Homemade Baked White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food! Our recipe for Baked White Macaroni and Cheese is full of delicious flavor and a mix of different cheeses that you will love. You will never go back to boxed mac and cheese after making your very own homemade mac and cheese.

I’m definitely a macaroni and cheese snob.

I won’t touch boxed mac and cheese with a ten-foot pole, and even if we buy it from a restaurant, it’s hit or miss.

It’s not that I want it to be super fancy – I am just so particular about the quality and taste.

Which means you know this recipe has to be good if I’m sharing it here. It definitely passes the test and is one I’ll gladly make for my family.

What to serve with baked macaroni and cheese

Baked Mac and Cheese can either be a delicious side dish or a main dish. If you are using it as a side dish think of grilled meats to go with it.

Pulled Pork, Grilled Chicken, Steak, hamburgers and hotdogs are all great main dishes to serve. Mac and Cheese is a great side dish for a pot luck or BBQ so you really can’t go wrong serving it in any of those settings.

This Mac and Cheese might seem a little more fancy so it can also stand alone as the star of the meal. Although this is a classic dish, this Mac and Cheese might seem a little more fancy so it can also stand alone as the star of the meal. Serve it with a salad, rolls and fruit and you have a complete meal.

What kinds of cheeses are good with baked mac and cheese?

This recipe is for a Baked White Mac and Cheese so it uses white cheddar, gruyere cheese and cream cheese.

If you are not familiar with gruere cheese is a hard yellow, swiss cheese. You can find it in your deli section at the grocery store. It can be a little pricier but trust me- it will be well worth it.

If you don’t like gruyere cheese or can’t find it you can use muenster cheese,  jarlsberg, emmental, or beaufort cheese. All three of these are decent substitutes for gruyere cheese.

Any cheese that is solid in nature, such as feta, as ricotta or queso are NOT good substitutes. Cheddar cheese, mozzarella, provolone and other white cheeses are also not great subs for gruyere.

Is Baked Mac and Cheese Healthy?

Baked Mac and Cheese along with most macaroni and cheese recipes is not necessarily healthy.

I firmly believe that all things in moderation are definitely okay so consider this one of those recipes you should only eat every once in a while!

You can make it “healthier” by using low fat or non-fat cheese options, or whole wheat noodles.

While it is packed of dairy and grains it isn’t really a diet friendly food.

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) box elbow macaroni
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 cup sharp white cheddar, shredded (plus ½ cup for topping if desired)
• ½ cup gruyere cheese, shredded
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• ¼ cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente.
3. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously. Add the seasonings and bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough that it coats the back of a spoon.
4. Add the cheeses and sour cream, stirring until melted. Immediately remove from heat.
5. Mix together the sauce and noodles. Transfer to the baking dish and top with additional white cheddar cheese if desired.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges bubble.

How long is baked mac and cheese good for?

Once you bake your macaroni and cheese it should last about 5 days in your fridge.

Cover with plastic wrap or place all the contents in an airtight container and enjoy within 5 days.

Can baked macaroni and cheese be frozen?

Yes, you can! Allow leftovers to cool down completely before transferring to a freezer bag or other airtight container.

It is recommended to eat frozen leftovers within 3 months.

How to make baked macaroni without an oven?

There are other options if you don’t have access to an oven. You can make as directed and transfer to a crock pot or instant pot , you can bake it in your grill.

You could also make as directed and serve without baking as everything is already cooked, the baking is just melting everything together.

How to reheat baked macaroni and cheese?

To reheat baked mac and cheese in the microwave transfer to a microwave safe dish and cover with a paper towel or plastic wrap.

Heat in intervals of one minute, stirring in between until it is warmed through.

To reheat leftovers in the oven, place in a baking dish safe for the oven and heat oven to a warm or low heat setting.

Heat for about 20 minutes or until it is warmed through.

Other Mac and Cheese recipes you may enjoy:

• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Copycat Costco Mac and Cheese
• Easy Longhorn Steak House Mac and Cheese
• Classic Mac and Cheese Recipe