Tackle Mac & Cheese like a Boss with this Simple Recipe

Tackle Mac & Cheese like a Boss with this Simple Recipe

Happy Saturday and welcome to the second installment of Side Dish Saturdays. It’s time to tackle Mac-N-Cheese! First I want to apologise for not having this post up this morning. I have been having internet problems for almost a week now! Yikes! All is well now and repaired so back to business it is! I bring to you Mac-N-Cheese. Don’t be scared! You can leave the box stuff behind forever and you will find the variations available that will have you mastering this side dish in no time flat.

Long have I suffered the inadequacies of being able to make a from scratch Mac-N-Cheese. I have tried so many recipes and tried it baked and not baked, with a rue and without. You name it and I guarantee that I have tried it at least once.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to say this recipe is fool proof, I will say it has a very good base and with the versatility of choosing your own cheeses, pasta and add ins, it really is pretty great.

Swaps & Specs for Mac-N-Cheese

• This recipe can be finished on the stovetop, then broiled for golden cheese topping or baked off in the oven to find those crunchy corners and top pieces.

• If you are going to baking it in the oven I would suggest cooking the pasta a little under so it isn’t overcooked and mushy when finished.

• Mac-N-Cheese can be paired with many different main dishes as a wonderful compliment. Such as: pot roast, meatloaf, roasted chicken, and kind of BBQ, your Holiday tables (turkey & ham) braised short ribs, salisbury steaks and sloppy joes to name a few.

• You can use whatever pasta you like best. The elbows I used have grooves etched in them to grab the cheesy sauce! Other options are: cavatappi, small shells, orecchiette, farfalle, and fusilli.

• Add whatever cheese you like! As long as it’s a good melting cheese, it will work. Avoid using pre shredded cheeses as they have a non-stick coating sprayed on them that will cause sauces like this to become gritty and clumpy.

• This Mac-N-Cheese is also a great stand alone dish. Or you can add in cubed ham, shredded chicken, smoked sausage, chopped bacon or grilled steak for protein. If you wanna go meatless, add in: broccoli, corn and peas.

Mac-N-Cheese

Decadent cheese sauce is the star in this classic pasta dish.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 15 people

Calories 357 kcal

Equipment

• large bowl

Ingredients

  

• 1 16oz box of macaroni
• 6 tbsp. butter
• 6 tbsp. flour
• 4 cups milk not skim
• 1 tsp. salt, plus some for the pasta water
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 4 cups shredded cheese, like cheddar and gruyere
• 1/2 cup american cheese

Instructions

 

• Get a large pot of water boiling. Add salt. Once boiling, add pasta and cook according to package. If you plan on baking it, pull it about 2 minutes early.
  
• While that is boiling, in a large saucepan melt the butter. Once melted add the flour and cook 1-2 minutes. Slowly add in milk, whisking until blended. Cover and cook on low for about 7 minutes.
  
• Add cheeses in slowly stirring to combine and until melted together. Drain pasta when its finish and place it in a large bowl. Once the cheese are incorporated add in the salt, pepper and garlic. Then pour over noodles. It can be eaten as is from this step if you don't wish to bake it.
  
• If you like place sauced macaroni into a buttered baking dish and top with extra cheese and broil for 5-10 minutes.
  

Notes

• use your favorite blends of melting cheese and you favorite pasta
• add in meats or veggies to make it a meal

Keyword cheese, macaroni