To make this Baked Macaroni and Cheese, start by cooking your noodles. Just 4 ounces of Challenge cream cheese lends an extra smooth texture and just the right amount of tangy flavor to the sauce. Challenge cream cheese for ultra creaminess and a bit of tangĭoes using three types of cheese seem a little extra? Maybe, but I really love the way that each of those cheeses rounds out the sauce.Ī nice sharp cheddar is always a must and using a salty cheese like parmesan is not too uncommon, but the cream cheese is what really brings this sauce together.Since our cheese sauce has to be…well, cheesy…I decided to use THREE cheeses in this recipe: That’s just a disappointment.īut I am proud to say that this recipe hits that balance.Īnd while this recipe does take a bit more time than making a stovetop mac, the extra step of baking it is well worth it. I want a super crispy topping and crispy baked edges (you know the corners are always the best part!), but I want the noodles inside to still be super cheesy and creamy. Here’s the thing about a good Baked Macaroni and Cheese: It has to be both crispy and creamy. This particular Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe makes me think I need to go for the baked version way more often. I don’t know if it’s the crispy topping that makes it seem fancy or just the extra step of baking it that makes me turn to it for holidays, but let me tell you something: Holidays, extended family dinners, celebrations – that’s when you pull out the baked mac and cheese. It’s pretty quick and easy and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.īut the baked stuff…that was always for special occasions. I don’t know about you, but stovetop mac and cheese has always been the go-to for the average weeknight dinner.

Or were you like me and grew up eating a little bit of both? Thank you for continuing to support the brands that make My Baking Addiction possible.ĭid you grow up eating stovetop or baked mac and cheese? This post is sponsored by Challenge Butter.

No holiday meal should go without a casserole dish of Baked Macaroni and Cheese! This creamy mac and cheese is loaded with three types of cheese and topped with a crispy panko topping.

Toppings for macaroni and cheese