The Best Macaroni and Cheese – ever. Cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and with that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole.
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. Seriously, I’m very proud of this recipe, it’s literal perfection.
What’s the best recipe for macaroni and cheese?
The best ever mac and cheese recipe is super cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and has that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole. In other words, this recipe right here. YUM.
Take note thought, this recipe does take quite a bit of cheese. There is no holding back when it comes to cheese, so lovers unite!
Thankfully, I usually am swimming in a vast variety of cheeses at all times. Not only versatile in so many countless recipes, we eat lots on it’s own as well.
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!
Looking for more pasta recipes to enjoy? May I suggest Mac and Cheese poutine?! YUM!
The Best Macaroni and Cheese - ever. Cheesy, gooey, full of flavour and with that crusted topping of cheese that we love from a casserole.
- 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}
- 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.
- Melt the butter over medium heat
- Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. Stir constantly over medium heat for about three minutes.
- Stir in the milk and whisk constantly for approx. 10 minutes, until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat, and add 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and toss gently until all noodles are covered.
- Add half the noodles to a casserole dish and sprinkle half the remaining cheese on top.
- Add the rest of the noodles and again sprinkle on the remaining cheese.
- 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.
- Enjoy with crumbled bacon on top.
Elizabeth Vlug says
03/28/2014 at 7:29 amPure comfort food. Love homemade Mac and Cheese.
Laura M says
03/28/2014 at 8:04 amI tried this once, but I think it needed the dry mustard and the layering, great idea!
kristin says
03/28/2014 at 10:03 amI LOVE a good mac and cheese. I must try this!!! Simple and easy dinner ideas are my go to these days.
Ellen Christian says
03/28/2014 at 11:28 amMacaroni and cheese is one of my kids’ favorite meals. We have it all the time.
Brenda P says
03/28/2014 at 12:24 pmI love mac and cheese, thanks!
Liz Mays says
03/28/2014 at 1:30 pmIt sounds like it’s worth every bit of whisking time it calls for. That looks outstanding!
Amy Desrosiers says
03/28/2014 at 2:12 pmYum, when you add bacon to cheese something magical happens…yum-o!
Rachel N says
03/28/2014 at 3:29 pmThis looks to die for!
Stacey @ Cheap is the New Classy says
03/28/2014 at 3:34 pmI think the dry mustard is the key! Put even more in… trust me, you will love it!
Marina says
03/28/2014 at 3:57 pmMy kids LOVE mac and cheese. I’m pinning this to try. Looks yummy and creamy!
wendy says
03/28/2014 at 4:14 pmI’m making this tomorrow, can’t wait!
Sara says
03/28/2014 at 4:23 pmthe bacon on top – perfection!
Marcia says
03/28/2014 at 5:22 pmI must try this!
Sherry says
03/28/2014 at 5:32 pmI love all your recipes, I try many of them. Just wanted to stop by and say thanks! 🙂
Nicole B says
03/28/2014 at 6:16 pmHomemade mac and cheese is sooooo delicious. It’s worth the effort.
Nancy Morrow says
03/28/2014 at 6:22 pmI need to try this next time I’m out of my usual, I don’t often think to just do it myself. Wise suggestion!
Jen Temcio @dapperhouse says
03/28/2014 at 6:27 pmMy boys would love me forever if I made them some homemade mac. I love that you used the mozz and cheddar because it would make it a bit more mellow. The bacon was good thinking too!
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
03/28/2014 at 6:42 pmWe all love mac and cheese. I bet my oldest son would gobble up that entire pan.
brett says
03/28/2014 at 7:18 pmi love mac n cheese. and then you put bacon on it. and i love you.
Carlee C says
03/28/2014 at 8:12 pmIt has bacon on it, ENOUGH SAID! Looks super good!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
03/28/2014 at 8:37 pmoh that sounds yummy, love how you topped it with bacon!
Dawn Lopez says
03/28/2014 at 9:11 pmOh good grief this dish looks.. breathtaking. LOL! Seriously, that is some pretty mac & cheese! Sounds amazing!
Lisa says
03/28/2014 at 10:19 pmOh my gosh I want it now! You better believe I am crumbling bacon on top!
Ester G says
03/29/2014 at 7:38 amMac and Cheese is my favorite, I love it with goat cheese
Angela S says
03/29/2014 at 7:46 amOh how I love homemade mac and cheese. Yours looks amazing!
Jennifer Soltys says
03/29/2014 at 7:50 amIt sounds like the best!!! No bacon for me, but I always love mac & cheese. This sounds like a fantastic recipe!!
Lynda Cook says
03/29/2014 at 8:35 amI think I’m going to make this tonight, it sounds a lot better than my mac and cheese recipe
Melissa says
03/29/2014 at 9:17 amWow, this looks delicious. I Love mac and cheese.
Brenda Roy says
03/29/2014 at 9:29 amlooks delish; classic comfort food; definitely saving this recipe. Bet the girls loved it
Michele Brosius says
03/29/2014 at 9:51 amOh my there is no better comfort food than a big old bowl of macaroni and cheese. YUM!
Kerri (TheMaven) says
03/29/2014 at 10:01 amThis sounds so yummy! I love homemade Mac and Cheese!
Ashley M says
03/29/2014 at 1:07 pmMy 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.
Emily says
03/29/2014 at 1:07 pmMmm this looks & sounds so good! I’ve never added bacon to mac and cheese but that sounds amazing.
Cinny says
03/29/2014 at 1:19 pmI love mac and cheese, one of my favorite foods so thanks for the recipe!
Danielle says
03/29/2014 at 2:05 pmTotally trying this recipe! We’ve been making the same homemade mac and cheese recipe for years (with bacon!). Love making it from scratch.
Tanis says
03/29/2014 at 4:21 pmthis looks amazing, thanks!
Catherine L. says
03/29/2014 at 5:54 pmMacaroni and Cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods. I love a lot of cheese. The cheesier the better!
emily says
03/29/2014 at 8:26 pmOh my husband would LOVE this!!
Katy Rawson says
03/29/2014 at 8:57 pmOh my gosh, that looks heavenly. I haven’t made homemade mac and cheese in a long time. I need to do it!
Jonnie says
03/29/2014 at 10:19 pmThis 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.
Greta says
03/30/2014 at 1:45 amI 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.
Melanie a/k/a CrazyMom says
03/30/2014 at 11:38 amI 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
kristen visser says
03/31/2014 at 2:38 pmi am definitely trying this!!! my family LOVES mac and cheese and love the touch of bacon
ginette4 says
03/31/2014 at 3:09 pmMy 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.
Cocovanilla says
03/31/2014 at 8:17 pmIt looks so yummy! love the pics btw 🙂
Stephanie LaPlante says
03/31/2014 at 8:41 pmThis sounds soooo yummy! I need to try this exact recipe.
angela m says
04/02/2014 at 9:45 amLooks delicious, thanks for the recipe, I pinned for later
melanie borhi says
04/05/2014 at 2:36 pmYum looks so good
Florence C says
04/05/2014 at 7:28 pmLove Mac and Cheese. I use my mother-in-laws recipes which I enjoy. I think it is time to try a new recipe.
Heidi C. says
04/07/2014 at 8:43 pmI make a very similar mac ‘n cheese. So delicious!
Yuen C says
04/08/2014 at 1:04 amGreat recipe!
Lynda Cook says
04/08/2014 at 4:47 amOh 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
mohammad masood says
05/25/2014 at 3:34 pmLOVE THIS RECIPE.
Cairine says
09/01/2014 at 2:14 pmBacon on macaroni & cheese, why didn’t I think of that, sounds delicious!
Elaine Buonsante says
09/15/2014 at 11:02 pmI love macaroni and cheese and this recipe looks like a favourite.
Kirsten says
10/15/2014 at 12:42 pmMy kids love this! Thanks for sharing, it is now part of our regular menu and I bet I make it once a week.
Kathy Solis says
10/31/2014 at 10:01 amWhat is the serving size on this recipie
Tammi says
11/01/2014 at 9:04 amLots! lol, I’d say 10-12 – just because it’s so filling.
Jaelan @ Making Mrs. M says
03/10/2015 at 8:24 amI’ve been looking for a good homemade mac & cheese recipe. This looks scrumptious. Thanks for the recipe!
Julia says
03/12/2015 at 9:38 pmI 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…
Marsha says
03/13/2015 at 6:14 pmMy all time favorite food in the whole world! I’ve got it pinned. Thank you!
Miz Helen says
03/16/2015 at 11:58 amI 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
Michelle says
03/21/2015 at 2:08 pmI’m a big believer in adding dry mustard to cheese sauces. A must!
Brenda Roy says
10/03/2015 at 4:33 pmTrue comfort food; this sounds so yummy
Susan says
09/24/2016 at 2:56 pmJust 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?
Tammi says
09/25/2016 at 7:42 amVery odd, I have one – just take your 1/2 and on’t fill it entirely full.
Pat says
10/18/2016 at 11:45 amThis 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
Jason says
11/24/2016 at 1:26 pmMmm…this reminds me of the good old fashioned Mac and cheese that my grandmother used to make. So delicious! Looks great 🙂
Lou says
03/24/2017 at 7:39 pmLove 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
Tammi says
03/29/2017 at 9:36 amGreat addition!!
eunice says
03/29/2017 at 6:51 amHello! Delicious recipe 🙂 wonder what flour did you use? thanks!
Tammi says
03/29/2017 at 9:35 amAll purpose. 🙂
Florence Cochrane says
11/26/2018 at 12:53 pmThis Mac & Cheese recipes look delicious. I am going to save it for later to make.