Baking Sheet Macaroni and Cheese Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep mac and cheese moist in the oven? ›

Add more cheese

That final layer of cheese on top isn't just for looks; it also helps keep the saucy noodles underneath from drying out during baking. Breadcrumbs also help insulate the noodles, acting as a protective layer while baking that also happens to add a nice little crunch.

It's not necessary to cover mac and cheese while baking it in the oven. Keeping the dish uncovered produces a crustier top that differentiates the baked dish from stovetop mac and cheese recipes that simply stir together cheese sauce with pasta. This extra crunchiness gives it more of a casserole taste.

It's very important that your mixture thickens before you continue. The mixture should be creamy and should coat the back of a spoon (see step 5 below). If it's not thickened, your baked mac and cheese will be too liquidy and runny. We want creamy decadence, not a runny mess.

This is due to the pasta absorbing more liquid over time, and the sauce itself becoming more “solid” as it cools. So, to ensure a creamy mac and cheese, make the sauce just a little looser than you think it needs to be. (Add more milk, a tablespoon at a time to adjust the consistency).

Place par-boiled macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour milk mixture over macaroni, season with salt and pepper, and stir until combined. Press mixture evenly into the baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until top is browned, 30 to 40 minutes.

The #1 secret to creamy reheated mac and cheese

“Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat,” he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

use more liquid (usually milk), or even moist cheese. I put it in the microwave with a small bowl of water next to it and when it comes out it's generally warm and soft. How do I keep refrigerated Mac and cheese from drying out after reheating? Add a little milk when you reheat it.

Keep cooked macaroni and cheese warm in a crockpot for serving at a potluck or anytime you need the dish to stay warm for hours. Spraying the crockpot insert with nonstick cooking spray prevents the macaroni from sticking to the insert without adding extra calories and fat.

How to fix grainy mac and cheese after baking? ›

To fix a grainy cheese sauce, you can remove it from the heat and allow it to cool slightly, then whisk it vigorously. Adding a small amount of cold milk or cream can help restore its smooth texture.

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

Butter and flour: The combination of butter and flour thickens our creamy cheese sauce. You'll cook them together on the stove and then add the milk. The mixture thickens, and you can add your cheese.

I'll spare you any more science-y talk, but the main culprits in curdled or split mac and cheese are too much heat and what kind of cheese you use. When you toss a bunch of cheese all at once into a béchamel mixture (milk-cream-roux) that's too hot (I like to keep the temp between 140 and 180°F) the sauce will split.