Description
This simple mac and cheese recipe is creamy, comforting, and made with pantry staples in under 30 minutes. Perfect as a main dish or side, it’s the best homemade mac and cheese for busy weeknights. Keywords: simple mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, easy homemade mac and cheese.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and whisk for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour flavor.
3. Gradually pour in the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until smooth and melted. Season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
5. Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir well to coat all pasta evenly. Serve hot.
Notes
Make sure to use freshly shredded cheese for the smoothest melt.
Add a splash of milk when reheating to maintain creaminess.
Customize with bacon bits, breadcrumbs, or hot sauce for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 60mg