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Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese

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This easy one-pot mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, cheesy, and ready in under 40 minutes. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or cozy nights in, it features a velvety sauce and tender noodles that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz elbow macaroni
  • Salt (for boiling water and seasoning)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated (optional but recommended)
  • 1/2 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt (or more, to taste)
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (optional topping)
  • 2 tbsp melted butter (optional topping)
  • 1/2 cup extra cheddar cheese, grated (optional topping)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 7–8 minutes until just al dente. Drain well and set aside.
  2. In the same pot, melt unsalted butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk constantly for about 1 minute until smooth and bubbly.
  3. Gradually pour in whole milk and heavy cream, whisking continuously. Cook for 3–5 minutes until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  4. Stir in ground mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  5. Remove the pot from heat. Add sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan cheese a handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth.
  6. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce. Fold gently until every noodle is coated. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
  7. Optional: For a crunchy topping, preheat oven to 375°F. Spread mac and cheese in a buttered 9×13-inch casserole dish. Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over the top, followed by extra cheddar. Bake for 15–20 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Notes

Always grate your own cheese for the smoothest sauce. For gluten-free, use GF pasta and flour. Add veggies or cooked meats for variety. If baking, watch closely after 15 minutes to avoid drying out. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, comfort food, easy pasta, one-pot mac and cheese, family dinner, kid-friendly, cheese sauce, casserole

Find it online: https://yumyep.com/creamy-homemade-mac-and-cheese-recipe-easy-one-pot-ultimate-comfort/