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The Best Macaroni and Cheese

By 72 Comments

The Best Macaroni and Cheese – ever. Cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and with that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole.

best-macaroni-and-cheese

The Best Macaroni and Cheese

Is there anything more classic that Macaroni and Cheese? While I have to admit that we do reach for the boxed kind more often than not, I’ve always been curious about the recipes flying about, to make your own.

It wasn’t until my pantry was pretty bare, that I was forced to make Macaroni and Cheese myself. By the way, forced being a term I’m using for ‘I really don’t want to go shopping today’.

So, I scoured the net, talked to friends and adjusted a few recipes to create what I consider to be The Best Macaroni and Cheese – ever.

Cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and with that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole. YUM.

the-best-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe

This recipe does take quite a bit of cheese, and thankfully, I usually am swimming in a vast variety of cheeses at all times.

Things is, you can really make this recipe your own when it comes to cheese. Either based on what you have on hand, or preference. I used a mixture of mozza and medium cheddar, yet you can go full force with the cheddar if you wish.

Making it is pretty simple, though it does require a lot of whisking on the stove to prevent burning. Monotonous yet necessary, so I suggest blasting some music to make the time pass faster.

The end result will be classic, warming with a side of accomplishment that ‘hey, you can make your own!‘. Give this one a try and see for yourself, why is really is The Best Macaroni and Cheese – ever! Especially if you add some crumbled bacon on top!
 

4.25 from 4 votes
best-macaroni-and-cheese
Print
The Best Macaroni and Cheese
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

The Best Macaroni and Cheese - ever. Cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and with that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Author: Tammi @ My Organized Chaos
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups macaroni or other favourite pasta
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/3 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2½ cups 2% milk
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese and 1 cup grated mozza cheese {or 3 cups grated medium cheddar cheese}
Instructions
  1. Boil the pasta until al dente, then drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process. Return the pasta to the pan that you boiled it in and set aside.
  2. Melt the butter over medium heat
  3. Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. Stir constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
  4. Stir in the milk and whisk constantly for approx. 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
  5. Remove from heat, and add 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted.
  6. Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and toss gently until all noodles are covered.
  7. Add half the noodles to a casserole dish and sprinkle half the remaining cheese on top.
  8. Add the rest of the noodles and again sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
  9. Bake uncovered at 375 for about 25-30 minutes, until it starts getting brown on top and it looks like the cheese has really thickened.
  10. Enjoy with crumbled bacon on top.

 
Best Ever Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

 

Looking for more pasta recipes to enjoy? May I suggest Mac and Cheese poutine?! YUM!

 

 

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Comments

  14. I love all your recipes, I try many of them. Just wanted to stop by and say thanks! 🙂

    Reply

  16. I need to try this next time I’m out of my usual, I don’t often think to just do it myself. Wise suggestion!

    Reply

  27. I think I’m going to make this tonight, it sounds a lot better than my mac and cheese recipe

    Reply

  29. looks delish; classic comfort food; definitely saving this recipe. Bet the girls loved it

    Reply

  32. My husband loves mac and cheese – he will eat it any way it’s made. But I prefer to make it a little more “grown up” I think this recipe would be delicious.

    Reply

  35. Totally trying this recipe! We’ve been making the same homemade mac and cheese recipe for years (with bacon!). Love making it from scratch.

    Reply

  40. This sounds so good! My 9 year old loves Mac & Cheese more than anything else. He would eat it at every meal if he was allowed. Oddly enough my other son won’t eat it and never would.

    Reply

  41. I am not usually a fan of mac and cheese from scratch, but every so often I get a hankering for some! I agree with Stacey about increasing the dry mustard, too.

    Reply

  42. I love Mac N Cheese.. my perfect comfort food and your recipe looks delicious.. YUMM.. I know what we will dish up tonight.. not sure what to add (not like I need something to go with..lol).. but deff. making this.. thanks for sharing

    Reply

  43. i am definitely trying this!!! my family LOVES mac and cheese and love the touch of bacon

    Reply

  44. My love macaroni, thanks for the recipe, going to try this one, it looks so good. Oh and the dry mustard is something that I never heard of of before, would never have thought of putting it in macaroni.

    Reply

  49. Love Mac and Cheese. I use my mother-in-laws recipes which I enjoy. I think it is time to try a new recipe.

    Reply

  52. Oh wow!! this sounds so much better than my own homemade mac and cheese, I’m going to give this one a try, thanks for sharing

    Reply

  56. My kids love this! Thanks for sharing, it is now part of our regular menu and I bet I make it once a week.

    Reply

  59. I love how simple the ingredients are! I think have to make this in the next 48 hours. I’m going to check if I have any bacon in the freezer now…

    Reply

  61. I just love your classic Mac and Cheese, it looks so good! Happy St. Patrick’s Day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday!
    Miz Helen

    Reply

  64. Just finding this recipe and wanted to try it, but I’m confused by the 1/3 teaspoon? I’ve never seen that. My teaspoons are 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2. Has anyone else had this problem?

    Reply

  65. This is exactly how I make it. The mustard adds a little zest. Want to put it over the top? Melt a stick and a half of butter, and add a tube of crushed saltines and coat. Then, put the buttery saltine mix on top and spread it flat to the edges, and then bake. It adds a whole new layer of comfort flavor

    Reply

  66. Mmm…this reminds me of the good old fashioned Mac and cheese that my grandmother used to make. So delicious! Looks great 🙂

    Reply

  67. Love the mac and cheese,
    The only thing I do is I put Montreal steak spice ,a dash of regular mustard, fresh ground pepper and top it with grated cheese, and 6 slices of bacon

    Reply

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