Macaroni & Cheese Recipe
Make Macaroni & Cheese Recipe in just 45m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Pasta
Cheese Sauce
Topping
Method
Cooking Pasta
- 1
Boil Water
In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 tsp of salt to the boiling water.
- 2
Cook Macaroni
Add 2 cups of elbow macaroni to the boiling water. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- 3
Drain Pasta
Once cooked, drain the macaroni in a colander and set aside.
Making Cheese Sauce
- 4
- 5
Add Flour
Once the butter is melted, whisk in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly until the mixture is bubbly.
- 6
Add Milk
Slowly pour in 2 cups of milk while continuing to whisk. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, about 2-3 minutes.
- 7
Add Cheeses and Spices
Stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, 4 oz of softened cream cheese, 1 tsp of mustard powder, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 0.5 tsp of salt, and 0.25 tsp of black pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Combining and Baking
- 8
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add the drained macaroni back to the pot with the cheese sauce and stir until the pasta is well coated.
- 9
Prepare Topping
In a small bowl, mix together 0.5 cup of breadcrumbs, 0.5 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and 0.5 tsp of paprika.
- 10
Bake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the macaroni and cheese to a greased baking dish, sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top, and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
- 11
Serve
Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your creamy, cheesy macaroni!