The Best Mac And Cheese Recipe

I burned my first mac and cheese recipe so badly in culinary school that the smoke alarm went off three times. That was twelve years ago, and since then I've made this dish probably 200 times most of them with Max standing on his step stool, dropping cheese everywhere and asking why we can't just use the box stuff. Those messy Sunday afternoons taught me more about cooking than any textbook ever could.

Why This Mac and Cheese Recipe Works

I make this Mac and Cheese Recipe at least twice a month because it's one of those recipes that never lets me down. Max requests it for his birthday every year, and honestly, it's easier than trying to figure out what eight-year-olds will actually eat at a party. Last time I made it for a potluck, three different people asked for the recipe, which always makes me feel like I'm doing something right.The thing about this recipe is that it doesn't require perfect timing or fancy ingredients.

I've made it when I'm exhausted after work, when Max is helping and spilling things everywhere, and when unexpected guests show up. It comes out the same every time. The cheese sauce doesn't break like some recipes do, and the top gets crispy instead of staying soggy. What really sold me on this version was when my neighbor's kid, who apparently hates cheese, ate two helpings and asked if I could teach his mom how to make it.

Jump to:

• Why This Mac and Cheese Recipe Works
• What You Need for Mac and Cheese Recipe
• How To Make Mac and Cheese RecipeStep By Step
• Smart Swaps for Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Ways to Change Up Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Equipment For Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Storing Your Mac and Cheese Recipe
• What to Serve with Mac and Cheese Recipe
• Top Tip
• How My Sister's Dish Became a Family Favorite
• FAQ
• Perfect Comfort Food Success!
• Related
• Pairing
• Mac and Cheese Recipe

What You Need for Mac and Cheese Recipe

The Main Players:

• Elbow macaroni
• Sharp white cheddar
• Mild yellow cheddar
• Cream cheese
• Fresh Parmesan
• Whole milk
• Heavy cream
• Butter
• Flour
• Dijon mustard
• White pepper
• Garlic powder

For the Crispy Top:

• Panko breadcrumbs
• More sharp cheddar
• Melted butter

Basic Tools:

• Whisk
• Large pot for pasta
• Heavy saucepan
• 9x13 baking dish
• Box grater

See recipe card for quantities.

How To Make Mac and Cheese Recipe
Step By Step

Get the pasta going:

• Cook elbow macaroni in heavily salted water
• Stop when it's almost done but still has bite
• Don't cook it all the way finishes in oven
• Drain and set aside

Make the cheese sauce:

• Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat
• Whisk in flour and cook for one minute
• Slowly pour in milk and cream while whisking
• Keep stirring until it thickens up
• Take pan off heat
• Add cheeses handful at a time
• Stir in mustard, garlic powder, and pepper

Put it together:

• Mix pasta into cheese sauce until coated
• Pour everything into buttered 9x13 pan
• Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and cheese
• Sprinkle topping evenly

Bake it:

• 375°F for about 30 minutes
• Look for golden top and bubbling edges
• Let sit for 10 minutes before serving
• Sauce needs time to thicken up

Smart Swaps for Mac and Cheese Recipe

For the pasta:

• Regular elbow → Gluten-free pasta
• Elbow macaroni → Shells or cavatappi
• White pasta → Whole wheat (adds nuttiness)

For the cheese:

• Sharp cheddar → Mild cheddar (for sensitive palates)
• Dairy cheese → Vegan cheese shreds
• Cream cheese → Greek yogurt (add off heat)
• Fresh grated → Pre-shredded (in a pinch)

For the milk/cream:

• Whole milk → 2% milk
• Heavy cream → Half and half
• Dairy → Unsweetened almond milk
• Regular → Evaporated milk (richer taste)

For the topping:

• Panko → Regular breadcrumbs
• Breadcrumbs → Crushed crackers
• Butter → Olive oil spray

Ways to Change Up Mac and Cheese Recipe

Bacon Mac:

• Cook bacon until crispy, crumble it up
• Use some bacon fat instead of butter
• Mix bacon pieces into cheese sauce
• Top with extra bacon bits

Veggie Loaded:

• Steam broccoli or cauliflower first
• Fold into cheese sauce with pasta
• Add frozen peas (Max actually likes these)
• Diced tomatoes work too

Spicy Version:

• Add diced jalapeños to cheese sauce
• Sprinkle cayenne on breadcrumb topping
• Mix in some pepper jack cheese
• Hot sauce on the side for adults

Fancy Holiday Version:

• Use gruyere instead of some cheddar
• Add caramelized onions
• Top with fresh herbs
• Serve in individual ramekins

Leftover Turkey Mac:

• Shred leftover turkey into cheese sauce
• Add dried cranberries
• Use sage in breadcrumb topping
• Perfect for post-Thanksgiving

Equipment For Mac and Cheese Recipe

• Large pot for boiling pasta
• Heavy-bottomed saucepan for cheese sauce
• 9x13 inch baking dish
• Box grater for cheese
• Whisk for smooth sauce
• Wooden spoon for stirring

Storing Your Mac and Cheese Recipe

In the fridge (3-4 days):

• Let it cool completely before covering
• Store in the same dish or transfer to containers
• Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap
• Reheat in 325°F oven with splash of milk

In the freezer (2-3 months):

• Cool completely first
• Wrap really well to prevent freezer burn
• Label with date so you remember when you made it
• Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating

Reheating tips:

• Oven works better than microwave
• Add a little milk or cream to loosen it up
• Stir halfway through heating
• Don't expect leftover topping to be crispy

Make-ahead trick:

• Assemble everything but don't bake
• Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours
• Add 10 extra minutes to baking time
• Let it come to room temp first if you remember

What to Serve with Mac and Cheese Recipe

Mac and Cheese Recipe is pretty filling on its own, but I've learned that pairing it with the right sides makes dinner feel more complete. We usually go with something fresh and light to cut through all that creamy richness. A simple green salad with vinaigrette works perfectly, or steamed broccoli if I'm trying to get some vegetables into Max. He actually discovered that apple slices taste great with Mac and Cheese Recipe the crisp sweetness balances out the heavy cheese sauce in a way that surprised me.

For more substantial meals, grilled chicken breast or pork chops work well without competing with the Mac and Cheese Recipe flavors. I've served it alongside barbecued ribs at summer cookouts, and people always clean their plates. Coleslaw is another winner, especially the tangy kind that cuts through the richness. The main thing I've learned is to keep the sides simple and fresh. Max's friends' parents always ask what I serve with it when they're planning their own family dinners, and honestly, less is more with this dish.

How My Sister's Dish Became a Family Favorite

My sister brought this Mac and Cheese Recipe to our family about eight years ago when she was going through her "I'm going to cook everything from scratch" phase. She made it for Max's third birthday party, and I remember thinking it looked way too fancy for a bunch of toddlers. But those kids demolished the entire pan, and the adults kept asking her for the recipe.

The thing that made her version different was how she handled the cheese sauce. Instead of just dumping all the cheese in at once like I used to do, she taught me to take the pan off the heat first and add it slowly. She also used that mix of sharp and mild cheddar that I never would have thought of. "You need the sharp for flavor and the mild so it's not too strong for kids," she explained while Max hung on her every word.

What really sold me was watching her make it again a few weeks later when she came for dinner. No fuss, no stress, just methodical steps that worked perfectly. My sister moved across the country two years ago, but this recipe stuck around. Now when Max asks for "his aunt's Mac and Cheese Recipe," I know exactly what he means. Sometimes the best family recipes come from the people who marry in or move away but leave their cooking behind.

FAQ

Perfect Comfort Food Success!

Now you know how to make Mac and Cheese Recipe that Max requests every week and that saved me from countless dinner disasters. This recipe works because it's straightforward - pasta, cheese sauce, crispy topping, done. No complicated steps, no ingredients you need to hunt down at specialty stores.

Want more weeknight dinners that won't make you crazy? Try our Healthy Guacamole Recipe that's just as comforting but feels fancier. Need something quicker? Our Delicious Banana Bread Recipe uses stuff you probably already have. When you want pasta that actually satisfies everyone, our Easy Butternut Squash Recipe always fills people up.

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Pairing

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