Macaroni and cheese are a favorite in many households. After trying many recipes this one is a sure-fire fan of both adults and kids. A true miracle! The original recipe appeared in Country Home magazine, but I have tweaked it several times to achieve this family favorite. It’s even been a hit on playdates.
This recipe begins on the stove top and can be modified to your family’s tastes quiet easily. While the recipe calls for Cheddar cheese I use a mix of whatever I have in the house which is usually Pepper Jack and Monterey Jack Cheeses. It adds a little extra punch!
Now while the mixture is a yummy and creamy right form the stove top, adding it to the oven gives it the adult crispness and comforting baked flavor. Once again, so many things that you can do with this recipe. It also freezes well. I usually make an entire pound of pasta and freeze some in individual sized containers. This way I have it handy for school lunches ( I use a thermos.) I also use them for when I need something quick for my son that’s a vegetarian and I’m making something he won’t eat.
Macaroni and Cheese for Everyone:
- 1 Cup Chopped Onion
- 2 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 2 TBS All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Cups Milk
- 1 TBS Dijon-Style Mustard
- 3 Cups (12 ounces) Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- ⅛ TSP Ground Nutmeg
- ½ TSP Hot Pepper Sauce
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- 16 Ounces Elbow Macaroni or other Small Pasta
- 2 TBS Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Bread Crumbs (Optional)
- Melt butter in a large saucepan on low heat.
- Add onion and cook until soft, not brown. About 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in flour.
- Remove from heat and whisk in milk.
- Return to stove-top and cook over medium heat until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
- Remove from heat again, stir in mustard, 10 ounces of cheddar cheese, nutmeg, and hot pepper sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook pasta according to package. Drain and rinse. Stir into cheese sauce.
- Add to baking dish or dishes.
- Top with remaining cheddar, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and bread crumbs.
- Bake in oven in 400 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes or until mixture bubbles and edges are golden brown.
We love mac & cheese in our house. I make it all the time actually!
I love macaroni and cheese in just about any form. This version looks amazing.
Okay my son would love this recipe. He is all about his mac and cheese. He would eat it everyday three times a day.
Mmmmmm…. I will be trying this out for myself! Cheese is my friend! 😉 I normally make my mac & cheese on the stove top but I’m going to try this recipe out! Thanks!
We love baked macaroni & cheese and it works great as I said dish or a main meal. Yours look so delicious.
I am not a lover of macaroni and cheese but my sons and husband just loves it. So I make it for them. Usually I do the frozen kind but I am going to have to give this a try.
Now this sounds good. I love a good Mac N’ Cheese recipe for a cold day. It sounds like this recipe has some kick to it!
I love macaroni and cheese in just about any form. Your recipe looks sooo yumm….Can’t wait to try it!
I love oven baked mac and cheese and this recipe looks delicious! I’d probably have to omit the hot pepper sauce though because my husband doesn’t do spicy.
My mac and cheese really flopped at Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to try this recipe instead!
Mac and cheese is a favorite here and I also added stewed tomatoes to it sometimes. Looks delish.
I do love mac and cheese. It’s one of the few foods I still love from childhood!
Tried this with mild cheese and it was down right awful. Couldn’t taste the cheese at all. Next time I’m sticking with sharp cheese. can’t wait to taste what it’s supposed to taste like!
Mac and cheese is such an iconic American classic. My children adore baked mac and cheese more than almost every other food on earth.
This recipe sounds delicious! I prefer my mac ‘n cheese oven-baked – I just like the texture of it more that way.
We love Mac and Cheese! I really need to try this recipe soon. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Macaroni and cheese is a staple on all of our holiday meals. It’s one of the first things to go!
(MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR EVERYONE #FOODIE #RECIPES) I like a good mac and cheese recipe to make for our family. This is one that I am going to try out.
Yum! I’ve been craving Mac & Cheese for quite some time. I will definitely be trying this recipe out! Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t tried mac and cheese with pepperjack cheese yet. I bet that is good!
We love mac and cheese! This recipe sounds absolutely delicious! I will keep this idea in mind when I need something new to feed my family.
I love mine oven baked with all that nice crust on top! Yum!!
This would be perfect comfort food for a cold day like today! Umm
Sorry meant to say yum!
Looks good! I like to use a Ritz cracker crumb topping on mine instead of the bread crumbs. Baked over stove-top any day! 😀
Mmmmm this looks delicious!!
I love mac and cheese! This looks so good and cheesy!
Those are some interesting ingredients you use. I have to try that for myself. Thanks.
This looks so scrumptious and I can’t wait to try this recipe