How To Make Homemade Mac And Cheese Recipe

Southern Baked Mac & Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese Recipe | How to Make Mac and Cheese

There are three major takeaways from Millie Peartree’s famous baked mac & cheese.

Make sure your pasta is super al dente. Boil it for too long and your baked macaroni will be mushy.

Layer it like a lasagna! Millie puts an entire layer of pure cheese in between two layers of macaroni. Game. Changer.

Make a custard. Whisking together eggs and milk and pouring it over the mac & cheese will make it extra creamy, saucy, and decadent.

whole milk

Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350° and butter a large, deep baking dish. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta and butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in 2 cups cheddar cheese.

Add half of the macaroni mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle Colby-cheddar cheese blend over pasta mixture, then top with another layer of pasta .

In a medium bowl, beat together eggs and milk then pour evenly over pasta.

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Do not overbake! It may be a bit jiggly when you take it out of the oven.

Turn on oven broiler. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese. and broil until golden! It will firm up as it cool.

If you dont like sharp cheese please feel free to use mild or any other cheese you like

Homemade Mac And Cheese With Just 4

Yes! We swear, the best mac and cheese recipe is just four, super simple ingredients away. Cooked pastayou can use any kind you love, were partial to cavatappiheavy cream, shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan. That’s it. You can add seasoning to taste, but the parmesan is pretty salty and its a good idea to heavily salt the pasta water, so save the seasoning until last to see if it is truly necessary.

What Is A Mac And Cheese Roux And Why Do I Need It

A roux is essentially a way to thicken a sauce or liquid. You need a fat and a flour in order to make this thickening agent and then you need to heat it to activate it.

The reason why you dont want to skip the roux for this mac and cheese sauce recipe is that the roux is what helps make it thick and luscious.

Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese

There is absolutely nothing I love more than cheese. And when you add pasta to it? Fuggetaboutit.

Mac and cheese is one of those recipes that can take on so many different forms. I love it anyway I can get it but baked mac and cheese is my very favorite and Ill tell you why The topping. I use breadcrumbs for my topping occasionally, but, a Panko topped mac and cheese is just that much better.

I mix in Parmesan, butter, and paprika with the Panko so it crisps up beautifully and gets a nice golden brown color when this amazing homemade mac and cheese is baked.

Im going to be honest here. When I make mac and cheese, its the mac to cheese ratio that I am most concerned about. I love it when the mac and cheese is oeey gooey and the cheese sauce is just so creamy. GIMME.

With all this cheese going on in this macaroni and cheese recipe, I need a little help from my KitchenAid Deluxe Stand Mixer and its handy dandy Fresh Prep Slice/Shredder attachment. I picked up this beauty at Walmart this past week and I am in LOOOOOVE. I was torn between the options: SILVER | COBALT | PISTACHIO. But, when I pictured them in my kitchen, I knew I had to go with the cobalt its just stunning!

I use my stand mixer about 954 times each week. Being a food blogger and mom means Im in my kitchen a lot baking up goodies and whipping up amazing dinners like this homemade baked mac and cheese. I am always, always looking for help in the kitchen and the Kitchen Aid Deluxe Stand Mixer is the answer.

Why This Mac And Cheese Recipe Is A Favorite

We make this for lunch at least every other week if not more.

This easy, homemade 15-minute mac and cheese takes the same amount of time a box does.
Its rich, creamy, and totally dreamy.

Hearty and budget friendly, everyone loves it.
This recipe is great for add-ins. Stir in sausage, chicken, or broccoli.

Serve with Homemade Garlic Bread and Tossed Salad. Its time to eat!

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How To Make Mac & Cheese In 15 Minutes

While mac and cheese can be made in the Crockpot or baked in the oven, this is an easy mac and cheese ready in minutes.

Melt butter in a saucepan & whisk in flour per the recipe below .

Whisk in liquid a bit at a time until smooth. Add seasonings and cook until thickened.

Remove from heat, stir in cheese until smooth. Stir in the cooked elbow macaroni.

Special Equipment For This Recipe

Instant Pot I recently upgraded to this model and I love it!

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AND DONT FORGET, IF YOUVE MADE THIS RECIPE, LEAVE A COMMENT AND PLEASE GIVE IT A STAR RATING LETTING ME KNOW HOW YOU ENJOYED IT!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

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Stovetop Mac And Cheese Vs Baked Mac And Cheese

Anyway you slice it, a homemade macaroni and cheese recipe is a good thing to have memorized. Theres no faster way to let your kids / spouse know that you love them than whipping up a batch. Or make it for yourself and call it self-care! Quick, comforting and delicious, this four-ingredient stovetop wonder is hands down the best mac and cheese weve ever eaten.

Now, were not saying that we cant appreciate a baked macaroni and cheese recipethe way the top cheese crust gets all bubbly is so enticingbut stovetop macaroni and cheese is way faster oven-baked, and it reminds us of our childhood love affair with a certain little blue box. For a satisfyingly quick mac and cheese fix, its all about this easy mac and cheese recipe.

How To Make Instant Pot Mac And Cheese

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Add pasta, liquids, butter, hot sauce and seasonings.

Dont stir. Just gently press down with a wooden spoon to make sure all the pasta is submerged. This ensures the pasta will cook and not be hard. Stirring could result in a burn notice on your Instant Pot.

Pressure cook for 4 minutes.

Quick release. I tested performing a natural pressure release, and it usually resulted in overcooked pasta, so I prefer to do a quick release.Be aware, this recipe is starchy, and can sputter quite a bit when venting. I usually place a folded paper towel loosely over the vent to prevent any kitchen messes. Keep in mind, this isnt recommended by Instant Pot, just something I do do this at your own risk.

Turn off your Instant Pot. This prevents any possible overcooking by keeping it on keep warm.

Stir in heavy cream, and cheeses. Add in the cheese a handful or so at a time, stirring really well after each addition. Keep stirring until a creamy sauce forms.

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Easy Stovetop Mac And Cheese

This Mac and Cheese is easy to make on the stovetop and its ready in just 15 minutes. Skip the box and make the good stuff!

This Mac and Cheese is easy to make on the stovetop and its ready in just 15 minutes. Skip the box and make the good stuff!

Its easy to make your own delicious mac and cheese at home in under 15 minutes. Boil your pasta in one pot and in another make a simple cheese sauce. The sauce starts with a traditional roux . Salt, white pepper, onion powder, and ground mustard are whisked in to add flavor. Milk is then poured in and as it comes to a simmer the roux slowly mixes in. The roux acts as a thickening agent and just as small bubbles appear for the simmer, your mixture should already be thickened. The heat is turned off, shredded cheese is stirred until melted, and then all that is left to do is stir in the drained al dente pasta from your other pot. Youll never use a boxed mix again!

Variations Of Mac And Cheese

Bacon if you love bacon, feel free to add some crispy, crumbled bacon to the topping, or even inside the mac and cheese as well!

Stovetop if youd prefer not to bake this mac and cheese, you dont have to! Make sure you boil your pasta until al dente , and youll only need about 3 3 1/2 cups of cheese total. No need to layer the pasta and cheese, just add all the cheese to the sauce, then combine with the pasta.
Different Toppings Im a huge fan of the cheese layer on top, since it gets nice and crispy, but we also love tossing 1 cup of panko with 2 Tbsp of melted butter and using that as a topping. 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers with 2 Tbsp of butter work amazingly well too!
Different Baking Times the recipe calls for a lower baking temperature and time, but most of the time I find myself adjusting that based on my familys tastes. I like to bake this mac and cheese at 350 F degrees for 30 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes to get that glorious cheesy crust.

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How To Make Homemade Mac And Cheese

Making homemade macaroni and cheese is surprisingly easy and quick!

Pasta This mac and cheese casserole starts with elbow macaroni that are slightly undercooked so they dont get mushy when its baked. Any short pasta will work.

Sauce A classic cheese sauce with lots of cheese. Sharp cheddar adds great flavor

Topping For this casserole, Ive kept it simple with more cheese on top. You can add a breadcrumb topping if youd like.

Making Instant Pot Mac And Cheese Ahead Of Time

Some recipes are great, and even better, when made ahead but mac and cheese just isnt one of them.

As the pasta sits, it absorbs more and more of the sauce, making the mac and cheese dry, and the noodles mushy.

In my opinion, this is a recipe that just tastes the best when made right before you eat it.

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How To Make Crock Pot Mac And Cheese

Add pasta and liquids to the slow cooker. Sprinkle in seasonings and stir.
Cover and cook 1 hour. Stir. Cover and cook another 10 minutes.
Stir in cream cheese and grated cheese. Cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Stir and serve.

How easy is that?! No fancy cream sauce to make just hands-off cook time so you can go relax!

The Best Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese

The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top. Love cheesy recipes? Make sure to try this Lazy Day Lasagna and Cheesy Kielbasa Rice and Broccoli Skillet next week for dinner!

This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media.

Best Cheese For Mac And Cheese

A combination of Gruyere and mozzarella cheese. Gruyerefor the most superior flavour with the best melting qualities for creamy sauces such as this theres no contention in my view. And mozzarella for stretch nothing does the cheese pull like a good mozzarella!

But honestly, any cheese that melts well works is excellent with Mac and Cheese, such as cheddar, tasty, Colby, Swiss, Pepper Jack, Emmental.

Tips For The Best Homemade Baked Mac And Cheese

How to Make Easy Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Use block cheese and shred, do not buy the pre-shredded cheese. The pre-shredded cheese is great for so many things but not macaroni and cheese. Its coated and wont melt properly. You need to shred it yourself for the best result.
Cook your pasta to slightly less than al dente, about one minute shy is perfect. The reason is that this is baked mac and cheese so the pasta will continue to cook in the homemade cheese sauce in the oven. You dont want soggy macaroni.
I used elbow pasta but really, any tubular past will work.

This mac and cheese recipe starts with a roux. The roux is super important to getting the creamiest cheese sauce of your life. Here is what you need to look for:
The roux is whisked together until bubbly and golden.
Whisk in cold milk not warm to prevent the flour from clumping.

Cook the roux until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes before adding the cheese.

Can I Use Pre

Pre- shredded cheeses are mixed with either potato starch, powdered cellulose, and natamycin or a combination of the three to prevent clumping. These agents have an impact on how the cheese melts. The best mac and cheese uses freshly shredded cheese as they melt better, but pre-shredded cheese can also be used as a time saver. The results may not be as velvety smooth, but itll still taste delicious.

How To Make Homemade Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

To begin making Homemade Macaroni And Cheese Recipe, first place a saucepan on the heat.

Warm the milk over medium heat until it starts to bubble. Do not let it come to a rolling or vigorous boil, and take it off the heat before.

In a separate heavy bottomed pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns light brown. This will take 3 to 4 minutes. Take it off the heat.

Next, slowly pour the warm milk little by little into the butter flour mixture, while whisking constantly. The mixture will get thinner, but keep whisking.

Once all the milk is added and whisked well, set the pot back over medium high heat and continue to whisk.

It will take about 2 to 3 minutes for the sauce to come together and become silky and thick. At this stage, add salt and stir once more.

Meanwhile cook the pasta in salted boiling water, according to packet instructions. Drain and rinse the pasta.

Add the cheddar cheese to the prepared sauce and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until cheese is melted.

Next, add the cooked pasta and stir until the pasta is hot and steaming for another 5 minutes. Spoon into bowls.

Serve Macaroni And Cheese along with some Garlic Bread as a comforting winter meal.

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Can I Freeze Macaroni And Cheese

I get asked that a lot and my answer is always no. As the pasta and cheese sauce sit, it will thicken and when you thaw it and bake it, the creamy consistency is just gone. Its thick and gloppy. Plus if you freeze it and its still a bit warm, water crystals will form and then thaw into your dish and could make it separate when you bake it. Besides, its so fast to make, theres not really a reason to freeze your macaroni and cheese.

How To Make Homemade Roux For A Creamy Sauce

To make a simple and flavorful roux, start by melting a stick of butter in a medium saucepan.

Whisk in the salt and pepper. A very important step is to continue stirring for a good 2-3 minutes until roux turns a bit darker in color. It becomes richer and even more fabulous.

Slowly whisk in the milk until mixture is thick and creamy. This step will take a couple minutes over medium heat.

Stir in cheese until creamy and cheese is melted through. I prefer a finely shredded mild cheddar. It melts quickly and has a perfect cheddar flavor.

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Perfect Mac And Cheese In 5 Steps:

Preheat the oven. Preheat to 325 degrees and lightly grease a square baking dish.

Cook the macaroni. Slightly undercook your noodles . Drain and set aside.

Make the roux. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Blend in the flour, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.

Add milk and cheese. Stir in milk and half and half, slowly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup shredded cheese to the sauce and stir just until melted. Add the cooked macaroni noodles and toss to coat them in the sauce.

Pourinto baking dish. Pour half or the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle ½ cup cheese over the top. Pour remaining pasta over it and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Tips For The Best Macaroni And Cheese Youll Ever Eat

Feel like you may still need some help? If you have time, jump over to this post for the juicy details: 18 Secrets to the Richest, Creamiest Mac and Cheese Youll Ever Eat or focus on these tips:

Never stop stirring your milk once it hits the pan. If your skillet is too hot or you walk away and for a minute you could scorch the white sauce and it will curdle. It doesnt really hurt the taste, but it will look sort of clumpy. Some readers have called it grainy. It only takes 5 minutes. Just hang out and stir until that sauce is thick enough to coat the back of your spoon.

Use good cheese in your baked macaroni and cheese. That means avoiding bagged, pre-shredded cheeses because they contain cellulose that can in some cases cause your cheese not to melt as it should. -And speaking of cheese, you have so many options! My favorite is sharp cheddar and Swiss.

-Try to choose a melting cheese and a flavor cheesefor the best flavor and texture in your baked macaroni and cheese.

Do taste as you go. Taste your cheese sauce before you add your pasta. Is it bland? That can be because of the cheese you used or even the kind of salt you seasoned with. If it doesnt have enough flavor, add a pinch more salt, stir it in and taste it again until it suits you.

-Feel free to add more pasta if you want to. Some people say that this recipe doesnt have enough noodles in it, but Ive never had that problem. And yes, you should cook your pasta before adding it to the cheese sauce.