Description
Recreate the creamy, cheesy perfection of a famous fast-food style Mac & Cheese in your own kitchen. This indulgent dish is perfect for family dinners or potlucks, delivering comfort in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup white American cheese or cream cheese
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Step: Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Step: Grate the sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
- Step: Melt the unsalted butter in a large pot over medium heat, then whisk in the flour for 1-2 minutes to create a roux.
- Step: Gradually whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Step: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the salt, white pepper, dry mustard powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Step: Add two-thirds of the grated cheeses to the sauce and stir until smooth and melted.
- Step: Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until well coated.
- Step: Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Step: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Step: Let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Always grate your cheese from a block rather than using pre-shredded varieties to ensure a smoother, creamier sauce texture. Adding the cheese off the heat is crucial to prevent the sauce from becoming grainy or oily.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg