Description
A stress-free, one-dish mac and cheese that requires zero active cooking time. Simply dump ingredients into a baking dish and let the oven do the work for a creamy, comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp dry mustard
- 0.5 tsp salt (or to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine uncooked macaroni, flour, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat pasta evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, chicken broth, and melted butter until smooth.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the pasta in the baking dish and stir gently to ensure no dry pockets remain.
- Sprinkle the freshly grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the pasta and liquid.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened, the pasta is tender, and the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken before serving.
Notes
Do not use pre-shredded cheese as it contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Resting the dish for 5 minutes after baking is crucial for the sauce to thicken properly. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil. For a gluten-free version, swap flour and pasta for gluten-free alternatives.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: mac and cheese, dump bake, easy dinner, one pot meal, comfort food, weeknight dinner, creamy pasta, family friendly