If you’re craving the ultimate comfort food, here is the BEST homemade easy mac and cheese recipe! Made on the stove top with only real food ingredients, this mac and cheese is quick & easy, oh-so-creamy, and perfect for the entire family! There is a several year gap in my life when I didn’t make mac and cheese because the only way I knew how to make it was from a box, and I had thrown away all the boxes because they were contaminated with hydrogenated oils. Yes, a life without macaroni and cheese is sad. As much as we enjoy other comfort dishes like chicken and spinach enchiladas and homemade donuts, nothing beats a classic homemade mac and cheese recipe. Not only is this stove-top recipe super easy, it is also amazing because it’s:
Ingredients
Notes on IngredientsButter + Milk. Mac and cheese without butter and milk is just pasta and cheese. A.K.A. no creaminess whatsoever. You need our friends butter and milk to turn plain cheese into an amazing saucy sauce. Pasta. If you are gluten-free, go ahead and swap in gluten free flour and pasta for the regular flour and pasta. Just follow the al dente cook time on the package of gluten free pasta. Spices. I know it might seem odd to add spices to mac and cheese, but trust me, the garlic powder + ground nutmeg + onion powder + paprika seriously add an amazing depth of flavor. Please don’t skip them, and if you add some chili powder too? Yum… Step- By-Step InstructionsStep 1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Strain in a colander and set aside. Step 2. In the same pot, melt butter. Add flour and stir so that it makes a paste with the melted butter. Allow the flour to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Step 3. Add 1 1/2 cups of milk while stirring constantly. Stir until the sauce is smooth. Step 4. Add the cream cheese and cheddar cheese and stir often until the cheese is melted. Step 5. Season with the garlic powder, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, pepper and chili powder, if using. Step 6. Rinse the pasta with water so that the noodles don’t stick together. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir well, but gently so that the noodles don’t break. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired. If the sauce is too thick, thin with milk 1/4 cup at a time. Recipe Tips
FAQsWhat is the Best Pasta for Homemade Stove Top Mac and Cheese? I used elbow noodles this time, but small or medium shells work great too. The key is to use a noodle that lets the cheese get inside
yet still keep their shape – points for the cheesy factor. What is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Classic sharp cheddar is the main star for cheesiness, but cream cheese plays a very important supporting role to round out the creamy requirement. Plus cream cheese tends to
cost less than cheddar, which means you can get away with using a little less cheddar than in most mac and cheese recipes. What are the Best Spices for Homemade Mac and Cheese? Mac
and cheese without spice lacks a depth, which is why you often see nutmeg listed in the ingredients. Maybe one day I’ll use whole nutmeg with a microplane, but until then, ground nutmeg will have to do. Are there Breadcrumbs in Stove Top Mac and Cheese? There are none because this is STOVE TOP mac and cheese, not BAKED mac and cheese. We much prefer the stove top version. To ServeThis homemade easy mac and cheese would be delicious served with:
More Easy Homemade Classic Recipes
Watch How to Make Creamy Stovetop Mac and CheeseCreamy Stovetop Mac and CheeseThe best homemade mac and cheese just like your grandma would make, ready in less than 15 minutes and made from scratch with real food ingredients.
NotesWant to sneak in some veggies? Sub pumpkin puree or mashed sweet potato for the cream cheese! It still tastes amazing PLUS you can feed your picky eater some veggies and they won’t even know! Keywords: homemade easy mac and cheese Reader InteractionsWhat cheeses mix well together for mac and cheese?Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.
Can you put cream cheese in box mac and cheese?Make It Extra Creamy
Most boxes will instruct you to boil the pasta, then drain and add butter, milk, and cheese powder to the pot, mixing well to form a sauce. To make your mac extra creamy and rich, melt a tablespoon or two of cream cheese into your cheese sauce. You'll thank us later.
Can I use cream instead of milk in mac and cheese?Heavy whipping cream (or half and half) is the perfect substitute for milk in mac and cheese. This is actually a great option! The thicker consistency will produce a dreamy, creamy sauce that everyone will love. The flavor is bolder and richer, too, and you may enjoy it more than the original.
Can you use cream cheese instead of butter in mac and cheese?Cream Cheese
For more flavor in macaroni and cheese, cream cheese is a terrific substitute for butter. It may be used with lighter ingredients, such as oil, to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
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