The Secret to Crispy Mac and Cheese Is This Tool

There’s one qualm I have when making macaroni and cheese. After trying countless gooey mac and cheese recipes that all have one step in common — namely, baking the pasta in a rectangular baking dish — I came to the same conclusion. The meal will come out creamy and delicious, but the crispy panko breadcrumbs or broiled cheese won’t be available in every bite. That’s when I discovered a cooking hack that is so simple and makes mac and cheese satisfyingly crispy.

If you prefer extra crisp macaroni like I do, then you should strongly consider cooking it on a baking sheet. Baking sheets are shallower and have more surface area than regular casserole dishes. That’s why, when you bake mac and cheese in a deep pan, the underlayer bite of pasta is unlikely to include the top layer of breadcrumbs, stale bread, Cheez-its, or whichever crunch you decide to sprinkle on top. But when you have a handy baking sheet like this one from Caraway, you can ensure crispness in each spoonful.  

Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Baking Sheet

What I like about this aluminum baking sheet is that it’s not only pretty affordable — and currently on sale — but it’s also naturally nonstick and non-toxic, meaning that the pan does not contain lead, PFOA, PFAS, PTFE and other toxic materials that often wind up in your cookware. This Caraway cookie sheet can withstand oven temperatures up to 550°F, though,  depending on the mac and cheese recipe, you’ll only need to place the temperature at about 375°F.

This baking sheet is easy to clean and dishwasher-safe, although hand-washing is always recommended with nice pans to preserve their quality. With nearly 1,500 five-star ratings, customers named this Caraway pan a “must-have in the kitchen,” that’s “not only functional but beautiful” and is “definitely worth buying over traditional sheets.” Aside from mac and cheese, you can use this sheet for roasting vegetables, baking chocolate chip cookies, and more.

Even if you’re not using an additional crunchy ingredient on top of baked macaroni and cheese, placing your pasta on a sheet pan will allow the exposed cheese to become more evenly browned, especially if you broil it for a few minutes toward the end of its cooking time. A 15- x 10-inch baking sheet, like this Caraway one, has longer edges that allow for the outer portions of the macaroni to get ultra-crunchy. Plus, the perfect coloring and contrasting textures will make the side dish look increasingly appetizing.

If you’ve been dubbed the mac and cheese maker of the holidays, then a baking sheet is your secret to achieving a chef’s home run. If the Caraway isn’t your style, shop more styles at Amazon from Nordic Ware, USA Pan, Great Jones, Amazon Basics, and more from $15 before Amazon’s best Black Friday deals end.  

Shop More Sheet Pans at Amazon

USA Pan Bakeware Half Sheet Pan

Amazon Basics Nonstick Baking Sheet

Great Jones Little Sheet Pan

Nordic Ware 3-Piece Baker’s Set 

USA Pan Quarter Sheet