Description
A rich and comforting homemade creamy macaroni and cheese recipe featuring elbow pasta coated in a velvety cheese sauce, customizable with flavor twists and dietary substitutions.
Ingredients
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1 lb elbow macaroni (or shells, cavatappi, rotini)
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4 tbsp unsalted butter
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4 tbsp all-purpose flour
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4 cups whole milk (warm)
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½ cup heavy cream
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2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
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1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
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½ cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
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½ tsp mustard powder
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¼ tsp nutmeg
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½ tsp black pepper
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Salt, to taste
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1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
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2 tbsp cream cheese or sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
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½ cup breadcrumbs (optional, for baked topping)
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2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
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In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux.
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Gradually whisk in warm milk and cream until smooth and slightly thickened.
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Lower the heat and add shredded cheeses in small handfuls, stirring until melted and creamy.
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Season with mustard powder, nutmeg, black pepper, and optional hot sauce.
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Fold pasta into the sauce until well coated.
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For stovetop version: serve immediately with garnish.
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For baked version: transfer to a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs, and broil until golden.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest sauce (pre-shredded can cause graininess).
Warm the milk before adding it to the roux to prevent lumps.
Reserve a little pasta water to thin out the sauce if it becomes too thick.
Can be adapted for gluten-free, vegan, or low-calorie diets with substitutions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop or Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 200 g)
- Calories: ~480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg