Description
Creamy, cheesy, and endlessly comforting—this Simple Mac and Cheese is your new go-to for easy dinners or satisfying sides.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs (optional, for baked version)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni until al dente, about 7–8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Gradually add the milk while whisking constantly. Add the heavy cream. Continue to whisk and cook until the mixture thickens, about 3–4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add in the cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder.
- Add the cooked macaroni back to the pot and stir to coat evenly in the cheese sauce.
- For a baked version, transfer to a buttered baking dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and extra cheese, then broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop or Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Mac Cheese