Go Back
Print

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

This is my go-to favourite way to make macaroni and cheese at home. And with the leftovers? Top it with grated cheddar and heat it in the oven; delicious.

Course Dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese sauce, cheesecake, easy cheese sauce, mac and cheese, macaroni
Author Naomi

Ingredients

  • Elbow Macaroni (approx 3 cups raw, cooked)*
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp all purpose flour or cornstarch (use cornstarch for gluten free)
  • 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk (or 1 354mL can)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.

  2. Meanwhile, in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter. Remove from heat, and whisk in the flour until completely combined.

  3. Pour a little bit of the milk into the butter/flour mixture in several small additions, whisking each time, until the mixture becomes a smooth paste. Continue adding the rest of the milk until fully incorporated and smooth.

  4. Add the salt and pepper, and place over medium-low heat, whisking constantly (to prevent burning), until the mixture becomes very hot.

  5. Whisk in the cheese until completely melted, incorporated, and smooth. Add more salt if desired (the amount in the recipe should be enough).

  6. Ladle over cooked pasta and serve.

Recipe Notes

  1. *Please note that the amount of pasta in this recipe is approximate. I never measure - I just cook what I would for my family, and then make enough sauce to equal 1/2 cup milk in the sauce per person. That said, the ratio might not be perfect in this recipe of pasta to sauce!
  2. You can pre-mix your pasta and cheese sauce as I have in the pictures, but I find that if I have leftover that way, the pasta absorbs some of the sauce overnight and it becomes much thicker and less flavourful the next day. Ladling sauce over each serving makes the leftovers much better! I find that 1 cup of cooked pasta with 1/4 cup of sauce is just about perfect.
  3. For a delicious alternative, mix the pasta and cheese sauce together, spread into a greased baking dish, and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Heat in the oven at 350 degrees F until the cheese is melted and the mixture is hot through.