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    Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Published: Jun 28, 2014 · Modified: Sep 10, 2020 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 33 Comments

    Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    Jump to Recipe

    The traditional mac and cheese got updated with three types of cheese, some spice, and a golden top. You can have it ready in 45 minutes. Delicious and super easy!

    Ceramic individual dish of Baked Macaroni, fork, white linen.

    Let's go straight to this easy recipe for baked mac and cheese. Or is it stovetop? It's both.

    Comfort food that is fast and simple is the best. Mac and cheese are the best. And this recipe takes 45 minutes at the most to be served. So it can even be a last-minute addition to your holiday table. 

    Fork lifting cheesy bite of mac and cheese.

    I came back with a few food memories from my two-year stay in California when I was young enough to go to middle school, a fact I shared with you when I recreated smitten kitchen’s recipe for homemade wheat thins.

    The box with the orange mac and cheese was something I looked forward to.

    And then there was the non-cooking mother situation, a fact hard to overlook, which led to boxed and frozen everything whenever she could. And besides, I had nothing to compare to; the box of mac and cheese tasted amazing since it was my only shot at eating it. I was 13.

    Ceramic individual dish of Baked Macaroni, fork, white linen, wooden table.
    Table of Contents Hide
    How to make mac and cheese
    What cheeses can you use
    Broiling this pasta bake
    Related recipes you might like:
    Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    How to make mac and cheese

    • Cook pasta al dente in salted water. Drain
    • Grate or chop cheeses and mix with other ingredients in a large bowl. 
    • Add pasta and bake until golden and crunchy on top. 
    • Eat and enjoy!
    Ceramic individual oval reddish dish of Baked Macaroni on white linen.

    Anyway, the easy in the title is for real, since sour cream is involved, and that makes it creamy without trying. 

    What cheeses can you use

    Sharp cheese is absolutely necessary unless you want bland thrown into the equation.

    I use blue cheese because, well, I worship it, it’s one of my favorite flavors – skillet blue cheese burgers, my mother’s legendary leftover pasta frittata, or the amazing pumpkin ricotta gnocchi. 

    Broiling this pasta bake

    What is mandatory is the au gratin part, fancy words for broiling it in the upper part of the over.

    Because, my friends, mac and cheese with no crunchy part on the top is just not worth it. Said by the person who fought over orange macaroni and cheese with no crunch whatsoever.

    Silver Fork lifting cheesy mac and cheese from reddish dish.

    That was then, this is now. I turned 46 a week ago, at least I can say my palate evolved.


    Related recipes you might like:

    • Close up of baked pasta frittata with parsley in a cast iron skillet on a beige surface.
      Pasta Frittata
    • white bowl with broccoli corn harissa pasta bowl
      Spicy Broccoli Corn Pasta
    • White plate with fusilli pasta, carrots, bacon and chopped parsley
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    • Baked cheese scone triangle on wooden board
      The BEST Cheese Scones

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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    Stacked oval ramekins with macaroni and cheese on wooden table, kitchen linen and fork.

    Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    The traditional mac and cheese got updated with three types of cheese, some spice, and a golden top. You can have it ready in under 45 minutes!

    • Total Time: 40 minutes
    • Yield: 3 servings

    Ingredients

    Units
    • ⅓ cup sour cream
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • ½ cup shredded sharp parmesan or asiago cheese + ¼ cup for topping
    • ½ cup cubed mozzarella cheese + ¼ cup for topping
    • ½ cup crumbled mild blue cheese
    • 1 cup elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)
    • 2 tablespoons chopped onion
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • Dash of sriracha sauce or chili powder or whatever hot you like
    • Large pinch of fresh thyme

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
    2. Have ready to medium individual oven ramekins.
    3. Mix sour cream, milk, ½ cup parmesan, ½ cup mozzarella, blue cheese and onion in a bowl.
    4. Add cooked macaroni, season with salt, pepper, thyme, sriracha and mix well.
    5. Top with the rest of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, dividing evenly.
    6. Bake for 15 minutes, and lastly broil for 5 minutes, being careful not to burn it.
    7. Eat immediately.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Category: Pasta
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: baked mac cheese

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    adapted from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes

    More Pasta Recipes

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      Sesame Soba Noodles
    • White round plate with pumpkin gnocchi on a white cloth
      Homemade Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi
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    • Close up of cherry tomato pasta bowl on a wooden board. White kitchen towel.
      Cherry Tomato Pasta

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Styleer says

      March 06, 2018 at 4:36 pm

      Baking to me is like painting. I firmly believe a baker is an artist too! Baking is a medium of self-expression. The act of mixing the ingredients is an art and so is the act of presenting.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Daria says

      November 10, 2015 at 9:13 am

      Easy and tasty recipe, especially if you love cheese. I love it.

      Reply
    3. Cher Rockwell says

      July 24, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      So so happy to see you back.

      Reply
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    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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