Rich and Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/18/21
Favorite Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Elizabeth Watt / Getty

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 55 mins
Servings: 6 servings

The world is full of macaroni and cheese recipes—this much is true. And some of them have unique twists. This particular recipe is special because it's mac and cheese with egg yolk. If you've never had an egg in mac and cheese, you're in for a treat. It gives the words rich and decadent a whole new meaning. Egg yolk in this dish makes it smoother and creamier.

Serve this mac and cheese as a main or side dish to any meal, or take it along to a potluck dinner. Whatever you decide, it will likely disappear quickly. Something this indulgent is great on its own as a main, but it also benefits from sharing the table with a green salad with a vinaigrette.

Use a variety of sharp and mild cheddar cheeses for contrast and dimension. Or add some Monterey Jack or American cheese to the mix for creamy and tangy notes. You could also take it in a different direction with a spicy Monterey Jack, too.

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni

  • 4 tablespoons butter

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 3 cups whole milk, or low-fat

  • 1 large egg yolk, beaten

  • 12 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, divided

  • 1 cup soft breadcrumbs

  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat oven to 375 F. Grease a 2 1/2-quart baking dish.

  3. Cook macaroni following package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse with hot water. Set aside.

  4. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter; stir in paprika, mustard, salt, and pepper.

  5. Stir in the flour until smooth and bubbly.

  6. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened.

  7. Add about 1 cup of the sauce to the beaten egg yolk.

  8. Then return the egg mixture to the sauce, stirring to blend well.

  9. Set aside about 1 cup of the shredded cheese and add the rest to the sauce. Stir until melted and smooth.

  10. Stir in the drained macaroni and turn into the baking dish. Top with the reserved cheese.

  11. Toss bread crumbs with the melted butter and sprinkle over the cheese layer.

  12. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until browned and bubbly.

How to Store Rich and Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

  • Covered in an air-tight container and refrigerated, this mac and cheese will keep for 3 to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave, on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or in a casserole dish in a 350 F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • You can also freeze leftover mac and cheese. Reheat it from frozen in the oven in a casserole dish at 350 F for 45 minutes to an hour.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
561 Calories
35g Fat
37g Carbs
24g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 561
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 35g 45%
Saturated Fat 20g 99%
Cholesterol 156mg 52%
Sodium 821mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 24g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 589mg 45%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 286mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)