Just one dish, no precooking the pasta to add it in with the sauce. Nice and easy and so deliciously comforting. This homemade One Dish Oven Baked Mac & Cheese has been a favorite of mine for many years.
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I mean, noodles swimming in a thick, silky creamy cheese sauce that’s spiked with onions, AND it’s easy to make! Count me in!
Oh, and it’s super budget-friendly.
Cupboard Cooking
If you have a copy of my cookbook, Cupboard Cooking, then you already have a copy of this recipe. I’ve changed it a little bit for the first publication, however it’s just as good, and just as easy as the original.
I love this recipe too because anyone can make it. It’s super easy, just toss the ingredients in an oven proof casserole dish, pop in the oven, give it a couple of stirs, mix in the cheese, and you have a delicious dinner!
Can I use a different broth?
I’m a big believer in using ingredients that taste good to you and your family.
I love vegetable broth. I find the flavor to be neutral in all the dishes I make, and I really like the mild veggie flavor. Not to mention the fact that it makes the dish vegetarian.
What already tastes good to you is what will end up being your favorite.
I use Better Than Bouillon vegetable base for pretty much all of my cooking (if it’s not homemade broth). I like that it isn’t too salty, and how little space it takes to store so much broth.
However, if the idea of vegetable broth isn’t pleasant to you, or you just think you’re going to really prefer chicken broth, by all means, use that. Again, use what already tastes good to you.
What milk to use?
This is a pretty simple dish, so I recommend going with whole milk.
But, if you want a mac & cheese that’s lighter in calories, you can use a lighter milk. I have made it many times with lighter milk, 2% and skim milk, and it works just fine.
What kind of cheese should I use?
I prefer simple extra sharp cheddar cheese in this baked mac and cheese.
You can also use low-fat cheddar cheese in this dish to lighten it a bit.
I’ve also mixed up the cheese, to make 3 cheese mac & cheese. Try Monterey Jack cheese, Gruyère, mozzarella, Smoked Gouda (which would lend a meaty flavor to the dish), or Parmesan.
Other mac & cheese dishes
I’m a big fan of mac & cheese. It’s so comforting and delicious.
I have a few others you may like as well.
Crock pot mac & cheese, for when you need to feed a crowd
Butternut squash mac & cheese, for a lightened up version
And, here are some great recipes from my friends:
Chicken Cordon Bleu creamy mac & cheese
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One Dish Oven Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe
One Dish Oven Baked Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 4 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ stick
- 4 teaspoons flour
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Combine all ingredients except cheese in an oven proof casserole dish. Cover, and bake 50 minutes, stirring twice during baking.
- Carefully remove from the oven, and stir in cheese until melted.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
I already made this twice because I can’t get over how yummy it is! It’s a good thing it’s budget friendly because Connor can’t stop eating it and he is growing so fast I will need to take out a second mortgage just to keep up!
I am totally digging this one pot recipe! It makes it so easy. Can’t wait to dig in!
No preboiling the noodles? Yes! Well frankly you had me at noodles swimming in a thick, silky creamy cheese sauce… sounds dreamy and delicious!
So simple and delicious! I too love the extra sharp cheddar on mac ‘n cheese. My nephews are coming next week and they are going to devour this!
Nothing can beat a homemade baked mac and cheese! It looks delicious! This is the recipe I was looking for to teach my son how to cook simple dishes. Thanks for sharing!
Woow this looks like the best recipe to come home to, comforting, easy and no fuss. Thanks for sharing!
This Mac + Cheese looks so delicious! I love that you’ve chosen to bake this! It creates such a creaminess on the inside and light crust on the outside! YUM!
Great!! I am ditching my current Mac and Cheese recipe for this one! This is SSOSOSOSOSOOOO yummy!
My children love mac and cheese! They will surely love this one, and I love how easy it is!