Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese delivers a rich, velvety sauce that clings to every elbow noodle, blending Triple Cheddar and Colby Jack for a bold, balanced bite. A whisper of cayenne adds gentle warmth without overpowering the creamy comfort. Serve it as a cozy weeknight dinner centerpiece or a reliable holiday side that everyone will scoop seconds of.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 4 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 32 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 16
- Heart Health
- 64
- Metabolic
- 27
- Digestive
- 21
- Inflammatory
- 28
- Performance
- 27
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2
Coat the inside of a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- 3
Mix the Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses in a medium bowl and set aside.
- 4
Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water as directed on the package; drain well and set aside.
- 5
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.
- 6
Stir in the flour, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly.
- 7
Gradually whisk in the milk and half & half.
- 8
Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens (about 2 to 3 minutes).
- 9
Remove from the heat and add the cayenne and black peppers, and 2 cups of the reserved cheese mixture; stir until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- 10
Stir the cooked macaroni into the sauce and season to taste.
- 11
Transfer to the prepared casserole dish.
- 12
Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with additional butter, if desired.
- 13
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until heated through and lightly browned.
- Calories 796.22 kcal High 40%
- Protein 33.31 g Good Source 67%
- Carbohydrate 72.26 g 26%
- Total Fat 39.68 g High 51%
- Saturated Fat 24.7 g High 124%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 112.17 mg High 37%
- Sodium 535.27 mg High 23%
- Dietary Fiber 3.28 g Moderate 12%
- Total Sugars 3.57 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 693.68 mg Good Source 53%
- Iron 3.33 mg Moderate 19%
- Potassium 219.47 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 0.15 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.36 mcg Low Source 2%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Elsie's Oven Baked Macaroni and Cheese is made with 9 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 50 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, and Cayenne Pepper. Each serving provides about 796.22 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Butter, Cayenne Pepper, Half & Half. The full list of 9 is above.
- How long does it take to make Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese?
- About 50 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 796.22 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 9 ingredients and 13 steps.
- Is Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese healthy?
- Elsie’s Oven-Baked Macaroni and Cheese has an easyChef Pro health score of 33/100. Per serving, it provides 796.22 calories and 33.31 g of protein, or 67% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 535.27 mg (23% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 24.7 g (124% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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