Looking for comfort food at its finest? Try our favorite Mac and Cheese Recipe. So easy to make and super delicious. It will be your family’s favorite too!
MAC AND CHEESE
I can’t believe I haven’t shared this recipe with you yet….! After 5 years of sharing here, I sometimes get confused about what I have shared and what I haven’t. For some reason I thought I had shared our favorite Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe with you. My friend Stacie, asked me for it recently and I tried to find the link for her so she could print it out for herself…but I realized I had never shared it!
What?! What a tragedy! I just know you have been missing out because you haven’t had this recipe…but alas, today is your lucky day ;)!
MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE
And of course, that means it was also my family’s lucky day…because it meant that I had to actually make the said Mac and Cheese for dinner AND so I could take some photos of it! I mean seriously…the things I do for you people! My job can be pretty rough sometimes.
I didn’t even wait to have our favorite pasta noodles (elbow) for this recipe and just used some that I already had on hand. It turns out that even shell pasta noodles taste delicious when they are smothered in this cheesy goodness!
It’s a good thing I have started running again, so I could eat some without feeling too much guilt. Life is too short to cut out all comfort food, all of the time. And with school and the busy after school schedules for everyone starting this week, the whole family needed some comforting!
HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE
This is sure to be your new go-to recipe when you are short on time. It’s always a family favorite too!
Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe
Looking for comfort food at its finest? Try our favorite Mac and Cheese Recipe. So easy to make and super delicious. It will be your family's favorite too!
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta (16 oz.)
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 1 Tbsp pepper
- 4 cups milk
- 5-6 cups cheese (sharp/medium cheddar, or your favorite)
Topping
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (we like Panko)
Instructions
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Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
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Boil your pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
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In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Add 1/2 cup flour and whisk together for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Whisk continuously so that the mixture does not burn.
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Add the salt and pepper. Slowly mix in the 4 cups of milk. Reheat and bring to a nice simmer. Cook for about 5-6 minutes until the white sauce thickens up. Whisk frequently to prevent burning and lumps.
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Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Pour the cooked pasta into the pan.
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Grate 5-6 cups of cheese and sprinkle it over the pasta in your pan.
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Pour the white sauce over the cheese and stir it together to combine.
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Melt 2 Tbsp. of butter in a small saucepan. Stir in the 1/2 bread crumbs and stir together. Brown the bread crumbs while stirring often to prevent burning. Remove when most crumbs have turned a nice brown color.
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Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the Mac and Cheese.
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Bake for about 15 minutes in a 325 degree oven.
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Serve up while hot and cheesy!
If you are serving this as a main meal, it will feed about 6 people…unless you have large teenage boys :). Otherwise it will serve about 8 as a side dish.
Now go and make some and you can thank me later!
PASTA RECIPES
Sharing some more of our favorite pasta recipes below:
- Italian Macaroni and Cheese
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- Mac and Cheese Kielbasa
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Bang Bang Shrimp Pasta
- Easy Lasagna Bake
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
COOKING SUPPLIES
- Stainless steel skillet
- Pasta Strainer
- Clip-On Pot Strainer
- Wooden Utensils
- Stainless Steel Pasta Server
- Rotary Parmesan Cheese Grater (restaurant style)
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What is your favorite pasta for this dish? It sound delish!
We usually like to use the elbow or fusilli!
This looks so yummy! What combination of cheese do you like best?
I think 1 tablespoon of salt is WAY too much. I made it tonight and it was very, very salty. I think I would have loved it more with half the salt. Thanks for the recipe though!
Do you use whole milk? We drink a lot of skim so wondered if that would work.
I made this dish tonight, but it was way too salty. I probably will make it again sometime, but I will cut the salt and pepper to maybe a tsp each instead of a tbsp.
What type of cheese did you use?
I used Medium Cheddar Cheese but you could use sharp cheddar or your favorite cheese. Enjoy!
What is the white cheese?
It is Mozzarella Cheese.
Definitely too much salt and pepper. Will use half next time
Yes, you can always adjust that to your taste and liking. Thank you so much!
Where did you get your labels for the flour etc jars?
I shared them here: http://www.theidearoom.net/2015/01/printable-pantry-labels.html
Waaaaay too much pepper. I read the recipe multiple times top make sure it actually WAS 1 Tbsp. I’d cut it by at least half. I loved the recipe with the exception of this.
Good to know. Thanks for the suggestion.
The taste was sooo yummy but I felt like there was way too much cheese or not enough pasta. I used about 5 1/2 cups of shredded cheese and you said 5-6. Maybe next time
I’ll do 4 cups or maybe do a box and a half of pasta. What do you suggest?
I would try what you said. You will have to let me know if you like that ratio better. Have a wonderful day!
Have you ever made a day before hand. And was it great still? Wondering if I should stop after I pour the sauce over cheeese and mix or cook a little and then refrigerate??
It is better to serve right away. But you can make and reheat it. Just not as good. Thanks.
This is absolutely the best mac n cheese ! I did not add salt and pepper. People can do that at the table . I mix the cheese right in the white sauce and the mix in the noodles.
For topping I have also used a mix of Panko and crushed ritz
So happy you enjoyed the recipe!
This was absolutely the best mac and cheese however it was way too peppery! Not sure if you maybe meant a tsp. So I’ll adjust next time but this was great! Thanks!
I will have to see if I made a mistake. Glad you enjoyed it besides the pepper.
Have you tried freezing it?
Rachel- I have not tried freezing this. I am sure it would work just fine. You may need to add some milk to add some moisture back into it though. I would love to hear how it works out.
Thank you! I’ll keep you posted.
Rachel- That would be great.
So, so, soooo delicious! That white sauce is YUM!
Becca- My kids love when I make this.
It’s hard to go back & make the boxed kind after making this! My family absolutely loves this cheesy dish!!
Natalie- It really is!
Homemade mac & cheese is the best!! It is a must-side at family dinners & holidays! The bread crumbs on top are my favorite!
Kristyn- The breadcrumbs are the best!
Super love this mac and cheese recipe! It’s one of my favorites! Thanks a lot for sharing!
Allyssa- Its a favorite of our too!