Classic mac and cheese
- Adam Bush
Published: November 11, 2021 at 12:55 PM
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Serves 4
Easy
Total time: 40 mins
A star rating of 4.9 out of 5.9 ratingsRate
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This easy macaroni cheese recipe only needs five ingredients, and hits the spot every time. Perfect when you're in the mood for a warming bowl of comfort food
Vegetarian
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Make this classic mac 'n' cheese recipe then check out our vegan mac 'n' cheese, cauliflower mac 'n' cheese, crab mac 'n' cheese and bacon mac 'n' cheese.
Recipe tip: This recipe gives you the option of making baked mac and cheese in the oven, or finishing it off under the grill. Either method will ensure a beautifully crisp cheese topping and gooey centre to this comforting pasta dish.
Classic mac 'n' cheese
Ingredients
Nutrition
-
400g macaroni
-
30g unsalted butter
-
2 tbsp plain flour
-
300ml whole milk
-
200g grated mature cheddar
plus 2 tbsp for the top
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal685
- fat32.8g
- saturates19.4g
- carbs65.4g
- sugars5.4g
- fibre3.7g
- protein30.1g
- salt1.2g
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Method
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step 1
Heat the oven (if using, see step 3) to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cook the macaroni in a large pan of boiling salted water following pack instructions until al dente, then drain well.
-
step 2
Melt the butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Tip in the flour and stir well. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture turns sandy and smells slightly nutty. Tip the milk into the pan and whisk really thoroughly to get rid of any lumps. Bubble for a few minutes to thicken, then tip in the grated cheddar. Whisk again until fully melted, then season to taste.
-
step 3
Stir the macaroni into the sauce, then tip into a 20cm x 30cm baking dish. Scatter over the remaining cheddar, then bake or grill for 20 minutes until golden and crisp on top.
More mac and cheese ideas below:
Vegan mac and cheese
Our vegan expert shares his secrets to perfecting this plant-based version of a comforting classic, made extra rich and indulgent with white miso.
Mac ‘n’ cheese with bacon
How do you make mac 'n' cheese better? Add bacon of course! This oozing cheesy pasta bake is also rich with Red Leicester and finished with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Double up the recipe for a family meal.
Cauliflower mac ’n’ cheese
Cauliflower cheese meets macaroni cheese in this dream of a recipe, perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.
Butternut squash mac and cheese
Add cubes of roasted butternut squash to creamy macaroni cheese for an autumnal twist on this comforting, crowd-pleasing pasta bake.
Crab mac and cheese
This spin on a classic features crab for extra decadence, and uses crème fraîche in the béchamel to make it lighter.
Lobster mac ’n’ cheese
Check out our easy yet impressive mac 'n' cheese recipe with lobster. Everyone loves mac ’n’ cheese, but the addition of sweet, rich lobster turns this into a luxurious treat. This would make a brilliant Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve celebration dinner.
Authors
Adam BushDeputy food editor
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A star rating of 4.9 out of 5.9 ratings
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