Why is my mac and cheese grainy?

This is likely because your roux (the butter, flour, and milk combination) to the fat content in the cheese that you're using is off. It's important to use a 1:1 ratio of warm milk to shredded cheese (i.e. 4 cups of warm milk to 4 cups of shredded (unpacked) cheese.

Why is my mac and cheese dry?

This happens if too much flour is used in the roux (the butter, flour, milk combination). It can be tempting to add more flour to the mixture for a thicker cheese sauce, but this can cause the mac and cheese to turn out dry.

Why is my mac and cheese sticky?

If your macaroni is sticking after you boil it, it's usually from the starch in the pasta/water. All you need to do is give the macaroni a good rinse with cold water while you strain it and then mix in a tablespoon of olive oil.

How do you store and reheat mac and cheese?

You can store it in the same dish you baked it in, tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or tin foil for up to 5 days. To reheat, you can replace the baking dish in the oven at the same temperature until warm, about 15 minutes or transfer it to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until warm.

Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Breadcrumb Topping

Name: Macaroni and Cheese Casserole with Breadcrumb Topping
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: macaroni elbow noodles: 1 pound/454 grams worth.; olive oil: 2 tablespoons.; butter: ¼ cup.; flour: 3 tablespoons.; warm milk: 4 cups.; garlic powder: 1 teaspoon.; onion powder: 1 teaspoon.; ground mustard: 1 teaspoon.; paprika: ¼ teaspoon.; salt: 1 teaspoon.; pepper: ¼ teaspoon.; shredded cheddar cheese (sharp/old): 4 cups.; cooked bacon: 5 pieces cut into small pieces.; bread crumbs: ½ cup.; melted butter: 2 tablespoons.

Description

Tired of your same old dinners? Step up your dinner game with this hearty mac and cheese bake with bacon!

Ingredients

Mac and Cheese:

macaroni elbow noodles: 1 pound/454 grams worth.
olive oil: 2 tablespoons.
butter: 1/4 cup.
flour: 3 tablespoons.
warm milk: 4 cups.
garlic powder: 1 teaspoon.
onion powder: 1 teaspoon.
ground mustard: 1 teaspoon.
paprika: 1/4 teaspoon.
salt: 1 teaspoon.
pepper: 1/4 teaspoon.
shredded cheddar cheese (sharp/old): 4 cups.

Bread Crumb Topping:

cooked bacon: 5 pieces cut into small pieces.
bread crumbs: 1/2 cup.
melted butter: 2 tablespoons.

Instructions

Mac and Cheese:

Heat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350° F or 177° C.
Macaroni: Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Add the noodles to a large bowl and mix in 1 tablespoon of olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking.
Cheese Sauce: Add the butter to a small-medium-sized pot on low heat. Once melted, add the flour and constantly stir until combined, about 1 minute. Slowly add the warm milk and increase the heat to medium-high. Stir vigorously until the mixture has slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the spices, salt, and pepper. Stir in cheese until melted.
Bacon: In a frying pan, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the bacon on medium to high heat until crispy, about 10-15 minutes. Once cooked, remove from pan and place on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess grease. Roughly chop into small pieces once cooled and set aside.
Combine: Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mix until well combined. Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a 9x13 baking dish and set aside while you make the topping.

Bread Crumb Topping:

Mix: Mix the bacon pieces, bread crumbs, and melted butter. Sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the crumb topping is golden brown.

Notes

Boil the pasta noodles to al dente to avoid overly mushy mac and cheese.

Shred the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese usually has preservatives that will prevent the cheese from properly melting.

Warm the milk to avoid clumps.

Use a 1:1 ratio for the milk and cheese to guarantee a smooth and creamy cheese sauce.

Scroll up to the full blog post for more recipe FAQs and Tips.

Nutrition facts are estimates only.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
Method: Bake, stove top
Cuisine: American