Description

Discover the ultimate in easy mac cheese with this quick recipe Enjoy a cheesy delight thats sure to become your family favorite 151 chars

Ingredients

Scale

8 oz elbow macaroni (about 2 cups)

4 tbsp unsalted butter (plus more for greasing)

¼ cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

Boil the noodles: In a large pot, bring salted water to boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. This usually takes about 8 minutes.

Drain and rinse: Once cooked, drain the macaroni in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Make the cheese sauce: In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly for about 1-2 minutes.

Add the milk: Gradually pour in the milk while continuing to whisk until the mixture is smooth and starts to thicken.

Cheese it up: Stir in the cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, along with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

Combine: Add the drained macaroni back to the pot and stir gently until all the noodles are well-coated in the sauce.

Transfer to a baking dish: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter and pour in the mac and cheese mixture.

Optional topping: If you want a golden crust, sprinkle some extra cheese or breadcrumbs on top and bake.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 400 calories
Sugar: 3g
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 20g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 15g

Keywords: Mac and Cheese, Comfort Food, Easy Recipe