Our testers are calling this creamy baked mac and cheese the best they’ve ever tested. This comes as no surprise, given that the macaroni is smothered in a creamy sauce that’s made with four–count ’em!–types of cheese and BBQ seasoning. Here’s how to make it.
Adapted from Matt Horn | Horn Barbecue | Harvard Common Press, 2022
This homemade mac and cheese is gooey, melty, and incredibly addictive. Heavy cream, generous seasonings, and four types of cheese create comfort-food perfection. If you have time, add a layer of buttered breadcrumbs and bake to a gorgeous golden brown.–Matt Horn
Baked Mac and Cheese FAQs:
Start with about 1 1/2 cups of panko or crushed crackers. Add 4 to 5 tablespoons of melted butter, a handful of parmesan, and a generous spoonful of that barbecue seasoning. Mix well and sprinkle it liberally over your macaroni and cheese, then bake as directed.
You can assemble this casserole without the panko or cracker topping, if using, and refrigerate it for up to two days before you’re ready to bake. Add the topping just before popping it into the oven. Macaroni and cheese is best when served fresh, so we don’t recommend pre-baking.
Absolutely. If you don’t need ten servings of macaroni and cheese, simply cut the amount of each ingredient in half and use a smaller casserole dish for baking.
We don’t recommend it. Pre-shredded cheese has preservatives added that prevent it from clumping in the bag, which also prevents it from melting properly when baked.
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C).
-
Lightly grease a 4-quart (3.8-liter) casserole dish or Dutch oven with butter.
-
Fill a large pot about three-quarters full of water, generously season the water with salt, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until just al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
-
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream and milk. Heat just until boiling.
-
While the milk mixture heats, whisk the cornstarch and water into a slurry in a small bowl.
-
Turn the heat under the milk mixture to medium and whisk in the slurry until the sauce is thick and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
-
Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the cheeses. Stir until the sauce is very smooth.
-
Stir in 1 teaspoon of salt, the garlic powder, onion powder, rub, and pepper. Pour the sauce over the pasta and stir to coat.
☞ TESTER TIP: If you want to add a layer of buttery bread crumbs here, mix up panko, bread crumbs, or crushed crackers with some butter (and a little extra BBQ rub, if you like), and sprinkle over the mac and cheese. (See the FAQ above.)
-
Bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before devouring.
Serving: 1 servingCalories: 570 kcalCarbohydrates: 42 gProtein: 17 gFat: 37 gSaturated Fat: 23 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2 gMonounsaturated Fat: 9 gCholesterol: 117 mgSodium: 300 mgPotassium: 269 mgFiber: 2 gSugar: 5 gVitamin A: 1379 IUVitamin C: 1 mgCalcium: 342 mgIron: 1 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
We loved the combination of cheeses, spices, and barbeque rub in this baked creamy mac and cheese. The recipe worked well in my 12-inch Lodge skillet.
We enjoyed it with fried fish, sauteed collards, and a bottle of Crystal hot sauce. (My partner adds: “and a can of Coke for a real Southern meal!”)
There are fanatics in the family for pretty much any kind of mac and cheese, and one of them felt that this is the very best mac and cheese she’s ever had.
The crunchy crumb layer was necessary to add extra seasoning and spice because the filling was a little bland. I added a teaspoon of the rub plus wafts of finely grated cheeses, salt, pepper, and olive oil to panko, and sprinkled an additional teaspoon of the rub on top.
The second time making this, I increased the onion, garlic, and rub powders to 1 teaspoon in the mixture and kept the crumb layer as noted with the addition of butter curls on top for extra crispiness and flavor.
We all really liked this creamy baked mac and cheese recipe. Homemade macaroni and cheese can’t be beat. We loved the flavor of the different cheeses. Will definitely make this again. A great kid-friendly dinner!
Mac and cheese has many variations, and this one is quite good. Lately, I’ve been throwing together a purely stovetop version when I’m in a rush, but I really do like these baked mac and cheese versions. The cheeses have a chance to meld together very well. The crunchy, contrasting crust works well with all mac and cheese casseroles.
This creamy baked mac and cheese recipe turned out very creamy and rich with a mild taste, flavored with BBQ rub. I don’t think a rub recipe with sugar in it was a good match to the flavors of the various cheeses. I suggest a stronger BBQ spice combination to be mixed in.
Originally published September 12, 2022