This Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is made with 8 ingredients in 15 minutes on the stovetop (no baking required)! Time to ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this irresistibly creamy, smooth & cheesy homemade recipe! Show
I have six kids and a husband with a taste palate of a 12-year-old-boy, which means we eat a lot of mac and cheese in our house. A lot of mac and cheese. So naturally I created this easy homemade mac and cheese recipe so that we could consume less of the boxed varieties. Because I really care about feeding my family healthy meals that they actually enjoy! And did I mention that they love mac and cheese?! Once you taste this homemade mac and cheese you and your family will say "goodbye" to powdered cheese forever, and say "hello" to this creamy dreamy real-cheese version again and again! This homemade mac and cheese recipe is made with only 8 ingredients in 15 minutes! That's the same amount of time it takes to make the boxed varieties, but with no preservatives or artificial ingredients! How do you make Mac and Cheese?This homemade mac and cheese recipe is very easy to make and comes together in 15 minutes flat. As always we'll walk through the process step-by-step, and don't forget to watch the video. Gather & Measure the ingredientsThis easy mac and cheese recipe is super fast-paced once you start cooking, so it's important to have all the ingredients measured and ready to go! As you can see there are only eight, common ingredients in this recipe that most of us have on hand at all times! We will discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions later in this post (right above the recipe card). Homemade Mac and Cheese: Ingredients & SubstitutionsHere are some notes on the ingredients in this mac and cheese recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
Cook the MacaroniCook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Be sure to add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water. It may seem like an insignificant step, but it makes a huge difference in the overall taste of this mac and cheese (or any pasta dish for that matter)! Drain the macaroni when it is cooked but do not rinse it. Make the Cheese SauceWhile the macaroni (or your noodles of choice) is cooking, make the cheese sauce. It's really easy but there are a few notes that we'll go over to ensure your success! Make a RouxThis homemade mac and cheese sauce starts with a roux. What is a roux? It's a mixture of fat (usually butter) and flour that is used to create thick sauces. Start by melting the butter (do not let it brown) and then adding the dry ingredients (flour, salt and garlic powder). Use a whisk to combine the ingredients until the mixture is homogenous (uniform throughout). Let it cook (you will see it bubbling) for about 60 seconds before moving on! Add wet ingredients.After the roux has cooked for 60 seconds, add the milk and whisk the mixture really well. Add the sour cream or Greek yogurt and whisk again. At this point the mixture will be fairly runny. Cook over medium heat whisking every 10-15 seconds until the sauce starts to thicken. Do NOT let this mixture boil! If you do you may end up with a mac and cheese sauce that is too thick. Once the sauce has thickened enough to stick to a spatula, turn the heat to low. Then it's time for the next step... Add the cheese & whisk until smoothAdd the cheese and whisk until the sauce is smooth and all the cheese is melted. This will take 1-2 minutes over low heat. At this point it is important to taste the cheese sauce and adjust the salt/garlic according to your tastes! Combine the Cheese Sauce & Cooked MacaroniOnce the cheese sauce is silky smooth, turn off the heat, add the cooked pasta and stir to combine. The sauce will thicken as it cools, so keep that in mind! Serve!Serve this homemade mac and cheese recipe all by itself for an easy lunch or dinner! I always serve it with roasted broccoli. My kids love it with chopped up hot dogs. I enjoy eating a small portion with a giant salad! You can also serve this homemade mac and cheese as an easy side dish for a BBQ or potluck! What can I add to Mac & Cheese?If you're looking for an extra special way to serve this easy mac and cheese recipe, here are some suggestions for delicious add-ins:
FAQs about Homemade Mac and CheeseThis mac and cheese recipe is one of my most popular, so here are some of the commonly asked questions. How do you store mac and cheese? Store the leftovers of this homemade mac and cheese recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Since it thickens as it cools, you may need to add 1-2 TBS of milk when it's reheated it to restore its original creaminess. Can homemade mac and cheese be frozen? Yes, you can freeze this homemade mac and cheese, however I don't recommend it. Since this mac and cheese recipe is so easy to make, there's really no need to freeze it. If you're looking for a freezer-friendly mac and cheese recipe check out my baked mac and cheese! What main dish goes well with mac and cheese? If you're looking to serve this mac and cheese recipe as a side dish instead of the main event, here are some suggestions for other dishes that pair well with it: Can you make this mac and cheese gluten-free? YES! Making this mac and cheese recipe gluten-free is SO easy! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta and all-purpose gluten free flour, and presto! You have delicious creamy gluten-free mac and cheese! More delicious recipes
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations! Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese RecipeLauraThis Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe is made with 6 ingredients in 15 minutes on the stovetop (no baking required)! Time to ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this irresistibly creamy, smooth & cheesy homemade recipe! 4.99 from 712 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved! Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 10 mins Total Time 15 mins Course dinner, Main Course, Side Dish Cuisine American Servings 8 Servings Calories 271.1 kcal Equipment
Ingredients US CustomaryMetric 1x2x3x
Cheese Sauce:
Instructions
Make the cheese sauce:
VideoNotesStorage & reheating
Ingredient Substitutions:Here are some notes on the ingredients in this easy mac and cheese recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
NutritionServing: 0.5cupCalories: 271.1kcalCarbohydrates: 25.3gProtein: 12.3gFat: 13.8gSaturated Fat: 8.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3.5gCholesterol: 41.7mgSodium: 351mgPotassium: 102.8mgFiber: 1.1gSugar: 2.6gVitamin A: 460IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 252mgIron: 0.3mg Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! How do you keep mac and cheese creamy?Add more cheese
That final layer of cheese on top isn't just for looks; it also helps keep the saucy noodles underneath from drying out during baking. Breadcrumbs also help insulate the noodles, acting as a protective layer while baking that also happens to add a nice little crunch.
What is mac and cheese sauce made of?Made with simple ingredients such as a mac and cheese roux, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper, this cheese sauce for mac and cheese is creamy and scrumptious.
How do you make mac and cheese sauce thicker?You can thicken cheese sauce further by adding more flour or even using a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch or flour with a cup of water. The cold water will create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the cheese sauce over medium heat, and let the sauce boil and thicken.
How do you make a smooth cheese sauce?How do you make a smooth cheese sauce?. Use full-fat cheese that you grate yourself as bagged cheese has additives that can prevent it from melting smoothly.. Let the shredded cheese sit at room temperature for a short time so you're not putting cold cheese into hot liquid.. |