Homemade Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Learn to make Stovetop Mac and Cheese the way it's taught in culinary school: perfectly seasoned cheese sauce and noodles that are never mushy or gummy. Add a mix-in or not; this 30 minute recipe rivals anything from a restaurant, and especially anything from a box.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow noodles
- 1 stick unsalted butter (8 tablespoons)
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- Pinch cayenne
- Pinch nutmeg
- 12 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook noodles according to package instructions for al dente. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.
- While whisking, add milk in steady stream. Add salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne and nutmeg and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened, whisking frequently (mixture needs to come to a low boil to thicken).
- Reduce heat to low and add cheese. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.
- Add cooked pasta to cheese sauce and cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently.
- Stir in any desired Mix-Ins (see Notes) and serve immediately.
Notes
Mix-Ins:
Caramelized Onions: Heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add 2 thinly sliced yellow onions. Cook 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until deeply caramelized.
Broccoli: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray rimmed baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 2 cups very finely chopped broccoli in even layer on prepared pan. Transfer to oven and bake 6 to 8 minutes or until tender.
Pulled Pork: Warm one 14- to 16-ounce package pulled pork in BBQ sauce (we used Niman Ranch brand) according to package directions.
Calories: 772kcal, Carbohydrates: 71g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 117mg, Sodium: 827mg, Potassium: 473mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 1344IU, Calcium: 624mg, Iron: 1mg
This website provides estimated nutrition information as a courtesy only. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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