Best Cheese Blend And Cheese Mac And Cheese

Just remember the higher the fat content, the creamier your homemade mac and cheese will be (so I do not recommend using fat-free milk). 2 milk, whole milk, half and half and cream all work well My favorite is whole milk Sour Cream.

Best Cheese Blend And Cheese Mac And Cheese

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Originally published April 22, 2019 263 Comments Jump to Recipe 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 I have five 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.

So naturally I created this super 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 Thats the same amount of time it takes to make the boxed varieties, but with no preservatives or artificial ingredients How do you make Homemade Mac and Cheese Step 1: Gather Measure the ingredients This easy mac and cheese recipe is super fast-paced once you start cooking, so its 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).

Step 2: Cook the Macaroni Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions.

It may seem like an insignificant step, but it makes a huge difference in the overall taste of this easy homemade mac and cheese (or any pasta dish for that matter) Step 3: Make the Cheese Sauce While the macaroni is cooking, make the cheese sauce Its really easy but there are a few notes that well go over to ensure your success Make a Roux.

What is a roux Its 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.

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 its time for the next step Add the cheese whisk until smooth Add 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 homemade mac and cheese sauce and adjust the saltgarlic according to your tastes Step 4: Combine the Cheese Sauce Cooked Macaroni Once 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 Step 5: Serve Serve this homemade mac and cheese recipe all by itself for an easy lunch or dinner 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 youre looking for an extra special way to serve this easy mac and cheese recipe, here are some suggestions for delicious add-ins: cooked crumbled bacon hot dogs (a kid favorite, as mentioned above) Vegetables (broccoli, peas, carrots, etc.) Minced garlic and diced onions (cook them in the butter before adding the flour when making the roux, you may need 1 extra TBS butter if youd like to add this) Hot sauce, ketchup or BBQ sauce FAQs about Homemade Mac and Cheese 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 its 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 dont recommend it.

Since this mac and cheese recipe is so easy to make, theres really no need to freeze it.

However you can use either salter or unsalted with great results All-Purpose Flour.

There are a few substitutions that work well for the flour including corn starch, tapioca starchflour, and all-purpose gluten-free flour.

I do not recommend whole wheat flour, as it give this mac and cheese recipe a wheaty taste.

Milk. Any kind of liquid dairy works well in this recipe.

My favorite is whole milk Sour Cream.

Best Cheese Blend For Mac And Cheese