Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese
I am not going to lie…this is actually the first time I have made a real homemade macaroni & cheese. I was searching for a good recipe, & to be honest I don’t think you can go very wrong with mac & cheese. It’s such a versatile dish you can make your own using any cheeses that you like, as long as they melt well, & it will be warm & comforting for your belly.
My kids especially loved this dish, making me wonder why I had never tried making it homemade for them before. The ooey gooey cheese sauce & crispy crunchy topping were very pleasing. It’s just as good the next day too, so it’s one of those recipes that is a good re-heat. If you haven’t tried homemade macaroni & cheese, you should. It’s very easy & kid-friendly.
Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients
Crumb Topping:
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese, shredded
Pasta & Sauce:
- 12 oz small shells
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 ¾ cup milk
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare crumb topping by melting butter & letting it cool. Once it’s cooled add bread crumbs & shredded cheese. Mix & set aside.
- Fill a pot with water for your shells. Heat until boiling, add shells & cook 7-8 min or until directed on the box. Drain shells, saving ½ cup starchy water for later.
- In a separate medium/large saucepan, melt butter over medium/high heat. Stir in flour & cayenne pepper, forming a roux. Stir for one minute. Gradually whisk in milk, & stir for 3 minutes or until boiling & thick.
- Stir in heavy cream, cheeses, dijon, & spices. Remove from heat & continue stirring until everything is melted nicely.
- Add your cooked, drained shells to the cheese mixture, & then add the extra starchy water you saved. Combine well & pour into a large rectangle baking dish that has been buttered or sprayed. Sprinkle topping on & bake at 400˚F for 20-25 minutes until bubbling & golden brown on top.
Notes
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