Description
A delicious and creamy homemade mac and cheese that’s sure to please everyone at your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese or Fontina cheese, grated
- 4 ounces cream cheese or 4 slices American cheese
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional: hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions, aiming for al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta well and set aside. Do NOT rinse it.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until a thick paste forms.
- Gradually whisk in the cold whole milk and heavy cream into the roux, whisking until smooth. Continue to whisk until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove the pot from heat. Whisk in the dry mustard powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Optionally add hot sauce or Worcestershire sauce.
- Add the grated cheddar, Gruyère, and cream cheese to the warm sauce in handfuls, whisking until fully melted and smooth.
- Add the drained, cooked pasta to the pot with the cheese sauce and gently stir until thoroughly coated.
- For a baked texture, transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish, top with extra cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
Do not overcook the pasta; it should be al dente. You can customize the recipe by adding your favorite ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg