I call this an Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe because the oven truly does all the work. This macaroni and cheese is creamy and dreamy without boiling the pasta or making a cooked cheese sauce before baking it in the oven.
I have a confession to make. Until now my macaroni and cheese of choice came in a box from the store. Shocking right? It wasn’t that I loved the taste of the boxed kind (though my kids enjoy shells and cheese). It’s just getting out two pots to boil some macaroni and then make a cheese sauce and then stir it together and then bake it seemed like missing the point of an easy side dish. But then I found this recipe and after doing some testing and revisions I think I have come up with seriously the best (and still easy) oven baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
My changes to the original recipe I am taking help from are based on reviews and my own personal taste preferences. Half and half makes the macaroni and cheese extra creamy. A combination of smoked gouda (which melts easily) and medium cheddar cheese makes for a simply delicious flavor combination – slightly smoky, tangy, cheesy and not grainy. I’ve never been a fan of dried mustard or any other spices in my macaroni and cheese. A little yellow mustard and hot sauce rounds out the flavor profile.
This is the only homemade macaroni and cheese I’ll make now. And it’s so simple that I will be kicking those boxes to the curb. Try it and tell me if you agree!
Tips for a perfect Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe:
- This recipe can be easily doubled for a crowd
- Grate your own cheese – do not use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe
- I use this brand of macaroni in my recipe
- Use an 8-cup (2-quart) capacity baking dish similar to this one
- Sprinkle some cooked and crumbled bacon on top after baking to make this a main dish – serve it with roasted or grilled vegetables, a salad and/or fresh fruit
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Watch how to make Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese:
Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup 4% fat cottage cheese
- 2 cups half and half
- 8 oz smoked Gouda cheese grated
- 8 oz medium cheddar cheese grated
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz (half box) macaroni pasta
- 2 tbsp butter softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a baking dish (at least 8 cup capacity) with the two tablespoons of butter and set aside.
- Combine the shredded Gouda and Cheddar cheeses and set aside about 1 cup of cheese. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, half and half, remaining shredded Gouda and Cheddar cheeses (about 3 cups), salt, mustard and hot sauce. Blend until smooth.
- Stir the half and half and cheese mixture into the uncooked pasta and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 for 45 - 55 minutes (or until the macaroni is cooked through - I tasted it to make sure). Remove the dish from the oven. Remove the foil and stir well. Top the cooked macaroni with the remaining cup of shredded cheese.
- Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Return the macaroni and cheese to the oven and bake an additional 10 - 20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbling and starting to lightly brown.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
This recipe seriously has me drooling! Mac n Cheese is a favorite of mine and this looks divine. Would have never thought to add cottage cheese. Will be giving this a try!
foodtasticmom says
Awesome! Hope you like it as much as we did!
Marie says
Mac and cheese is such a comfort food for me! This oven-baked version looks incredible and so cheesy!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Marie!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Your oven-baked mac and cheese looks so delicious! Creamy, thick and scrumptious! I love the addition of mustard! I can’t wait to try it!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Elaine
Tania | Fit Foodie Nutter says
My daughter would absolutely love this recipe! Bookmarked to try it for later. Thank you for sharing.
foodtasticmom says
You’re welcome.
Priya @currynation says
sooooooo creamy! it looks mouth watering…uhhhhh love to try this recipe.
foodtasticmom says
Thanks 🙂
Sonia says
This looks and sounds so darn Delish 👆.. my kids are a big fan of macaroni and cheese and they will definitely dit this!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Sonia!
camila says
wow this looks delicious. can’t remember last time I had Mac and cheese! looks great!!
foodtasticmom says
You should try this one 🙂 And thank you!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
This recipe reminds me of growing up, and of all sorts of comfort!!
foodtasticmom says
Me too – mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food!
Natalie says
I love mac and cheese – it’s so comforting and delicious! Can’t wait to try this – looks absolutely perfect for dinner!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you so much Natalie!
Colleen says
Homemade Mac & Cheese is the only way to go. Yours looks interesting with the cottage cheese, which I have never tried. Looks deliciously creamy!
foodtasticmom says
It is a unique ingredient to add for sure – but it really works!
Claire says
I know exactly what you mean about using two pans for a side dish! !
Plus add the fry pan you cooked the steak in and the pan you steamed the veg in and suddenly a simple steak dinner has used 4 pans!!! That is the bottom of the dishwasher full before you have added a plate!
So I knew I had to try this recipe and I am so glad I did…It was delicious and so easy! It is my go to mac and cheese recipe now!
foodtasticmom says
I am so glad I’m not the only one! And I’m so happy to hear that you tried this recipe and enjoyed it. Thank you for the comment and positive feedback 🙂
Natalie says
I love mac and cheese, especially when it’s oven baked. Looks so delicious!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Natalie.
Michelle says
This sounds amazing!, I love the idea of adding gouda cheese. I’ve never tried mac and cheese with cottage cheese, so will definitely try have to try that!
foodtasticmom says
I hope you try it! The cottage cheese helps make it creamy but you really can’t tell there’s cottage cheese in it once it’s baked!
Danielle says
You can’t beat mac and cheese – it’s such classic comfort food.
foodtasticmom says
I completely agree!
Sherri says
I’m convinced mac and cheese is one of the most perfect things on earth! 🙂 I am totally with you on the addition of mustard and hot sauce. Yay hot sauce!! Anyway, love how easy and CHEESY this is! Perfection! 🙂
foodtasticmom says
Thanks so much Sherri!
Stephanie says
Yum.. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Mac n Cheese is seriously one of my favorites so to make it even easier in the oven sounds perfect.
foodtasticmom says
Come back and let me know what you think. Thank you!
Jen says
This looks so perfectly cheesy! Mac and cheese is always a hit in our house.
foodtasticmom says
Ours too!
Andrea Metlika says
This looks so ooey gooey cheesy good!
foodtasticmom says
Yes it is!
Tawnie Kroll says
This is going to be my new go to mac and cheese recipe – sooo delish!
foodtasticmom says
It’s my go to. Let me know what you think once you’ve made it!
Katie says
There are so many things in this recipe that I love! The cottage cheese and gouda? Plus the hot sauce? What amazing additions to the traditional mac ‘n cheese!
foodtasticmom says
So glad you are a fan. I hope you try it! Thanks 🙂
Jackie says
Hi
I don’t like smoked cheeses, can I use regular gouda cheese in this recipe.
foodtasticmom says
Absolutely. You can mix and match whichever cheeses are your favorites. Enjoy!
Lindsay Cotter says
Love that no boiling is necessary! Epic comfort food!
foodtasticmom says
It’s a great short cut. Thank you!
Beth says
Love the cheese combination in this mac n cheese. Yum Yum Yum!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks Beth!
Toni says
This will quickly become a family favorite!!
foodtasticmom says
I agree 🙂
Jolene says
Can this be made ahead of time and cooked the next day?
foodtasticmom says
Yes, it can.
Christina Griffin says
This is a new addition to my Thanksgiving menu that will now make appearances for many years to come! Best Mac And Cheese !!!! Megan says, “Yummo!”
foodtasticmom says
So happy to hear this! I hope you and your family are doing well. Megan messaged me about it too. Great to hear from you both. 🙂