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A spoon lifting baked mac and cheese out of a blue casserole.
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Basic Macaroni and Cheese
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
Basic Macaroni and Cheese made from scratch is immeasurably better than anything you can buy in a store. Once you have the basic recipe down, you can add ingredients to the dish to customize it to the occasion or just to your own taste.
Course: Entrées
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Vegetarian, Pasta
Servings: 8
Calories: 787 kcal
Author: The Blue Jean Chef, Meredith Laurence
Ingredients
  • 1 pound dried pasta
Cheese Sauce
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 6 tablespoons flour
  • 2 teaspoons dried mustard powder
  • 4 cups milk room temperature
  • 3 cups grated Swiss cheese preferably Gruyère
  • 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
Topping
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs preferably coarse homemade crumbs
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves rough chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350˚ F.
  2. Heat a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  3. In the meantime, heat a 2- to 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter and add the flour and mustard powder. Stir, cooking for 2 minutes. Whisk in the room temperature (or warmed) milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Stirring regularly, bring the sauce to a boil. Once it has boiled and thickened, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated cheeses, salt and pepper.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and cheese sauce. Transfer to a casserole or baking dish. Combine the topping ingredients and spread the mixture on top of the pasta. Cook in a 350˚ F oven for 30 minutes.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts
Basic Macaroni and Cheese
Amount Per Serving
Calories 787 Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 22g110%
Cholesterol 105mg35%
Sodium 1475mg61%
Potassium 421mg12%
Carbohydrates 75g25%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 38g76%
Vitamin A 1165IU23%
Vitamin C 1.5mg2%
Calcium 867mg87%
Iron 2.9mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.