Creamy Baked Macaroni with Crispy Golden Topping
Dive into this creamy baked macaroni with a crispy golden topping! Rich, cheesy, and topped with buttery panko, this easy mac and cheese recipe is perfect for family dinners. Ready in 45 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni cooked al dente
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- In a large saucepan, melt 🧈 butter over medium heat. Stir in 🌾 flour and whisk continuously for 2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in 🥛 milk, stirring constantly until thickened (about 5-6 minutes).
- Add 🧂 salt, 🧄 garlic powder, 🧅 onion powder, and all the shredded 🧀 cheeses. Stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Fold in cooked 🧀 macaroni until well coated. Pour into prepared dish.
- In a small bowl, mix 🍞 breadcrumbs with melted 🧈 butter. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until topping is golden and cheese is bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
