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Yesica Andrews

Homemade Mac and Cheese: Irresistibly Delicious Recipe

This Homemade Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort meal, boasting a luscious, creamy texture with an irresistibly cheesy flavor. Whether you’re craving an Old-fashioned Mac and Cheese or a Basic Mac N Cheese Recipe, this dish stands out as a go-to choice. Perfect as a main course alongside a fresh vegetable or salad, or as a tasty side, this Mac and Cheese recipe is simple to prepare and sure to satisfy the whole family.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 435
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces short pasta shapes such as elbow macaroni or shells
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded about 2 cups divided
  • 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded about 2 cups divided
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk low fat or whole
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Method
 

  1. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish by greasing it with butter or spraying with cooking spray and heat your oven to 375°F.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package until it’s just tender. Drain well, then return the pasta to the pot.
  3. While the pasta cooks, mix together the sharp cheddar and sharp white cheddar cheeses in a bowl.
  4. In a medium saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and keep whisking until the mixture turns a light golden color, about 1-2 minutes.
  5. Slowly add in the milk while whisking continuously. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens, which should take around 5 minutes, then remove it from heat.
  6. Season the sauce by whisking in salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Next, fold in half of the cheese mixture until it melts smoothly.
  7. Pour this cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and stir everything together to coat the noodles evenly.
  8. Transfer half of the cheesy pasta into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle one-third of the remaining cheese on top, then layer the rest of the pasta over it.
  9. Finish by spreading the remaining cheese evenly across the top.
  10. Bake the casserole uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until it’s bubbling and the cheese on top has melted beautifully.

Notes

  • You can assemble this mac and cheese up to one day in advance. Simply cover and refrigerate it overnight. When ready to cook, allow it to rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking, and then add approximately 10 extra minutes to the baking time to ensure it's heated through.