This mega creamy Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole is the only macaroni cheese recipe you will ever want to make!
Make this Macaroni and Cheese Casserole for guests or family (think Thanksgiving!) and they will love you forever! The homemade sauce itself is rich and crazy creamy and the casserole is stuffed with a hidden layer of provolone cheese and sour cream that melts when baked for a ridiculous amount of velvety creamy, cheesy gooey goodness. A million dollar worthy goodness.
Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Recipe Video
I love a hearty pasta from my Classic Lasagna and One Pot Lasagna Soup to my One Skillet Cheesy Penne and Tortellini Al Forno but the most universally adored pasta has to be macaroni and cheese. Just about everyone looooooves macaroni and cheese – forkful after forkful of noodles bathed in rich creamy, cheesy, sauce. Whether it started as a blue box obsession (or if that still remains, I won’t judge you), and advanced to homemade stove top mac and cheese, Buffalo Macaroni and Cheese, One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese or even Taco Macaroni and Cheese, homemade macaroni and cheese in all its varieties – when done right – is one of the most comforting, cravilious foods on the planet.
But have you ever tried a homemade macaroni and cheese recipe and discovered what should be the most silky pasta all too often is runny, dry, bland and disappointing? So, so sad. But not this Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole. This baked macaroni and cheese will leave you and your taste buds so, SO happy.
I call this Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese for a few different reasons – including the surprise filling, which I will get to later – but let’s start with the quick, fool proof, easy, creamy, cheesy, flavorful from scratch sauce that takes just minutes to whip together.
Instead of using just a roux (whisking of flour, butter and milk) to create the sauce, I combined the roux method with evaporated milk whisked with some cornstarch to stabilize all the cheesiness and create incredible silkiness that doesn’t separate or curdle when baked. I then added a plethora of hand picked seasonings for the most flavor infused sauce suitable for Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese.
And then comes the capital M in Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole – the provolone, sour cream filling. The what?! I know it might sound odd, but please trust me. I got this idea when I was day dreaming about my moms Baked Penne which is a marinara based pasta with a layer of provolone and sour cream in between layers of noodles. The best part of the pasta is the creamy, cheesy center, so then I got giddy dreaming about what this filling would taste like cradled in between cheese smothered noodles instead of marinara smothered noodles.
I was so excited, in fact, I whipped up my first go of this macaroni and cheese at 9 PM because I just couldn’t wait any longer. I even told my husband not to brush his teeth because there was true deliciousness coming shortly.
Million dollar deliciousness to be exact.
The provolone melts as the pasta bakes, adding a fresh depth of cheesiness while the sour cream melts, adding a fresh layer of creaminess. This to live for layer of deliciousness blends into each forkful so although you can see the white layer of goodness, its creamy cheesiness just enhances the overall pasta. And when I say enhance, I mean creates the CREAMIEST macaroni and cheese you will ever dive into.
And might I suggest diving mouth first.
What should I serve with Macaraoni and Cheese Casserole?
This Million Dollar Baked Casserole can be a meal in itself, just add some chicken, ham etc. or it is the most epic side to:
- Nashville Hot Chicken
- Oven “Fried” Chicken
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
- Slow Cooker Beef Brisket
- Beef Brisket Sandwiches
- Philly Cheesecake Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Thanksgiving Turkey
- Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
- Baked Ham with Cider Maple Glaze
Looking for more Italian recipes?
- Baked Italian Meatballs (and Spaghetti)
- One Skillet Cheesy Meaty Penne
- Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
- Shrimp Fettuccine
- Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
- Parmesan Meatballs and Orzo
You might also like these favorite recipes:
- Million Dollar Baked Penne
- Smothered Chicken Burritos
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
- Moist Sweet Cornbread
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
WANT TO TRY THIS MILLION DOLLAR MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE?
Pin it to your PASTA, DINNER or CASSEROLE Board to SAVE for later!
Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes! I am always pinning :)!
©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com
Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole (Video)
Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box
You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!
Ingredients
- 1 pound cellentani pasta (may sub rigatoni, penne or macaroni)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
- 1 tsp EACH onion pwdr, garlic pwdr, dried parsley, salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 4 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 6-8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Panko Topping (optional)
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Cook pasta just until al dente according to package directions – don’t overcook! Strain and rinse with cold water.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat then whisk in flour. Cook, while stirring for 2 minutes. Turn heat to low then gradually whisk in milk. Whisk cornstarch into evaporated milk and gradually add to skillet followed by Dijon mustard and all remaining spices/seasonings.
- Bring to a boil, whisking constantly then reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally until thickened (but not overly thick). Remove from heat and whisk in sharp cheese until melted. Add pasta and toss until evenly coated (it will seem like a lot of extra sauce which is a good thing).
- Pour half of the macaroni and cheese into prepared baking dish. Layer macaroni evenly with provolone cheese followed by an even layer of sour cream. Pour remaining macaroni and cheese over sour cream and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan cheese (or more to taste).
- Panko topping (optional): Melt butter in olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add panko and stir to coat. Continue cooking until crumbs become golden brown. Evenly sprinkle over macaroni and cheese.
- Bake 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and inside provolone is melted. If not topping with panko, broil until Parmesan is golden. Cool 10 minutes to set before serving.
Video
Notes
***Feel free to swap cheeses for a combination of whatever you have on hand – Asiago, Gouda, smoked cheddar, Monterrey, etc – the possibilities are endless! You can also mix in bacon, ham, etc.
**I find this pasta equally delicious without the panko topping as the Parmesan cheese topping bakes to golden perfection 🙂
Want To Make This Recipe?
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs
Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
Carlsbad Cravings© Original
Harley says
Hi I was wondering if it has to be freshly grated or if store bought cheese works just as well?
Jen says
Hi Harley, I always recommend freshly grated cheese because pre-grated is coating in anti-clumping chemicals which prevents it from melting as well.
Amanda says
I need to double this recipe for friends giving. Do you recommend just doubling all the ingredients together and putting it one big baking dish or separating it into two dishes?
Jen says
Hi Amanda, I would separate it into two dishes. Enjoy!
Latia says
This mac and cheese was very rich and delicious! Weirdly, it didn’t taste very cheddar-y to me. The bouillon and the other spices were great but I wonder if the sour cream and/or provolone took away from the sharpness of the cheese. I will definitely make this again, as my family raved over it. Thanks for so many great recipes!!
Jen says
You are so welcome Latia, I’m so pleased your whole family loved it!
Nancy says
Best Mac n cheese! Thank you!
Jen says
Awesome, thanks Nancy!
Kathryn Campbell says
I found this mac and cheese recipe years ago and it is my only mac and cheese recipe. While I do not use the provolone or sour cream (way too rich for me), I do add finely chopped country ham (food processor fine) to the final liquid cheese that gets mixed into the pasta. I do not add salt because of the bouillon and the ham. This recipe is amazing, truly amazing. I am in fact making it tonight with some grilled wings and a tomato salad. Try this recipe, you will be glad you did.
Jen says
Thanks for taking the time to comment Kathryn, I love hearing this mac and cheese is a favorite! Your addition of ham sounds fabulous!
Natalie says
Can I double this recipe?
Jen says
Yes, but I would still bake it in two separate 9×13 baking pans.
Patricia THOMPSON says
Just browsed through your recipes for casseroles. They look so good I can’t wait to try them. I like the idea of enriching the sauce with chicken broth and different cheeses. I may have to invite family to lunch or divide into two casseroles.
Jen says
Thanks so much Patricia, I’m excited for you to try it!
Amy says
OUTSTANDING! Followed recipe to a T since it was my first time trying this one… used Gouda & sharp cheddar… only exceptions were without panko topping, a pinch less mustard as I don’t care for it, and I through in some Hormel bacon bits I had on hand… I’m sure freezing some will be fine without panko … but the combo of the smokey flavor of Gouda, cheddar and Parmesan came out restaurant quality, seriously! Next time I’m going to invite friends and add lobster instead of bacon bits.
Jen says
Thank you for the outstanding review Amy! Your swaps sound absolutely fantastic and I love the idea of lobster next time!
Jen says
Can you please provide nutrition information?
Jen says
Hi Jen, you can calculate it here: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
Adrian says
Sounds so good- except, is there a reason for using evaporated milk. It’s not one of my favourites, but I will try it if necessary!
Jen says
Evaporated milk adds creaminess without the fat of heavy cream. Evaporated milk is canned, stabilized homogenized cow’s milk from which 60 percent of the water has been removed. This mean it is thicker than just milk and more stable than heavy cream and less likely to curdle or separate.
Liz F says
This has become our staple for Thanksgiving. The sour cream addition is a game change imo because it gives it a really good creaminess while fusing everything together. Minus the skipping of the Dijon and breadcrumb topping (just family preferences) we follow this to a tee and it comes our perfectly every time.
Jen says
Thanks so much Liz, I love hearing it’s a family favorite!
Lynda F says
Holy Moley! This Mac n cheese was perfection! We opted to do the parm cheese and it was tasty. I was a little wary of the sour cream but it was a nice addition. The spices were great, we used the 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper but did not find any heat from it so we may up that to 1/2 tsp next time. My picky eater said the taste was great but that the noodles were a little over cooked, noted kiddo lol. I enjoyed this recipe and it will definitely go into the rotation!
Jen says
Thanks so much Lynda, I’m so pleased it was a winner with the entire family!
Anuja says
Was wondering if I can add bacon and or broccoli, that’s how my kids enjoy my current version of mac and cheese, but looking to venture out to different recipes
Jen says
Absolutely, that would be delicious!
Lynda F says
I am wondering, should the broccoli be cooked at all before adding to the dish before putting into oven? Thank you!
Jen says
Absolutely! You’ll want to roast or steam it first.
Lynda F says
Update: he ate all the leftovers and one week later he is still talking about this Mac n cheese lol. Thanks Jen for making me a Mac n cheese Jedi master!
Jen says
I love that!!!!
Cheryl L says
So delicious! I was searching for the perfect mac & cheese recipe and I found it! Tried several Food Network stars mac & cheese recipes and yours was by far the tastiest! Thanks for another great recipe!
Jen says
That is the ultimate compliment, thank you so much Cheryl!
Lynne says
OH MY WORD! This was the best homemade Mac & Cheese recipe ever! It’s just like the chef-made type you can sometimes get at a restaurant that knows what it’s doing. ALL the numerous ingredients meld, to give a complex flavor; don’t skip any, or you’ll be missing out. I made the full recipe, just for the two of us, and of course, now have a ton of leftovers. I KNOW it won’t be the same reheated; mac & cheese never is. But I will probably put a tad of half & half in the portions and cover it with a glass cover and hope condensation will do its trick! Usually reheating instructions are included; there are none with this, so I’m flying blind, here. This may be the first time I serve Mac & Cheese to company (when I make a fresh batch, of course!), as it is that top-notch! Thank you, Jennifer!!!
Jen says
Thank you so much for the rave review Lynne! I’m so pleased you loved it so much!
Carrie Pyros says
I’m the first one to say HOMEMADE is ALWAYS better and I have made my own recipe that has been passed down and modified….. BUT THIS ONE …. this recipe adds the GOOD ENOUGH for company MAC AND CHEESE! Just took it up a notch!!! THANK YOU FOR THE RECIPE… It received great reviews from guests!!!
Jen says
I’m sorry I’m slow to respond Carrie – we just moved and things have been crazy! I’m so pleased you love this recipe so much – yay for company worthy!
Becky says
Hi- I was wondering if I could add some cream cheese in the layering process with the sour cream and provolone. Do you think it would be too rich or would the cream cheese separate?
Thanks
Jen says
I Becky, instead of adding it separately, I would mix part cream cheese and part sour cream. Enjoy!
Katherine says
Made this tonight and it was a hit. I replaced the parsley with tarragon. Was really tempted to use some nutmeg as well, but didn’t. Thanks for sharing! Bacon and broccoli will be our next mix ins.
Jen says
Thanks Katherine, I’m so pleased everyone loved it. Bacon and broccoli will be delicious additions!
Amanda Principato says
This is my family’s go-to mac and cheese recipe! You can’t go wrong with her recipes—and the freshly grated cheese is KEY. Was the star of Thanksgiving!
Jen says
Thank you Amanda, I’m so pleased it’s a favorite!