Description
A rich and creamy macaroni cheese dish that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Colby cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded (optional)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika for topping
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F (that’s about 175°C for my metric friends). While that heats, cook your macaroni in salted water—just to al dente. Don’t overdo it, or it’ll go mushy later. Drain and set aside.
- Grab a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, and then whisk in the flour until it forms a paste (aka, a roux). Let it bubble for about 1-2 minutes—it shouldn’t brown, but if it does, eh, it’s still edible.
- Slowly whisk in your whole milk and evaporated milk (watch for lumps!), then keep whisking until it thickens up. This can take about 5-8 minutes. If it looks a bit weird, ignore it, it always smooths out.
- Remove from heat, fold in 2 cups shredded cheddar, your Colby, and mozzarella (reserve a little cheese for topping). Stir until melted and smooth-ish.
- In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Whisk in a spoonful of the hot cheese mix into the eggs to warm them up, then slowly whisk the eggs back into your sauce.
- Add in salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Taste it!
- Dump your drained macaroni into a large buttered baking dish (I use a 9×13-inch), then pour the cheesy goodness all over. Stir everything to coat.
- Top with the rest of your cheddar and sprinkle paprika.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Can use different types of cheese based on preference.
- Allow cooling time before serving to enhance flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 150mg