# Ultimate Baked Mac and Cheese

A rich, ultra-creamy baked mac and cheese made with three cheeses, warm spices, and a golden bubbly top—perfect for holidays, cookouts, or comforting family dinners.

- Servings: 8 servings
- Total time: 55 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp salted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 13 oz cans evaporated milk
- 3 cups whole milk
- 16 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
- 16 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tsp salt
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp dry mustard powder
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

## Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a large baking dish with butter.
3. Cook macaroni until just al dente.
4. Drain and set aside the macaroni.
5. In a large bowl, whisk cream cheese and evaporated milk until mostly smooth.
6. Stir in whole milk, salt, Cajun seasoning, mustard powder, and nutmeg.
7. Add half of the Swiss and cheddar cheeses; mix well.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
9. Whisk in beaten eggs until fully incorporated.
10. Add macaroni to the baking dish and gently stir in cheese sauce.
11. Top with remaining Swiss and cheddar cheeses.
12. Finish with black pepper.
13. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
14. Broil for 2–3 minutes for a crusty top if desired.
15. Rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

## Equipment

- large baking dish
- large bowl

## Tips

- Stop cooking the macaroni when it’s al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy in the oven.
- Make sure your cream cheese is softened for easy blending to avoid lumps and keep the sauce smooth.
- Layer the cheese by adding half to the sauce and reserving the other half for the top to create a gooey, golden-brown crust.
- After baking, broil the mac and cheese for a couple of minutes to get that golden-brown top.
- Taste your sauce before baking and adjust the Cajun seasoning if you want it bolder or milder.
- Letting the dish rest helps it set for perfect slices.
- For extra richness, use the full 4 tablespoons of butter.
- Use freshly grated cheese as pre-shredded cheese often has anti-caking agents that can affect creaminess.
- For an even richer texture, replace 1 cup of whole milk with heavy cream.
- Pasta absorbs a lot of salt, so don’t hesitate to taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Experiment with toppings like crushed crackers or panko breadcrumbs for a fantastic crunchy topping.

## Source

- Original video: https://smokinandgrillinwitab.com/ultimate-baked-mac-and-cheese/
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/24f19aad-92d6-46c6-a4fc-631bc89fef3c
- Extracted: 2026-06-05

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt