Baked Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

This baked mac and cheese is creamy, comforting, and loaded with Cheddar cheese and a crunchy cracker topping for an easy, pleasing family meal.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 810 Calories

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 1 pound shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed
• 0.25 cup butter
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 cup butter, melted
• 2.5 cups elbow macaroni

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain well.

Step 3

Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and salt; cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown on top, about 45 minutes.

Step 5

Turn off the heat and stir in Cheddar cheese, in batches, until cheese is melted. Add macaroni and stir to coat; pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup of melted butter and crushed crackers together in a bowl; scatter evenly over macaroni mixture.