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Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese is ultra-creamy with a velvety cheddar sauce that clings to every bite of tender pasta. A quick broil crisps a buttery panko topping for a satisfying contrast of textures. It’s a comforting side or main dish perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or holiday spreads when you want cozy, cheese-forward flavor.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook45 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyEasy
Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

42 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
55 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
21 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
45 / 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.

40
Heart Health
83
Metabolic
54
Digestive
25
Inflammatory
30
Performance
38
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

  2. 2

    Melt 5 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes to form a smooth roux. Gradually whisk in the warmed milk. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Reduce the heat to low. Add 2 cups Cheddar cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and mustard powder. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

  4. 4

    Put the dry macaroni in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over it, stirring to coat evenly. Cover the dish tightly with foil.

  5. 5

    Bake until the macaroni is tender, 35 to 45 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes.

  6. 6

    Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Add the panko and stir to combine. Sprinkle the panko topping evenly over the baked macaroni; sprinkle with the remaining Cheddar cheese.

  7. 7

    Turn on the oven’s broiler. Broil until the topping is crispy and golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

About This Recipe

Butter Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese is made with 10 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include 2% Reduced Fat Milk, All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, and Dry Mustard. Each serving provides about 633.85 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese made of?
The main ingredients are 2% Reduced-Fat Milk, All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Dry Mustard, Panko. The full list of 10 is above.
How long does it take to make Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese?
About 55 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 633.85 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 7 steps.
Is Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese healthy?
Butter-Rich Baked Macaroni and Cheese has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 633.85 calories and 21.26 g of protein, or 43% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and vitamin A. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 333.56 mg (15% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 18.12 g (91% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Mustard, 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.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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