How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese

I personally have never been a big fan of box mac and cheeses. I find them so chemically and artificial. For you that like that kind of thing, you and my husband could be great friends, but that fake taste isn’t for my taste buds, now was it a big part of my upbringing. I come from a health conscious family and homemade mac and cheese was one of the first things I learned to cook. Making homemade mac and cheese might intimidate you, but the truth is, it’s really easy!

Ingredients:

• Shredded cheese of your choice (I prefer sharp cheddar)
• 2 TBS Flour
• 2 TBS Butter
• 1.5 Cups Milk
• Noodles of any kind

Tools:

• A pot to boil your noodles in
• A smaller pot to make your cheese sauce in
• 2 cooking spoons
• A strainer
• Whisk

Step 1: Put Water into Your Pot and Turn Your Stove on High Heat

The first step is to get ready to cook your noodles. The water and time it takes for your noodles to cook will be indicated on the package.

Step 2: Put Butter into the Smaller Pot and Turn Heat on Medium

Now to start your sauce. You can usually mostly finish your rue (the sauce base) before your water boils.

Step 3: Add Flour to the Melted Butter and Mix

Once your butter has melted, add the flour and mix them together until you get dough like clumps.

Step 4: Add Milk and Whisk Together

Now use your whisk to break up the chunks of flour. This creates a rue, which is the basis to every sauce. You may remember this process from the gravy recipe I shared a few weeks ago. The difference here is that you want a creamy sauce, so you’ll use milk instead of water. If you do not have milk, water will still make for a good sauce.

PROBLEM: Don’t have milk? Add water and then a giant spoonful of sour cream. Whisk the sour cream until it’s blended with the water. It’s not as good, but it works as a substitute.

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Step 5: Let Rue Simmer And Add Noodles to Water if it’s Boiling

Now let your rue simmer for a few minutes to thicken. The longer you let it simmer, the thicker it will become. Be sure to stir it every few minutes to prevent it from burning.

 

About now you should need to add your noodles to your boiling water. If it hasn’t started to boil yet, that’s okay. Add your noodles as soon as the water boils.

 

 

Step 6: Add Cheese to Sauce

Once your rue begins to thicken, you’ll want to add your cheese and spices. I like to add about 1 cup of cheese and salt and pepper (sometimes dill weed and parsley if I’m feeling fancy). Stir after each cheese addition.

Step 7: Simmer Sauce to Completion and Drain Your Noodles When They’re Ready

Now just sit back and relax as you let your noodles finish cooking and your sauce simmer. Once your sauce is at the desired consistency, turn the heat off. You can let your pot sit on the hot burner or remove it.

Once your noodles are done, drain them.

Step 8: Combine and Enjoy!

Now serve yourself up some mac and cheese! You can either serve them separately or put the noodles back into your big pot and pour the cheese sauce over, mixing them together.

 

Do you have a different recipe for mac and cheese? Comment your recipe link below! What spices do you like to add? Is boxed mac and cheese better than homemade? Share your preferences and opinions below!