White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

This White Cheddar Mac and Cheese is comfort food perfection! You'll prepare the noodles on the stovetop before baking them in a casserole dish with extra cheese on top. The bubbly, crusty top layer is to die for!

This indulgent white macaroni and cheese features sharp white cheddar and has the perfect creamy texture and flavor. You can serve this as the main course or a satisfying side dish when the weather is cold out and you need something satisfying and warm. 

If you love easy pasta recipes, you will also love our Chicken Parmesan Pasta, Baked Mac and Cheese, and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe.

Ingredients

• Elbow Macaroni: This is the foundation of the dish. You could also use small pasta shapes like Cavatappi, shells, bowties, or penne pasta.
• Sharp White Cheddar: This cheese is the star of the creamy white mac and cheese dish. Look for a high-quality aged white cheddar for the best flavor. You could also use regular sharp cheddar if you prefer.
• Whole Milk: Used to make a rich, creamy sauce for this white mac and cheese recipe. We recommend using whole milk, not a lower fat milk so it has better flavor and texture.
• Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, and mustard powder are the secret flavor enhancers in this dish. They add some depth without taking over the cheese flavor entirely.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: These provide the perfect finishing touch to the dish. You could also use regular breadcrumbs, but we liked how panko ones are lighter and flakier. You can look for these in the Asian food section or baking aisle at the grocery store. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Gluten-Free: Look for a gluten-free pasta like a rice or corn-based pasta. Replace the all-purpose flour in the roux with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Also ensure the breadcrumbs are gluten-free.
• Protein Addition: Throw in some cooked shredded chicken breast or leftover rotisserie chicken, diced ham, or crispy cooked bacon for a protein boost.
• Add Veggies: Mushrooms, peas, or chopped broccoli would all go well in baked mac and cheese with white cheddar. You can also top it with fresh herbs for even more flavor.

How to Make Baked White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Here's how to make this easy recipe in just 4 easy steps. Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

1. Step 1: Cook the Pasta. Cook the elbow macaroni in a pot of boiling salted water until it's just a few minutes away from al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than directed on the package. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. You're going to use this liquid for the cheese sauce.

2. Step 2: Make the Roux. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk it continuously until smooth, creating a paste-like texture for the roux. Once combined, gradually pour in the room-temperature whole milk. Whisk constantly to prevent any lumps from forming until the mixture is smooth and starts to thicken.

3. Step 3: Make the Cheese Sauce. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, mustard powder, and salt to the milk mixture. Gradually whisk in 4 cups of the shredded white cheddar. Make sure it's melted completely. Then add in the reserved pasta water, whisking until the sauce is creamy and smooth.

4. Step 4: Assemble and Bake. Create layers by adding half the pasta to the baking dish, then topping it with half the cheese sauce and 1 cup of shredded cheddar. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta and sauce, finishing with the final cup of cheese and panko breadcrumbs. Be sure they are sprinkled evenly across the top. Bake for 25 minutes until it's bubbling around the edges with a golden-brown crust on top.

Storage Directions 

• Storing: Keep white mac and cheese leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavors will continue to develop and taste amazing the next day. You can freeze the pasta for up to 1-2 months, too. Let frozen leftovers thaw the night before you want to have them.
• Reheating: For the best texture when reheating, add a splash of milk and gently warm in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave with 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through. This will help keep the sauce from separating.
• Make Ahead: You can easily make this dish in advance. Assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours before baking, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, then bake as directed, adding an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time since you're starting with a cold dish.

Serving Suggestions

You can serve homemade white mac and cheese as the main dish or an impressive side. This one is also delicious as a holiday side dish alongside ham or prime rib. Here are some ideas for how to serve it.

• Serve with roasted vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts or a side salad like cucumber tomato salad for a well-balanced meal. 
• Serve with other Southern dishes like pulled pork, cornbread, barbecue chicken, baked beans, green beans, and cobbler or cherry bars for dessert. 
• For an amazing cold weather meal, make easy beef vegetable soup as an appetizer then have white mac and cheese with sloppy joe garlic bread or our Salisbury steak recipe.
• Have white mac and cheese with smoked meatloaf, green beans, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

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