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Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese
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southernliving.com

Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese

This mac and cheese recipe beats out the rest and will be a family favorite for any gathering. With its creamy, velvety consistency and rich flavor, homemade mac and cheese is the definition of comfort in a bowl.

Prep

—

Cook

—

Total

1h 10m

Serves

10

Instructions

  1. 01

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bring the water to a rolling boil and add salt to taste. Follow the instructions on the pasta packet. We are using elbow macaroni pasta for this recipe, and boil them to al dente.

  2. 02

    Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, dry mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce.

  3. 03

    Remove saucepan from heat; stir in 3/4 cup each of shredded Cheddar cheeses until melted. (Reserve remaining 1/4 cup each of shredded cheeses.) Stir in pasta and diced cheeses. Pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.

  4. 04

    Bake on a rimmed baking sheet in preheated oven until bubbly and golden, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheeses; broil 6 inches from heat until cheeses are melted and golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.

Variations & swaps

Variations And Substitutions For Mac And Cheese

  • Once you try this mac and cheese, you’ll want to make it again and again—with some fun changes.
  • Cooking on the stovetop: Mac and cheese can also be easily replicated on the stovetop. Skip the baking step and eat stovetop macaroni and cheese right after all the cheese melts. (Just be sure to cook the pasta a bit longer since it won’t have the time in the oven to fully tenderize.)
  • Add bacon: For bacon lovers out there, feel free to sprinkle some cooked bacon bits on top of the mac and cheese for that pop of crunch and savory taste. Adding ham also works as a great topping!
  • Bake longer for a crunchy crust: After baking, broil the mac and cheese for a few minutes to get an extra crunchy crust.
  • Use pimiento cheese: A Southern staple, pimiento cheese adds ultra creamy richness and a hint of peppery tang to mac and cheese. You can substitute a cup of pimiento cheese for one of the cheese in this recipe, or try our Pimiento Mac and Cheese.
View original on southernliving.com

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