This baked mac and cheese is made from scratch but still only requires three simple steps.

This incredible baked macaroni and cheese recipe will make you want to step away from theboxed stuff.

That powdery cheese has no place on our Southern tables, after all.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese in a white oval dish - Southern Living

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Soundsalmosttoo good to be true.

Learn how to make baked macaroni and cheese and impress everyone at the table.

Gruyereis a standout favorite for its creamy, nutty, and earthy flavor.

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese ingredients

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Can You Freeze Baked Macaroni and Cheese?

But don’t bake it.

Instead, follow all the steps, assemble it, and cool it completely.

baked mac and cheese - Southern Living

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Then cover it with aluminum foil, and put it in the freezer.

You may need to add 5 to 10 minutes of cook time for the casserole to be completely done.

Monitor it for a bubbly, browning top.

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese cooking the roux mixture

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That’ll be your cue it’s ready to come out of the oven.

Ingredients

1/2(16-oz.)

package elbow macaroni, cooked

2cupsmilk

2Tbsp.butter

2Tbsp.all-purpose flour

1/2tsp.salt

1/4tsp.freshly ground black pepper

1(10-oz.)

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese adding the milk and cooking until thickened

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Prepare pasta according to package directions.

baking dish with cooking spray.

Make roux:

Microwave milk at HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes.

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese after adding the cheese to the milk mixture

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Melt butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat; whisk in flour until smooth.

Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.

Gradually whisk in warm milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened.

Southern Living Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese stirring in the cooked pasta

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Add pasta:

Stir in hot cooked pasta.

Spoon pasta mixture into prepared dish; top with remaining cheese.

Bake macaroni and cheese:

Bake at 400F for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

classic baked macaroni and cheese - Southern Living

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This recipe does not include eggs.

We recommend making it and serving it fresh from the oven.