Description
This Mouthwatering Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, cheesy, and perfectly satisfying. It’s an easy recipe that comes together quickly, making it ideal for busy weeknights or lazy weekend cravings. With its velvety cheese sauce and tender elbow macaroni, it’s a quick dinner, cozy side dish, or holiday favorite. Perfect for anyone looking for easy dinner ideas, comfort food classics, or crowd-pleasing food ideas.
Ingredients
8 ounces elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to form a roux.
3. Slowly whisk in the milk and cream. Cook until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Reduce heat to low and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and smooth.
5. Add the cooked pasta back to the pot and stir gently to coat with the cheese sauce. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for the best melt and flavor—avoid pre-shredded bags.
Don’t skip the roux step—it’s key to a silky sauce that doesn’t break.
Warm the milk slightly before adding it to the roux to help the sauce come together faster.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Comfort Food
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: easy recipe, mac and cheese, quick dinner, comfort food, food ideas, cheesy pasta