Description
Creamy and delicious, this homemade mac and cheese recipe is a family favorite that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 16 ounces short pasta shapes (such as elbow macaroni or shells)
Cheese Mixture:
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (shredded, about 2 cups, divided)
- 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese (shredded, about 2 cups, divided)
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk (low fat or whole)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Grease Baking Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
- Cook Pasta: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions for al dente. Drain and return to pot.
- Combine Cheeses: Mix the two cheeses in a bowl.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk. Cook until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir in half of the cheese until melted.
- Combine Pasta and Cheese Sauce: Pour cheese sauce over pasta, mix well. Pour half into baking dish, top with ⅓ of remaining cheese. Add remaining pasta, top with remaining cheese.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes at 375° F until bubbly and cheese is melted.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, pasta, cheese, comfort food
