Easy Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Looking for a quick and easy macaroni and cheese recipe? Our version uses a mixture of shredded cheddar and Gouda to create a delicious cheesy pasta dish!
With temperatures dropping, the time has come for us to prepare warm, hearty dishes.
In our household, there’s nothing we like better than an easy macaroni and cheese recipe.
For today’s post, we’re going to explain how to make macaroni and cheese using a simple sauce.
If you need detailed instructions or tips, scroll down. After that, you’ll find the recipe card. Let’s get started!
How to make macaroni and cheese?
First, go ahead and cook the pasta noodles per the box instructions. While they cook, shred your cheese and start the cheese sauce.
If you’re worried about burning something, you can always wait for the noodles to finish cooking, drain them, set them aside, and then start the cheese sauce.
Grab a large skillet (or saucepan) and place it over low-medium heat. Toss in the butter and let it melt.
Next, once the butter has melted, sprinkle in the flour, ground mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk everything together as it cooks.
Then, when the flour has cooked for about two (2) minutes, pour in the milk and heavy cream. Again, keep whisking to blend all the ingredients.
Now, let the liquid heat until you see steam rising from the milk. Do NOT let it come to a boil. Should the liquid start to bubble, remove it from the heat to let it cool, then place it back on the burner.
After that, carefully sprinkle in the cheese a little at a time while whisking. Let the cheese melt before adding more.
Continue this process until all the shredded cheddar and Gouda cheeses are gone and you have a creamy, smooth cheese sauce.
Last, take the cooked noodles, drain them (if you haven’t already) and stir them into the sauce. Serve while warm.
That’s it, your easy macaroni and cheese recipe is done! Kim and I hope you enjoy the side and we wish you all the best 🙂
Recipe Tips:
- So, this macaroni and cheese recipe may appear, “soupy,” when you finally mix the noodles into the sauce. However, don’t panic, the noodles are going to soak up all the cheese sauce as it starts to cool.
- When heating the milk and cream mixture, it’s important not to let it come to a boil. Otherwise, it will separate and cause, “beads,” of fat to form in the sauce resulting in a grainy texture.
- If you don’t have a large skillet (12 inches or more), use a large non-stick saucepan or stock pot. Honestly, the cast iron skillet is more for presentation than anything else.
Other mac and cheese recipes you may enjoy:
- Jalapeno Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese
- Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
If you like our macaroni and cheese recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe card. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram searching for Berly’s Kitchen!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow noodles, about 2 cups by volume
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup gouda cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook the elbow noodles according to the package directions, drain, rinse in cool water, and set aside.8 ounces elbow noodles
- While the noodles cook, make the cheese sauce. Heat a large pan over low-medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the butter and allow it to melt completely. Next, add whisk in the flour, ground mustard, salt, and pepper. Continue to whisk continuously for 2-3 minutes.4 tablespoons unsalted butter4 tablespoons all-purpose flour½ teaspoon ground mustard½ teaspoon kosher salt½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Slowly add the heavy cream while whisking to combine. Allow the mixture to thicken, then add the milk. Continue to whisk the milk until the liquid begins to steep and steam. Don’t let the liquid begin to bubble or boil.1 cup heavy cream2 cups milk
- Add the cheese a little at a time while whisking. Don’t add additional cheese to the pan until the last cheese has completely melted. After all the cheese has been added, turn off the heat and add the cooked noodles.2 cups sharp cheddar cheese1 cup gouda cheese
- Carefully stir to combine. Serve hot, and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
