Easy Baked Mac and Cheese
Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry elbow macaroni
- 16 ounces cottage cheese
- 16 ounces sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2/3 cup Italian breadcrumbs
Supplies
- 9-by-13-inch baking dish
- nonstick cooking spray
- large pot
- colander
- wooden spoon
- small bowl
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large pot, boil the elbow macaroni according to the instructions on the package. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
Add the cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper to the macaroni. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it is well blended.
Add the sharp cheddar and mozzarella to the pasta mixture. Mix until well combined.
Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out.
In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and Italian breadcrumbs with a fork. Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping over the macaroni in the baking dish.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the macaroni is golden brown. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Baked macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food; it brings back tender, happy memories of childhood. Cozy and comforting, this creamy macaroni and cheese is made with sour cream, cottage cheese, sharp cheddar, and mozzarella and will quickly become a family favorite.
Preparing The Ultimate Macaroni And Cheese
You can keep it simple with this tasty dish and still have a fantastic bowl of macaroni and cheese on your hands, or you can dress the dish up with some additional ingredients. Here are some tasty ideas to get you started:
Cheese
We blended cheddar and mozzarella in our savory dish. Adding more cheese or different types of cheese is always an option, though. Try:
- Gruyère
- smoked Gouda
- truffled cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- brie
- fontina
Meat
- bacon
- ham
- ground beef
- lobster
Diet-Friendly Variations
Many ingredients in this recipe are not suitable for all diets. However, there are substitutions available for those looking to prepare this easy, delicious dish.
Dairy-Free
If you’re avoiding dairy, it may seem like every ingredient in this recipe is off-limits, but fortunately there are many dairy-free alternatives out there. Instead of regular sour cream, use a dairy-free version such as So Delicious sour cream; also check out the brand’s dairy-free shredded cheese options. Use Lactaid cottage cheese in place of regular cottage cheese, or make your own cottage cheese using silken tofu. Swap the butter for a dairy-free alternative such as Earth Balance.
Gluten-Free
If you’re on the gluten-free diet, use Barilla’s gluten-free pasta to prepare this dish. Substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs for regular breadcrumbs.
If you’re looking to prepare a dish that is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, try making this baked mac and cheese.
