If you have kids, you know how hard it can be to get them to try new foods. And when the holidays or special events roll around, you might find yourself making a special meal for everyone. Then your precious children eat 3 bites of a roll, and you might find yourself feeling a little defeated. A few years ago, we were planning a special meal for our family, and I wanted to make something nice that my kids would actually eat. So I made a baked mac and cheese and was shocked when they finished every last bite. Everyone loves this delicious baked mac and cheese – it’s one of our favorite comfort foods and has been a hit wit everyone. This recipe quickly became my go-to recipe for kids when we entertain, or have a special dinner. 

The Best Easy, Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

If you can boil water and mix things in a bowl, you can master this recipe. It’s the perfect side dish for holidays and the ideal main dish for kids. This recipe couldn’t be easier to make and uses pre-shredded cheese, so there’s no work involved. You could grate your own cheese but why would you do that? And it’s not your typical creamy sauce macaroni and cheese – this is a delicious, cheesy, baked dish that feels like home. It’s a great recipe for parties, holidays, and gatherings. Here’s the best baked mac and cheese that everyone will love. 

You just need a pot, stove, and a 9×13 casserole dish to make this baked macaroni and cheese. I use this one.  I use simple ingredients since I’m always making this for my kids. Get creative with your types of cheese. I used cheddar, colby jack, and mozzarella, but it’s easy to play around. You can use extra sharp cheddar, but since I want my kids to eat this, I use mild cheddar. Gluten-free pasta works well, too, but I used regular pasta this time around. This special occasion baked macaroni couldn’t be easier to make, and quickly became my kids’ favorite recipe for special events. 

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni noodles
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Colby Jack 
• 2 cups Mozzarella or gruyere cheese
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

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How to Make It

The first thing you want to do is preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While your oven preheats, bring a large pot of salted water in a large saucepan or pot to a boil over medium heat. Add your elbow pasta to your boiling water and cook per the package directions, for about 5 minutes, until the pasta is al dente. 

Fill the bottom if your casserole dish with pasta. Cover the bottom of the dish is covered with cooked noodles and cheese, which should be about half the mixture in an even layer. Add 2 cups of shredded colby jack cheese and 1 cup mozzarella. Cover the added cheese with the remaining macaroni mixture. 

Cover with aluminum foil and put your baking dish on the. middle rack of your oven. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy.