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Homemade Mac & Cheese Recipe

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4.2 from 68 reviews

This homemade mac & cheese recipe delivers a creamy, cheesy comfort food classic made from scratch. Featuring a rich, velvety cheese sauce with sharp and white cheddar cheeses combined with tender elbow macaroni, it’s a perfect family-friendly dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to satisfy cravings.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni or pasta of choice

Cheese Sauce

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni al dente according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta, rinse briefly under warm water to stop cooking, and set aside.
  2. Make Roux: Using the same pot, heat over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk continuously for about 2 minutes until the mixture turns golden and forms a smooth roux, which will thicken the sauce.
  3. Add Milk and Seasonings: Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Stir in the Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking frequently, until the sauce thickens, approximately 5 minutes.
  4. Melt Cheese into Sauce: Gradually add both the sharp and white cheddar cheeses to the thickened sauce, stirring until all cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta back into the pot with the cheese sauce. Toss everything together thoroughly to ensure the pasta is evenly coated in the rich cheese sauce. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and flavor compared to pre-shredded cheese.
  • For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch.
  • Adjust salt to taste depending on the saltiness of your cheeses.
  • For extra creaminess, you can add a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half with the milk.
  • If the sauce gets too thick, thin it out with a little extra milk as needed.

Find it online: https://recipethrive.com/homemade-mac-and-cheese-recipe/