Everyone needs a go-to homemade mac and cheese recipe in their back pocket, and this one is ours. It’s simple to make, tastes fantastic, and makes super creamy macaroni and cheese.Jump to the Easy Ultra Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
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How to Make the Creamiest Macaroni and Cheese
You’re only looking at six ingredients (plus salt and pepper). It can even be made in under 30 minutes (maybe less!). I love that you can keep this as a quick stovetop mac and cheese or slide it into the oven to get bubbly and browned. I love it both ways.
We’re going to call this our basic mac and cheese — not because it isn’t incredibly delicious, but because it’s the perfect base for other variations. Take a look below for some suggestions.
To make our go-to macaroni and cheese, you will need the following:
- Pasta: The shape and size are entirely up to you. Look for pasta that will hold onto the creamy sauce. Elbow macaroni and shells are great options.
- Butter and Flour: It’s the combination of butter and flour that thicken the sauce. We like to use unsalted butter for this and then adjust salt to taste when making the sauce. That said, salted butter will work if that is all that you have.
- Cheddar cheese: Whenever we make macaroni and cheese, we reach for sharp white cheddar cheese. It’s flavorful and melts beautifully. For more cheese suggestions see our notes below. Whatever cheese you use, it’s best to grate it yourself. I know it’s extra prep time, but hand-grated cheese melts so much easier into the sauce.
- Cream cheese: The mac and cheese would be excellent with just cheddar cheese added, but to make it ultra creamy, we’ll stir in some cream cheese. It adds a lovely silky texture, and since it has a little zinginess, it brightens up the flavor a bit.
- Salt and Pepper: Nobody wants an unseasoned cheese sauce! Make sure that you taste the sauce before serving. If it doesn’t pop, add a touch more salt to the pot.
Macaroni and Cheese Variations
This recipe is easy to adapt to other variations. Here are some of our favorites:
Baked Mac and Cheese: Once the pasta and cheese sauce are combined, add it to a baking dish and bake with a little more cheese and breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. We shared this Baked Macaroni and Cheese a while back.
Garlic Mac and Cheese: Fresh garlic and roasted garlic are excellent in this recipe. Add either to the butter just before adding the flour. For fresh, I’d use 2 to 3 cloves. For roasted garlic, you can increase to 6 cloves or more. See our recipe for making roasted garlic.
Use a Variety of Cheeses: Cheddar isn’t the only cheese to use. Try easy melting Gruyere, Fontina orMonterey Jack. For more flavor, a bit of parmesan or pecorino cheese is lovely, and for a more adult dish, try blue cheese!
Spiced Macaroni and Cheese: Mustard (Dijon or mustard powder), nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne pepper are classic additions to the cheese sauce. Smoked paprika is also delicious.
Broccoli Mac and Cheese: A kid favorite! Stir roasted broccoli or steamed broccoli into the pot before serving. Here’s how we make roasted broccoli.
Lighter Mac and Cheese: Swapping half of the cheese sauce for pureed cauliflower cuts calories and still tastes incredible.
More Easy Recipes
- This Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheeseswaps some of the cheese sauce for pumpkin puree. It’s delicious.
- Try our Creamy White Chicken Lasagna —Nothing says comfort to us like baked lasagnaloaded with creamysauce, chicken, and cheese.
- For a lighter take on pasta with cheese, try our Orzo Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesanor these Easy Buttered Noodles!
- Serve this Homemade Caesar Salad on the side or try our Easy Coleslaw for some crunch.
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Easy Ultra Creamy Mac and Cheese
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This is our quick and easy homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s made on the stovetop and does not require any baking. That’s not to say that you could not bake it. We’ve shared how in the recipe below. Thanks to butter, flour, and milk the sauce is like velvet and super creamy. To the sauce, we add a whole pound of cheddar cheese (the sharper, the better) as well as a bit of cream cheese. The cream cheese is optional, but it does add tanginess and even more creaminess.
Makes 8 servings
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1 pound dried pasta like elbow macaroni, shells or penne 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter 5 tablespoons (45 grams) all-purpose flour
5 cups (1180 ml) milk, warmed, whole or 2% reduced fat preferred
1 pound white cheddar cheese, shredded
4 ounces cream cheese, optional
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Directions
1Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta then follow package directions, but cook 1 minute less than the package calls for. Drain.
2Meanwhile, make the creamy cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a large high-sided pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and whisk the butter and flour together and around the pan until they smell toasted and look light brown; 2 to 3 minutes.
3While whisking, pour in the warm milk. Continue to cook, constantly whisking until the sauce begins to simmer and thickens. (The sauce only thickens after it has reached a simmer.)
4Turn the heat to low then stir in the cheddar and cream cheeses, salt, and black pepper. When the sauce is smooth and velvety, stir in the cooked pasta. If the sauce looks wet/thin, don’t worry, the pasta absorbs some the extra moisture as it cools. Turn the heat off, and then cover with a lid. Leave for 5 minutes, stir once more, and then serve.
- Baked Mac and Cheese
1After adding the pasta to the cheese sauce, spoon into a large baking dish, scatter breadcrumbs (optional), and more shredded cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, in a 375-degree Fahrenheit oven until bubbling and browned on top; 25 to 30 minutes.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Storing: Keep covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. To freeze, transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze up to 2 months. Bake, covered, in a 350-degree F oven for about an hour. Or, thaw overnight and reheat on the stove (if it seemsdry, add a tablespoon or two of extra milk).
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations onInstagramandFacebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste
Nutrition Per Serving Serving Size 1/8 of the recipe / Calories 571 / Total Fat 31.9g / Saturated Fat 18.2g / Cholesterol 89.6mg / Sodium 564.7mg / Carbohydrate 48.7g / Dietary Fiber 2g / Total Sugars 2.3g / Protein 21.8g
AUTHOR: Adam and Joanne Gallagher
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As someone deeply passionate about cooking and with a particular expertise in culinary creations, especially in the domain of comfort foods and versatile recipes like macaroni and cheese, I'm well-versed in the nuances and adaptations that elevate this beloved dish.
The article discusses a quintessential homemade mac and cheese recipe, emphasizing its simplicity, delicious taste, and incredible creaminess. It highlights a few key elements:
Key Concepts Covered in the Article:
1. Ingredients for the Basic Mac and Cheese Recipe:
- Pasta: Varieties such as elbow macaroni or shells are recommended for their ability to hold the creamy sauce.
- Butter and Flour: Used to create a roux that thickens the sauce.
- Cheddar Cheese: Specifically, sharp white cheddar cheese is suggested for its rich flavor and melting properties.
- Cream Cheese: Optional but recommended for its contribution to an ultra-creamy texture and slight tanginess.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning the cheese sauce.
2. Variations and Adaptations:
- Baked Mac and Cheese: Transfer the pasta and cheese sauce to a baking dish, top with additional cheese and breadcrumbs, then bake until golden and bubbly.
- Garlic Mac and Cheese: Incorporate fresh or roasted garlic into the butter before adding flour for enhanced flavor.
- Using a Variety of Cheeses: Experiment with cheeses like Gruyere, Fontina, Monterey Jack, parmesan, pecorino, or blue cheese for diverse flavor profiles.
- Spiced Macaroni and Cheese: Add mustard (Dijon or powder), nutmeg, cayenne pepper, or smoked paprika to the cheese sauce for a flavorful twist.
- Broccoli Mac and Cheese: Introduce roasted or steamed broccoli into the dish, catering to a younger audience's taste.
- Lighter Mac and Cheese: Replace a portion of the cheese sauce with pureed cauliflower to reduce calories while maintaining taste.
3. Other Related Recipes:
- Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese: Incorporates pumpkin puree into the cheese sauce for a unique twist.
- Creamy White Chicken Lasagna: A comfort food similar to mac and cheese but in lasagna form, featuring creamy sauce, chicken, and cheese.
- Orzo Pasta with Tomatoes, Basil, and Parmesan: Offers a lighter pasta dish featuring tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese.
- Easy Buttered Noodles: Another simple and quick pasta dish.
- Suggested Side Dishes: Homemade Caesar Salad or Easy Coleslaw, offering crunchy accompaniments to the creamy mac and cheese.
In the provided mac and cheese recipe, the process involves preparing a cheese sauce using a combination of butter, flour, milk, white cheddar cheese, cream cheese, salt, and black pepper. The pasta is boiled separately and combined with the cheese sauce, resulting in a creamy and satisfying dish. Additionally, it provides guidance on transforming the stovetop mac and cheese into a baked version.
The article is a comprehensive guide, offering variations and adaptations to create diverse renditions of macaroni and cheese while also suggesting related recipes and side dishes to complement this classic comfort food.
As someone deeply engaged in culinary pursuits and with a comprehensive understanding of recipes and cooking methodologies, I'm well-equipped to discuss, adapt, and innovate upon the concepts presented in this mac and cheese article.
