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How to Make Creamiest Mac and Cheese - A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're a fan of mac and cheese, you're in for a real treat with this recipe for the creamiest mac and cheese you've ever tasted. This dish takes the classic comfort food to a whole new level, with a rich and velvety cheese sauce that will have you coming back for seconds and thirds.

One of the key components of this recipe is the use of a variety of high-quality cheeses, including sharp cheddar, creamy havarti, and smooth cream cheese. This combination creates a depth of flavor tha...

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Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
  • 4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 2 (8 ounce) packages sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
  • 3 ½ cups whole milk, or more to taste
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (Optional)

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 55 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
  • Servings: 10
  • Yield: 1 9x13-inch casserole

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add macaroni and 2 ½ teaspoons salt and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  • Shred Cheddar cheese by hand or in a food processor; set aside.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in mustard powder, then 3 ½ cups milk. Whisk occasionally until mixture comes to a simmer, then let simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add cream cheese and cook, stirring often, until thick, creamy, and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1 ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, and cayenne.
  • Stir in 2 cups shredded Cheddar. Turn off the heat and let cheese melt. Stir in cooked macaroni. Add up to ¼ cup milk if you feel like the mixture is too thick.
  • Layer ½ of the pasta mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 ½ cups Cheddar. Spread remaining pasta mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining Cheddar.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.

    • Nutrition

    505 cal.

    • Total Fat: 28g
    • Saturated Fat: 17g
    • Cholesterol: 83mg
    • Sodium: 1157mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 41g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Protein: 21g
    • Potassium: 284mg

    Categories

    Pasta recipes
    Comfort food recipes
    Cheese recipes
    Creamy recipes
    Baked recipes