Classic Mac and Cheese Just Like Mom Made
Love homemade mac and cheese?
There’s nothing more onlineforting than a casserole dish served with classic warm macaroni and cheese just like mom made. The good news is it’s fairly simple and straightforward to make any day of the week. It has simple ingredients and is a perfect side dish the entire family will LOVE.
Creamy & cheesy classic
There are many ways to make this dish, and I’m sharing how my family enjoys Mac & Cheese, loosely based on the recipe in the classic cookbook Better Homes & Gardens: The New Cookbook. I love this cookbook because of all the classic and old-fashioned recipes featured.
One thing I do differently is adding breadcrumbs on top prior to baking, but that’s a step you can skip if desired.
I also prefer a mix of sharp cheddar and American cheese like Velveeta. It gives it a great mix of creamy texture with the cheesy taste I crave and love. I know sometimes people can have strong feelings about what cheese to use, so feel free to adjust to your preferred cheese as long as it equals about 3 cups (or 12 ounces) total.
Classic Mac and Cheese
yield: 8 SERVINGS
prep time: 25 MINUTES
cook time: 25 MINUTES
total time: 50 MINUTES
Creamy baked macaroni in cheese, as a onlineforting side dish, with a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. dried elbow macaroni (2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 and 1/4 cups milk
- 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (1 and 1/2 cups)
- 6 oz. American cheese, cut into chunks (Velveeta)
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Directions
1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2
Cook noodles according to package instructions, and set aside.
3
In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Add milk all at once. Let milk warm up and thicken a bit.
4
Add cheeses and stir to melt.
5
Add noodles back in and stir in the cheese sauce.
6
Transfer mac and cheese to 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs, and drizzle with a tablespoon of melted butter.
7
Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes until bubbly and crumbs are browned. Let cool and serve warm.
Additional Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens: New Cookbook
Dish up & enjoy!
I served this mac and cheese alongside some slow cooker ribs and roasted carrots last night, and it made for a delicious, easy meal. I know sometimes people may prefer Mac and Cheese as a meal, and you can do that, too. It’d also be easy to add broccoli or other veggies. I love that this is also still yummy warmed up the next day for leftovers or in your child’s lunch warmed up and served in an insulated thermos!
Remember these casserole dishes?
My mom and grandma always used them and they sure are Nostalgic. So when I heard CorningWare brought back these classic blue and white cornflower dishes, of course, I had to have them for my kitchen. I’m so excited to dish up meals for my family in them!
