Easy Mac and Cheese

Let me show you how to ditch the box and make this Easy Mac and Cheese homemade recipe for dinner tonight.

This homemade mac and cheese recipe is perfect for those times when you're craving a quick and tasty meal on its own or as a delicious side dish to chicken or beef.

Check out all the other Family Dinner Ideas available to help you get dinner on the table every night for your family!

Seems easy enough yet there are so many different ways to prepare mac and cheese for your family's dinner. For some people, it means opening a box and boiling some water.  Other's might pull a box out of the freezer.

But after you read this post I hope you'll see that making homemade Easy Mac and Cheese is so much better than a box...really!

This recipe makes the perfect side dish for Breaded Italian Style Chicken Cutlets, Dutch Oven Whole Chicken or even grilled chicken sandwiches. I even enjoy eating a bowl of mac and cheese as the perfect comfort food after a long crazy day.

Check out this recipe for a gluten free mac and cheese made with gluten-free pasta for a deliciously satisfying substitute.

Table of Contents

• Helpful Baking Tools
• 📋Ingredients
• What kind of cheese is best?
• Step-by-Step Directions
• Prepare the Cheese Sauce
• Add the Cheese
• Baking Instructions
• Before You Begin!
• ❄️How to Freeze Homemade Mac and Cheese
• 🔁Reheat Frozen Mac and Cheese
• More Recipes to Love
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments

Helpful Baking Tools

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📋Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients and instructions. Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact quantities, detailed instructions and special notes.

• 1 package pasta; 16 ounce size
• Butter
• All-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper
• Mustard - your favorite. I like to use Dijon but have used a spicy mustard at times as well. 
• Milk
• chicken bouillon cube - I know this sounds strange, but I like to add a cube of chicken bouillon for extra flavor. 
• 3 cups medium cheddar cheese, shredded and divided. 

What kind of cheese is best?

For a traditional mac and cheese recipe, cheddar cheese is best. You can use a combination of sharp or medium cheddar cheese. I always use a medium cheddar cheese. 

Other cheeses that work great for mac and cheese are: 

• Gouda
• Gruyère - this cheese melts beautifully. 
• Parmesan - is great to use as a topping for mac and cheese. 
• Monterey Jack - also works good and is one of the cheeses I use for the Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese recipe also on this site. 

Step-by-Step Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.

Prepare the Cheese Sauce

• Step 1: Melt butter in a medium saucepan.  
• Step 2: Remove from heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth. Allow the flour mixture to cook for a minute.
• Step 3: Now add the milk. Stir constantly until the mixture returns to boiling and starts to thicken.

Add the Cheese

• Step 4: Add the chicken bouillon cube and mustard to the cream sauce.
• Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in TWO cups of cheese. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until everything is combined.
• Step 6: Stir in the cooked pasta and pour into a baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining one cup of cheese.

Baking Instructions

• Bake 15-20 minutes in a preheated 375°F oven or until the cheese on top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.

❄️How to Freeze Homemade Mac and Cheese

• If you want to freeze the mac and cheese, use a freezer-safe pan. I like to use aluminum pans. 
• After the mac and cheese has baked, allow it come to room temperature. 
• Don't try to freeze mac and cheese while it's still hot or ice crystals may start to form on top. 
• Cover tightly with aluminum foil. 
• Homemade Mac and Cheese can be frozen for up to two months. 

🔁Reheat Frozen Mac and Cheese

• Remove from the casserole from the freezer the night before and allow it to defrost in the refrigerator. 
• Reheat in a preheated 350 degree oven until warm. 
• You can also reheat the casserole frozen. Keep it covered with the aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about an hour or until warmed all the way through. 

More Recipes to Love

• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Roasted Asparagus
• German Creamy Cucumber Salad
• Fiesta Corn Salad

📖 Recipe Card

This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2013 with new photos, information and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!