The Most Satisfying Macaroni and Cheese

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A creamy, cheesy baked pasta dish with a crispy golden crust and rich, buttery sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, pairs macaroni, butter, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb macaroni
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then gradually add milk, whisking until thickened. Cook 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Stir in cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper. Fold in cooked pasta and 1/2 cup pasta water until creamy. Transfer to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with parmesan.
4. Step 4: Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.