has to be on your to-do list.
Good side option: with the holiday season right around the corner, what better dish to make than this old fashioned version of your favourite pasta dish?! You could also top the dish with chopped chorizo before placing it into the oven if you wanted extra spicy flavour! If you're looking for some more inspiration for the festive period, check out my brussels sprouts with bacon recipe or my burnt Basque chilli cheesecake!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Macaroni pasta: macaroni noodles or elbow macaroni are great options, I used spirali pasta which is also a great option to pick up all the flavour. Feel free to use a gluten-free pasta if need be.
Butter: Many recipes call for unsalted butter, but I always opt for salted butter because it adds way more flavour and tastes delicious.
Garlic: fresh cloves of garlic just add a nice dimension of flavour. The dish doesn't taste garlicky per se, but it does elevate the dish! Feel free to use garlic granules if you'd like!
Flour: plain white flour is perfect for this recipe. Don't use bread flour or 00 flour as this will change the flavour of the dish. Same goes for wholegrain flour. Feel free to use gluten-free flour for those of you gluten intolerant!
Milk: the higher the fat content in your milk, the creamier the Mac and cheese will be, so feel free to choose whatever milk you like to use!
Paprika: smoked sweet paprika adds a lovely flavour boost to our old fashioned macaroni and cheese recipe. If you don't have paprika, a touch of chilli powder, cayenne, or chilli flakes would be great.
Cheese: we're using cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese for this recipe. Buy them in blocks or whole cheeses and grate them yourself. When you buy them pre-grated, there's an additional anti-coagulant they put into the packet to stop the cheese from sticking together which can affect the taste and consistency of the Mac and cheese base! You can also use Monterey jack, Red Leicester, or a sprinkling of parmesan too for extra flavour.
Step by step instructions with photos
Step 1: Place your macaroni pasta into boiling water with a big pinch of salt and cook a couple of minutes less according to packet instructions (this is because the pasta will keep cooking in the oven so you don't want to overcook the pasta). Drain and set aside with a knob of butter to stop it from sticking together.
Step 2: Place an ovenproof pan on medium heat and add in the butter. Once melted, add in your minced garlic followed by the flour. Whisk until it all comes together, then gently pour in your milk, a few tablespoons at a time, mixing as you go so that the butter and flour takes in the milk and starts to form a creamy sauce. Gradually pour more of the milk in and keep stirring. You don't want any lumps!
Step 3: Once you've poured all of your milk in, add in your paprika. Leave to simmer for 5 minutes until the creamy sauce has thickened slightly.
Step 4: Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Add in your grated cheddar and mozzarella followed by ground black pepper. Give everything a good whisk until combined, smooth, and cheesy. Taste the sauce and season with salt, pepper, paprika, or more cheese based on your liking!
Step 5: Once your pasta is cooked, add to your pan and mix until well combined. Evenly spread out the macaroni pasta.
Step 6: Top with grated cheddar cheese and your clumps of mozzarella. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then place under the grill for 2-5 minutes until brown and bubbling.
What to do with leftovers
Storage: Once cooled, place in airtight containers and into the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Once again, leave to cool, then place in airtight containers (don't forget to label the container with what the dish is and the date you put it in there!) and into the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat it, leave in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Reheating: Whether you're reheating on the stovetop (hob) or in the microwave, always add in a splash of milk. This re-adds the moisture to the dish and makes it super creamy. Heat up until piping hot.
FAQs
Mac and Cheese is typically a quick, creamy stovetop dish, while Old-Fashioned Mac and Cheese is a baked, homemade version with a rich, cheesy topping.
I personally used spirali pasta because I love the spiral shape, but you can use elbow macaroni or regular macaroni pasta.
Yes, for sure! I love adding chopped chorizo. It gives it a deeper paprika flavour and red oily finish!
I love eating it with a side salad, roasted vegetables, and/or a roast chicken.
More recipes you might enjoy!
If you tried this Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thank you!
Easy Old Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 400 g macaroni pasta
- 100 g butter salted
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 50 g plain flour
- 1 L milk
- 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- 200 g cheddar grated
- 100 g mozzarella grated
For the topping
- 50 g cheddar grated
- 150 g mozzarella grated/torn
Instructions
- Place your macaroni pasta into boiling water with a big pinch of salt and cook 2-4 minutes less than the packet instructions (this is because the pasta will keep cooking in the oven so you don't want to overcook the pasta). Drain and set aside with a knob of butter to stop it from sticking together.
- Place an ovenproof pan on medium heat and add in the butter. Once melted, add in your minced garlic followed by the flour. Whisk until it all comes together, then gently pour in your milk, a few tablespoons at a time, mixing as you go so that the butter and flour takes in the milk and starts to form a creamy sauce. Gradually pour more of the milk in and keep stirring. You don't want any lumps!
- Once you've poured all of your milk in, add in your paprika. Leave to simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Preheat the oven to 190C/375F. Add in your grated cheddar and mozzarella followed by ground black pepper. Give everything a good whisk until combined, smooth, and cheesy. Taste the sauce and season with salt, pepper, paprika, or more cheese based on your liking!
- Once your pasta is cooked, add to your pan and mix until well combined. Evenly spread out the macaroni pasta.
- Top with grated cheddar cheese and mozzarella. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Then place under the grill for 2-5 minutes until brown and bubbling.
Leave a Reply