Baked Macaroni Recipe 🧀🍽️
Cook Time: 1 hour
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: Depends on appetite! 🍽️
Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this delectable Baked Macaroni recipe. The combination of creamy cheese, tender pasta, and crispy topping creates a dish that’s bound to be a hit with the whole family. Baking it in a glass dish not only ensures even cooking but also allows you to admire that irresistible golden brown crust – because, let’s face it, brown is definitely a good thing when it comes to casseroles! Whether it’s a busy weeknight or a cozy weekend meal, this Baked Macaroni is sure to satisfy your cravings for something warm, cheesy, and utterly delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks
- 1/2 cup butter, plus extra for greasing
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Nonstick cooking spray (optional)
- Ritz crackers (enough to cover the casserole)
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Prepare Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the flour until smooth, then slowly pour in the milk while continuing to whisk. Allow the mixture to simmer gently until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
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Add Cheese: Once the sauce has thickened, add the chunks of Velveeta cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Be sure to keep an eye on it to prevent the cheese from burning.
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Season: Season the cheese sauce with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting the seasoning as needed to suit your preferences.
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Combine Pasta and Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with the cheese sauce, ensuring that all the pasta is evenly coated.
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Assemble Casserole: Grease a glass casserole dish generously with butter. Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared dish, spreading it out evenly.
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Prepare Topping: Crush the Ritz crackers and mix them with enough melted butter to moisten them. The more, the merrier! Spread the cracker mixture evenly over the top of the pasta.
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Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbly and crispy.
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Serve: Once baked to perfection, remove the Baked Macaroni from the oven and serve immediately, reveling in the gooey, cheesy goodness!
Tips for Success
- Feel free to customize this recipe by adding your favorite ingredients, such as cooked bacon, diced vegetables, or shredded chicken.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese to the topping before baking.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, you can blend the cheese sauce using an immersion blender or regular blender before mixing it with the pasta.
- Don’t skimp on the butter when greasing the casserole dish; this will ensure that the pasta doesn’t stick and will contribute to that deliciously crispy crust.
- To make this dish ahead of time, assemble everything up to step 7, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Allow the casserole to come to room temperature before baking as directed.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 697.1
- Fat: 35.2g
- Saturated Fat: 22.1g
- Cholesterol: 108.9mg
- Sodium: 1288.8mg
- Carbohydrates: 69.9g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Sugars: 8.1g
- Protein: 24.6g
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Baked Macaroni recipe, perfect for any occasion. Whether it’s a cozy dinner at home or a potluck with friends, this creamy, cheesy dish is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. So preheat that oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to enjoy a taste of home-cooked goodness!
