Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe

Making easy mac and cheese is simpler than you might think; it is can be dressed up really quickly and can be customized to your own liking. This easy mac and cheese recipe is one of America’s favorite comfort foods just like this easy-baked ziti; it’s creamy, cheesy, and oh-so-satisfying and you can have it on the table in about 30 minutes.

This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a fun weekend lunch; it is made of elbow macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce. And then baked until golden brown and bubbly at the top. The recipe for mac and cheese is simple to follow and can be customized to your liking. You can enjoy this dish in the comfort of your home and never return to the boxed stuff again!

Related: Chicken with spaghetti

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that’s loved by people of all ages. It’s simple to make and can be tailored to your liking with different mix-ins and toppings. Whether you’re making it from scratch or using a boxed mix, mac and cheese is always a delicious meal. The dish is usually baked in the oven to create a golden and bubbly crust. However, it can also be made on the stovetop, crockpot, and in a slow cooker. If you love this homemade chicken and dumplings soup, then you will definitely love this dish.

What is mac and cheese made of?

Mac and cheese is an American staple dish that is made with cooked elbow macaroni, cheddar cheese, and a creamy cheese sauce. Sometimes it’s topped with breadcrumbs or bacon bits. It’s easy to make at home, and can also incorporate other ingredients, such as chicken, ground beef, lobster, shrimp, hotdog, and vegetables.

This dish can be made in a variety of ways. The two most common methods are oven-baked mac and cheese and stovetop variety. The baked macaroni and cheese recipe is made by layering cooked pasta with a cheese sauce, then baking it until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This method results in a rich and creamy dish that is perfect for special occasions. Stovetop mac and cheese is much quicker to make and is perfect for a busy week or weeknight. It starts with cooking the pasta, then adding a cheese sauce to it and stirring until the cheese is melted and creamy.

The sauce for mac and cheese is usually a roux-based sauce made with butter, milk, and flour. It is typically made with cheddar cheese, but other cheeses can be used as well. Once the sauce has thickened, the cheeses are added and the mixture is cooked until the cheeses are melted. The macaroni is then added to the sauce and the dish is cooked on the stovetop or baked in the oven until it is hot and bubbly.

Variations of easy mac and cheese recipe

1. Baked mac and cheese recipe– This is simply a mixture of macaroni cheese that is baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. I personally enjoy oven baked mac and cheese because it has a richer flavor, also the longer cooking time allows the cheese and other ingredients to meld together, creating a richer flavor. Also, the cheese has the chance to melt and form a crispy top which I like to snack on most of the time.
2. Stovetop mac and cheese recipe– The stovetop version is just another simpler method of making macaroni and cheese on the stovetop, it is faster to make and has a creamier consistency. This is just as delicious as the baked version. The beauty of stovetop mac & cheese is that it’s quick and easy to make, so it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. 
3. With various types of pasta– While this pasta is typically made with elbow macaroni, you can use other types of noodles to make this dish. Try substituting twisted macaroni, shells, rotini, or even penne noodles for a change of pace.
4. With other types of cheese– You can also experiment with different cheeses in your easy mac and cheese recipe. Cheddar is the most common type of cheese used, but you could try mozzarella, Swiss, or Parmesan. You can also use a mix of cheddar and Swiss cheese for a more complex flavor. Adding other ingredients to your macaroni cheese is a great way to change the flavor.
5. Using other sources of protein– If you are the type that likes, texture and flavor in your macaroni n cheese, try adding cooked bacon, chicken, sausage, ground beef, and diced ham to it. You can also add green onions or garlic to the recipe for a unique twist and flavor.

Best cheeses for mac and cheese recipe

1. Cheddar cheese
2. Gruyere cheese
3. Mozzarella
4. Colby cheese
5. Gouda or smoked gouda
6. Provolone cheese
7. Parmesan Cheese
8. Swiss

There are so many different types of cheeses that can be used depending on your preference.

Cheddar Cheese

This is the most classic cheese for mac and cheese recipes, and it’s also one of the most versatile, It has a sharp, tangy flavor that pairs well with this creamy pasta. Cheddar provides a rich and savory flavor that enhances the dish’s overall taste and adds creaminess without overpowering the dish. You can choose to use mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, or even smoked cheddar. Mild cheddar cheese gives the classic flavor that many people love, while sharp cheddar adds a bit more zing to the dish. I also recommend smoked cheddar as a good choice, especially for those who like really cheesy mac and cheese with a strong flavor. You can also use a mix of cheddar cheeses to get different flavor profiles in your homemade macaroni & cheese recipe.

Gruyere Cheese

This Swiss cheese is another excellent choice for your mac and cheese. It has a complex flavor that is both sweet and nutty. This cheese is perfect for adding a depth of flavor to your dish, while also providing a creamy texture. For a truly indulgent experience. You can try using a mixture of Gruyere cheese and cheddar cheese in your easy mac and cheese recipe.

Mozzarella Cheese

This soft Italian cheese is great for adding creaminess to your mac and cheese recipe, especially as a topping. This melts beautifully on top while also adding a cheesy, flavorful kick to the dish which I really love. You can also combine shredded mozzarella and cheddar to make your cheese sauce. This cheese will melt well and has a creamy texture, adding an extra layer of deliciousness to your baked mac and cheese recipe. When choosing mozzarella cheese make sure you go for the fresh one if you can find it.

Colby cheese

One of my favorite choices of cheese for an easy mac and cheese recipe is Colby. This cheese is sharp and tangy, with a creamy texture which makes it my perfect choice for a creamy macaroni and cheese recipe; it has a similar flavor to cheddar but is slightly sweeter; plus, it has great value for its price.

Gouda

Gouda has a sweet, nutty flavor that pairs well with your creamy macaroni and cheese. If you are using gouda cheese, make sure to choose one that is aged for at least six months. From my experience, it gives the pasta recipe a deeper flavor. You can also try using smoked gouda which gives a more nutty and richer flavor.

Provolone cheese

Provolone cheese is another great choice for macaroni cheese recipes because it has a rich, creamy flavor that pairs well with pasta just like mozzarella. Provolone cheese is a versatile cheese that can be used in many different recipes.

It melts easily and creates a smooth consistency in your dish. If you are looking for a change from mozzarella or gruyere cheese, try using provolone in your next mac and cheese recipe. You can use it as the primary cheese in a dish, or combine it with other cheeses, such as cheddar or mozzarella. It can be shredded and used as a topping for the dish or added to the cheese sauce.

Parmesan Cheese

This hard Italian cheese is the perfect topping for macaroni and cheese. It’s full of flavor and adds a nice crunch to the dish. It is important to choose a good quality parmesan cheese for this dish as it will make all the difference in the taste. You will also want to grate the cheese fresh as this will give your baked mac and cheese recipe the best flavor and texture.

Swiss

Swiss cheese has a nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy goodness of mac and cheese, and it also helps to make the dish more filling. The subtle flavor of Swiss cheese can add a new dimension to your favorite macaroni recipe. Another way to use Swiss cheese is to mix it with other cheeses, such as cheddar or Gruyere. This will give the macaroni and cheese a more complex flavor.

Some other cheeses to use in your homemade mac and cheese recipe include Havarti, Monterey jack, and Fontina, and Colby jack. Each of these cheeses has its own unique flavor that will make your homemade mac cheese even more delicious.

Ingredients for this easy mac and cheese recipe

• 350g dried elbow macaroni
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

For a cheesy flavor, shred in some vegan cheese or nutritional yeast. Another possibility is to simply leave out the milk altogether and rely on the cheese and other ingredients to provide all of the flavor and creaminess. This may result in a slightly drier dish, so you may want to add a little extra butter or cheese to compensate for the milk. With these simple substitutions, you can enjoy all the flavors of mac and cheese without milk.

A dash of Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, or hot sauce can really liven things up. And if you want a little bit of a crunch, chopped bacon or bread crumbs are always good toppings for this recipe.

How to make easy mac and cheese recipe

Start by boiling the macaroni in boiling water. Bring a large pot of water on the stovetop, and add salt, and dried macaroni to it. Cook the macaroni for 5 to 7 minutes, or until slightly soft.

Shred your cheese. While the pasta is cooking, shred your cheeses and share into 3 equal portions then set aside. Drain the macaroni through a colander, and toss with a little bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together. Set aside.

Make mac and cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Once the butter has melted, add the flour and whisk together until it forms a paste. The flour mixture will appear really thick at this point but keep cooking for a minute while whisking until the raw flavor disappears.

Add the milk to the sauce. Slowly add 2 cups of whole milk while whisking continually until the lumps dissolve into the sauce nicely.

Once you have completely dissolved the thick flour, pour in the remaining cup of milk to it and whisk until it is nicely combined. Add the chicken stock too and give it a good stir.

Add seasonings. Once the sauce has thickened, season it with salt, smoked paprika, black pepper, and ground nutmeg and stir to mix well. Raise the heat to medium and cook the sauce for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally until it thickens up.

If it gets too thick, you can thin it out with a little more milk. You want the consistency of the sauce to be thick just enough to coat the back of the spoon, but not so thick that it becomes difficult to eat. Also, you can preheat your oven to 325 degrees F while cooking the sauce.

Add the shredded cheese to the sauce. Remove the pan from heat, Add in 1 cup shredded cheese and stir until everything is until it’s fully melted and smooth. Make sure to add the shredded cheese in batches and mix until melted before adding more. Also, if the sauce appears cold when adding the cheese you can heat it up on low heat and keep whisking until the cheese has melted. Take it off the heat immediately after the cheese has dissolved, you don’t want it to become grainy and start to separate.

Bring in the pre-cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and mix until it is well incorporated.

Assemble your macaroni and cheese. Pour half of the pasta mixture into your prepared baking pan and evenly sprinkle 1 cup of the grated cheese on top. Pour the remaining mac and cheese mixture into the dish and finally top with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.

Bake. Bake your mac & cheese in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until it is hot, and the cheese has melted. If you love a beautifully browned top, broil it for 2 to 3 minutes towards the end to get that.

Serve immediately. We love serving this dish with green beans or a salad for a complete meal.

Why I love this easy mac and cheese recipe

1. Relatively easy to make– It is a straightforward dish to make and only requires a few easy-to-find ingredients.
2. Convenience– This easy mac and cheese recipe is a very convenient meal to make any time, you don’t have to run to the store to buy everything afresh, and you can make use of your leftover pasta or cheese from the fridge.
3. It is a comfort food– This dish is a great comfort food; it is warm, creamy, and cheesy-everything you need to feel cozy on a cold day and is sure to please everyone at the table.
4. Homemade- While most mac & cheese recipes are packed with unhealthy ingredients, I prepared this homemade version using simple and affordable ingredients like milk, cheese, and simple macaroni pasta. 
5. It is customizable: You can add different types of cheeses, meat, or vegetables to customize this dish to your liking. 
6. Great for making ahead: This dish can be easily made ahead of time and reheated when you are ready to eat it.

What to add to mac and cheese

• Bacon: Try adding some bacon to your oven baked macaroni and cheese. This will give your dish a nice smoky flavor and some extra texture. This classic addition is always a hit and I love it so much. Who doesn’t love the salty, crunchy goodness of bacon? if you don’t have bacon you can also add smoked sausage
• Chicken: If you’re looking for a heartier dish, add some shredded chicken to your homemade mac and cheese recipe. It’s a great way to sneak in some extra protein.
• Tomatoes: Adding some diced tomatoes is a great way to add a pop of color and some additional flavor to your dish. If you don’t want to use fresh tomatoes, This simple tomato sauce is also another option
• Spices: for a touch of sweetness and flavor, try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cayenne pepper, a little bit of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. And finally, if you want a little bit of heat in your homemade macaroni cheese, consider adding a diced jalapeño pepper, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes.
• Sauteed veggies: This is the perfect vehicle for getting your kids to eat their veggies. I also recommend you try some sauteed veggies like onions, peppers, mushrooms, corn, broccoli, corn, or peas in this dish. This is a great way to get some extra nutrients into your meal.
• Hot sauce: For a little bit of extra spice, add a few dashes of hot sauce to your mac and cheese. This will give the dish a little more heat and a richer flavor.
• Evaporated milk: You can also try swapping out the milk for evaporated milk for an even richer flavor.
• Bread crumbs: You could top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs before baking it. This will give it a nice crunchy texture on top.

You can pair mac and cheese with bacon. Even though this may be a bit of an obvious choice, it’s one that never gets old. The salty goodness of bacon pairs so well with the creamy richness of mac and cheese; also the bacon adds a nice crunch to the dish. If you want to change things up a bit, try adding crumbled sausage to your macaroni cheese instead of bacon.

Mac n cheese with lobster: This luxurious pairing is perfect for a special occasion. The lobster adds a nice seafood flavor to the dish, and the cheese sauce ties everything together.

Other sides that pair well with this easy mac and cheese recipe include roasted brussels sprouts, sautéed garlic shrimp, oven-roasted chicken breasts, bacon-wrapped toast, and grilled salmon.

That said, there are ways to make homemade mac and cheese recipes healthier. For example, you could use low-fat milk or non-dairy milk. Try to cut back on the amount of cheese used. You can opt for reduced-fat cheese or use vegan cheese to make yours.
Other options include using whole wheat noodles and also adding some extra veggies like broccoli, carrots, or spinach for added fiber and nutrients.

Finally, you can decide to serve your macaroni and cheese with a side of vegetables or fruit to add even more vitamins, minerals, and fiber to your meal.
However, if you do decide to indulge, be sure to do so in moderation and choose a healthier recipe for mac and cheese.

You can try adding more milk or chicken broth to the sauce if it appears to be thick. This will help thin it out and make your mac and cheese sauce more creamy.

Make sure to use high-quality cheese that will melt well and also simmer the sauce for a couple of minutes until it is nice and thick before adding the cheese. Finally, don’t overbake your mac and cheese, you want it to be golden brown on top, but still creamy and moist in the middle.

Can you make macaroni cheese ahead of time?

One of the best things about this easy mac and cheese recipe is that it can be made ahead of time. This means that you can have a delicious, cheesy meal without having to spend hours in the kitchen. One way to do this is to cook the noodles and cheese sauce separately as directed in the recipe, then combine them, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

When you’re ready to eat, spread the cheese on top and bake in a 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes until hot and bubbly. This method works well if you’re going to be reheating the macaroni and cheese later, as the sauce will stay nice and smooth. This also works in a similar way when cooking mac and cheese on the stovetop.

Another way to make macaroni cheese ahead of time is to bake it in advance. This way, it is easy to reheat it when you’re ready to eat. Baked mac and cheese can be kept in the fridge for up to three days, so it’s a great option for meal prep.

If you want to make a big batch of macaroni and cheese that will last you a while, consider freezing it. Freezing is a great way to preserve all the flavor and texture of your dish. Just be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

If the room temperature is cool, around 68 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius, then you can have mac and cheese sit out for 4 hours. But if the temperature is warmer than that, let’s say 86 degrees Fahrenheit or 30 degrees Celsius, then the maximum time you should have mac and cheese sitting out is 2 hours. After that timeframe bacteria will start to grow and multiply which can cause food poisoning.

If you’re worried about leaving your macaroni cheese out for too long, you can always refrigerate it and then reheat it later.

Important tips for the best mac and cheese recipe

• Use good quality cheese– This is the most important ingredient in your sauce, so make sure to use the cheese that you love the most. A strong cheddar will give you a nice sharp flavor, while a more mellow cheese like Gruyere will be more subtle. 

• For the best-tasting and smoothest mac and cheese shred your own cheese– Freshly shredded cheese often tastes better than pre-shredded cheese that’s been sitting in a bag for who-knows-how-long. When you shred your own cheese, it allows you to have control over the quality and variety of cheese that goes into homemade mac and cheese. Try to avoid pre-shredded cheese, as it often contains starch and preservatives that prevent it from melting evenly. If you use pre-grated cheese, your mac n cheese will likely be greasy and will have an uneven texture.

• Don’t overcook the pasta– You don’t want your pasta to be overcooked and mushy when cooking it. Be sure to cook it for 1 or 2 minutes less than what the package instructions stated as it will continue to cook in the oven. This will ensure that your pasta retains some of its bites and doesn’t turn into an unappetizing mess.

• Don’t overdo it with the milk– You want your mac and cheese sauce to be creamy, but not too runny. Start by adding just a little amount of milk and then add more if needed. Be sure to cook your sauce until it is nice and thick so that it coats the pasta perfectly. Make sure not to use water, water will thin out your sauce and make it less creamy. Milk, on the other hand, will add richness and body to your sauce. Another option is to combine both milk and cream for a creamier and decadent mac n cheese recipe.

• Add the cheese in stages– Make sure to add the shredded cheese to the sauce in stages. This will help it melt evenly and prevent it from clumping together.

• Season your sauce to taste– A little salt and pepper and a few other spices will go a long way in bringing out the flavor of your macaroni cheese sauce. You can also add other seasonings like mustard or cayenne and use fresh herbs in your sauce if you like.

Whether you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner or a dish to bring to a potluck, this easy mac and cheese recipe will definitely fit the bill. So, go ahead and give it a try and you won’t be disappointed!