Description
Creamy, comforting one-pot mac and cheese brings classic American comfort to your dinner table in minutes. Rich cheese sauce mingles with perfectly cooked pasta, promising a delightful meal you’ll savor down to the last cheesy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (60 g) shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, for extra creaminess)
- 2 cups (200 g) elbow macaroni (or pasta of your choice)
- 2 cups (480 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) water
- ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
- 2 tbsps butter
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp mustard powder (optional)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crushed crackers or panko breadcrumbs (for a bit of crunch)
Instructions
- Liquid Infusion: Merge macaroni, milk, broth, water, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper into a large pot, creating a flavor-packed cooking environment.
- Pasta Transformation: Elevate heat to medium, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil while gently stirring to prevent pasta adhesion, then reduce temperature and allow gentle simmering for 8-10 minutes until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
- Cheese Fusion: Remove pot from heat source, introducing butter, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese, stirring vigorously to create a luxurious, velvety sauce that coats every pasta curve.
- Texture Calibration: Assess sauce consistency, incorporating additional milk or broth if needed to achieve a smooth, silky texture, and fine-tune seasoning with strategic salt and pepper adjustments.
- Culinary Presentation: Transfer mac and cheese to serving dishes, optional garnishing with fresh parsley or an elegant cheese sprinkle, ready to delight taste buds as a comforting main course or accompaniment.
Notes
- Stir frequently during cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even liquid absorption, avoiding dry or mushy texture.
- Remove pot from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation and achieve a smooth, creamy consistency without graininess.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like sharp cheddar, gruyère, or smoked gouda to elevate the classic recipe’s taste complexity.
- Substitute dairy milk with plant-based alternatives like almond or oat milk, and use gluten-free pasta for vegetarian or lactose-intolerant dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg