Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Boulder Tap House›Mac & Cheese Recipe

Mac & Cheese Recipe

Inspired by Boulder Tap House
Time30m
Serves4

Creamy and cheesy pasta

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Toppings (optional)

Method

Cooking the Pasta

  1. 1

    Boil Water

    In a large pot, bring 4-6 cups of water to a boil over high heat.

  2. 2

    Cook Pasta

    Add the elbow macaroni to the boiling water. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically around 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

  3. 3

    Drain Pasta

    Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.

Making the Cheese Sauce

  1. 4

    Melt Butter

    In the same pot used for the pasta, melt the butter over medium heat.

  2. 5

    Add Flour

    Once melted, whisk in the flour to create a roux. Continue whisking for about 1-2 minutes until the mixture is light golden.

  3. 6

    Add Milk

    Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Bring the mixture to a simmer while continuing to whisk.

  4. 7

    Thicken the Sauce

    Allow the sauce to simmer for about 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.

  5. 8

    Add Cheese and Seasonings

    Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and mustard powder. Mix until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is creamy.

Combining and Serving

  1. 9

    Combine Pasta and Sauce

    Add the drained elbow macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir until the pasta is fully coated.

  2. 10

    Prepare Toppings (optional)

    If using, mix bread crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese in a bowl.

  3. 11

    Serve

    Serve the mac and cheese hot, topped with bread crumb mixture if desired.

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