Description
Creamy, cheesy, and comforting, this simple macaroni and cheese recipe delivers indulgent flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for weeknight dinners or as a side dish for gatherings, it combines tender pasta with a rich cheese sauce that everyone will love.
Ingredients
8 ounces (225 g) elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
1 teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional)
2 cups (200 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup (50 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional topping for baked version:
1 cup (100 g) breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Cook pasta: Boil macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Make roux: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, and cook 1–2 minutes.
Add dairy: Slowly whisk in milk and cream. Cook until slightly thickened.
Season sauce: Stir in mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Add cheese: Reduce heat and add cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella until smooth.
Combine: Mix in cooked pasta until fully coated in sauce.
Optional bake: Transfer to baking dish, top with breadcrumb mixture, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes until golden.
Notes
Shred your own cheese for best melting.
Slightly undercook pasta to avoid mushiness.
Add a splash of milk when reheating to restore creaminess.
For baked version, cool sauce slightly before baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main / Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop (optional baked)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: simple macaroni and cheese, easy mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, stovetop macaroni and cheese, baked mac and cheese