Classic Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Illustrative stock photos, not this exact recipe. Photo credits are at the bottom of the page.

Real mac and cheese starts with a simple white sauce, then melts in plenty of sharp cheddar. It takes about the same time as a boxed version, tastes far better and is easy to scale.

Grate the cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese has coatings that can make the sauce grainy.

Recipe label: Based on traditional technique. Photo: illustrative stock photo, not the finished dish from this exact recipe.

Photo credits: Photo 1: Valeria Boltneva on Pexels; Photo 2: Valeria Boltneva on Pexels; Photo 3: Barbara G on Pexels. Free stock photos, used under the Unsplash or Pexels license and shown here as illustrations only.

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Classic Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Author: KP Cooking Method: Simmering Cuisine: American Courses: Dinner, Lunch Recipe Keys: F Family Favorites Kids Vegetarian Meals

Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 25 mins

Servings: 5

Description

Creamy stovetop macaroni and cheese with a smooth cheddar sauce, made from scratch in 25 minutes. A family favorite.

Ingredients

Servings

• 340 g elbow macaroni (12 oz)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 720 ml whole milk (3 cups, warmed)
• 250 g sharp cheddar (2½ cups, freshly grated)
• ½ tsp mustard powder
• ¾ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 pinch paprika or nutmeg

Instructions

1. Boil the macaroni in salted water until just short of done. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
3. Gradually whisk in the warm milk. Simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
4. Remove from the heat and stir in the mustard, salt, pepper and cheese until smooth.
5. Add the macaroni and stir to coat. Serve at once.

Note

Take the pot off the heat before adding the cheese so it melts smoothly. Add a splash of milk when reheating. For baked mac and cheese, top with breadcrumbs and bake at 200°C / 400°F for 15 minutes. Keeps 3 days in the fridge.