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Ingredients
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Pasta
Cheese Sauce
Method
Cooking Pasta
- 1
Boil Water
In a large pot, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon 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, typically about 7-8 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- 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. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly until it forms a paste (roux).
- 6
Add Milk
Gradually whisk in 2 cups of milk, ensuring there are no lumps. Continue to whisk until the mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
- 7
Incorporate Cheeses and Spices
Add 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese and 4 oz of cream cheese to the thickened milk mixture. Stir until fully melted and combined. Then add 1 teaspoon of mustard powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of paprika. Stir until smooth.
Combining
- 8
Mix Pasta and Sauce
Add the drained macaroni back into the pot with the cheese sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly with the cheese sauce.
- 9
Serve
Serve the macaroni and cheese warm. Optionally, sprinkle with additional paprika or black pepper before serving.
