Introduce kids to the joy of cooking with an easy recipe they already love: mac and cheese.
It’s bubbly ready in about 30 minutes.
Skip the boxed mac and cheese and make your own in under 30 minutes.
Credit: Carson Downing
We kept the classic elbow noodles but you could substitute any pasta shape you have on hand.
To create the sauce, start off by melting butter and adding an equal amount of flour.
This mixture is called arouxand is often used to thicken sauces and soups.
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
You’ll want to cook this for a minute or two to remove the raw flour taste.
From there, add the milk all at once and quickly stir to help remove any lumps.
Next comes the best part: the cheese!
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
You could also use cheddar or Monterey jack cheese.
Any goodmelting cheesewould work in this recipe.
This is the best mac and cheese recipe to make for a quick weeknight side dish or kid-friendly lunch.
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
It’s best served just after making as it can thicken as it sits.
To thin thehomemade mac and cheesesauce, add a bit more milk and stir.
Try spicing up your bowl with pickled jalapeno peppers, crumbled bacon, or hot sauce.
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
Our recipe testers also loved the dish with a drizzle of buffalo sauce and sliced green onions.
This easy mac and cheese recipe is endlessly customizable.
Meanwhile, for the cheese sauce, in a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
Stir in the flour and pepper.
Add the milk all at once.
Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.
Credit:BHG / Ana Cadena
Add the torn cheese slices, stirring until they are completely melted.
Stir the macaroni noodles into the cheese sauce in the saucepan, stirring to coat all the noodles.
Cook over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through, stirring frequently.
Let the creamy mac and cheese stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish.
Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and heated through.
Let the baked mac and cheese stand for 10 minutes before serving.
2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
