Best mac and cheese recipe. Get your comfort food fix with this classic dish. Al dente macaroni is tossed with creamy, cheesy sauce, and then topped with crunchy breadcrumbs for the ultimate flavor and texture. Serve it as it is, or with a side of garlicky toasted bread or grilled chicken. Delish!
Who wouldn’t want to indulge in the deliciousness of iconic macaroni and cheese? Your search for the ultimate comfort food ends here. I literally fell in love with the simplicity and healthier twist of the easier 3 ingredient recipe as well as the veggie loaded creamy cauliflower version. However, making the classic dish the perfect way with the right ingredients is just pure bliss.
The absolute first thing to choose is the right kind of cheese. Traditionally, the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but you can enhance the creaminess with red Leicester or Colby Jack. While Red Leicester, belonging to the cheddar family, brings in its rich, orange flavor, Colby Jack is the perfect combo of Monterey jack and Colby. Choose your favorite cheese to make the perfect dish that you’ll love.
Key Ingredients In The Best Mac And Cheese
- Pasta - Classic macaroni or pasta elbows.
- Cheese - A delicious combo of cheddar and Colby Jack or Red Leicester.
- Flour - The good old all purpose (plain) flour to thicken the sauce.
- Milk - The liquid ingredient that makes the pasta creamy alongside cheese.
- Spices - These are totally optional, and are not required for the classic version. It includes onion powder, garlic powder and paprika.
- Breadcrumbs - Mix it with cheese to get the golden perfection when baked.
How To Make The Best Mac And Cheese
Cook pasta - In this recipe, you will need to cook the pasta separately until al dente. Drain the excess water.
Make creamy sauce - Start with cooking flour in melted butter followed by the addition of onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Give this a quick fry, and whisk in milk alongside cheese. The cooked macaroni gets tossed with this creamy sauce.
Add topping and bake - Baking is also optional in this recipe. However, it gives a crunchy topping with golden hue.
Best Mac And Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
Cook pasta:
- 400 g macaroni or pasta elbows
- Water
- Salt to taste
Creamy sauce:
- 50 g butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose or plain flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup grated Colby Jack or Red Leicester
- Salt and pepper to taste
Bake:
- ½ cup cheddar
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C or 375 F.
- Cook pasta following the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, to make the creamy sauce, melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Add flour. Cook, stirring continuously, for about 2 minutes or until the mixture bubbles and is grainy.
- Add onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Sauté, stirring, for 30 seconds.
- Whisk in milk and grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, whisking continuously, until cheese is melted and the mixture is nice and smooth.
- Stir in cooked pasta.
- Transfer mixture to a small 9-inch baking dish.
- Combine together cheese and breadcrumbs for the topping.
- Sprinkle the cheese mixture over pasta.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if you like.
Video
Notes
- Pasta - You can use macaroni or pasta elbows in this recipe.
- Cheese - The more the better. Use freshly grated cheese for perfect mac and cheese.
- Gluten free option - Use gluten free pasta, flour and breadcrumbs.
- Baking - This step is optional, you can serve this dish without baking.
Nutrition
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Lydia says
One of our family favourites!!!
Elan says
My kids would love this!
Susan says
I have seen many variants of Mac and cheese and this looks incredible.