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You are here: Home / Recipes / Easy Mac and Cheese

Recipes Side Dishes
Published: March 16, 2020 | Last Updated: January 29, 2021 | Author: Lois

Easy Mac and Cheese

Easy Mac and Cheese that’s cheesy and delicious!  Let me show you how to ditch the box and make this homemade recipe for dinner tonight. This recipe is the perfect side dish to any of my family’s favorite Chicken Cutlet Recipes.

Homemade Mac and Cheese in small white bowl

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!

For years I have been making one recipe that I named Olivia’s Mac and Cheese because she loves it so much and I enjoy making my kids happy.  But recently I’ve started making this recipe that I’m sharing with you today.

This recipe bakes in the oven while my other recipe, named after my daughter, is a stove top recipe. Both are creamy and delicious.

Both recipes make the perfect side dish for Breaded Italian Style Chicken Cutlets, grilled chicken sandwiches or hamburgers.  I even enjoy eating a bowl of mac and cheese as the perfect comfort food after a long crazy day.

Homemade Mac and Cheese served in white baking dish

Helpful Baking Tools

Affiliate Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, click here.

  • This is my favorite casserole dish probably because of the color. Looks great if you’re having company too. 
  • Measuring cups
  • Stainless steel whisk
  • Box grater – I have used shredded cheddar cheese many times for this recipe, but grating your own cheese is always best. 

Ingredients

  • 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 recipes, 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. 

Directions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan.  Remove from heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and mustard and stir until smooth. Now add the milk and stir constantly until the mixture returns to boiling and starts to thicken.

How to make cream sauce for Homemade Mac and Cheese

Remove from heat and stir in TWO cups of cheese. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until everything is combined.

Stir in pasta and pour into a baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining one cup of cheese.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.

How to make the cheese sauce for Homemade Mac and Cheese

Ready to serve hot and bubbly from the oven.

Homemade mac and cheese baked.

I recently redid the photos for this recipe.  The photo above and the photo below are from the original post that was published in 2013.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe so many years have passed since I posted this recipe and since I started blogging.  So much has changed with blogging and with my life.

I know you’ll enjoy this recipe as much as my family does.  In fact, we had it just the other night with grilled steak.  It was amazing.

Easy Mac and Cheese from Walking on Sunshine Recipes

How to Freeze 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. 

How to 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. 

You might also Enjoy these Side Dish Recipes: 

  • Twice Baked Potatoes
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes
  • Roasted Asparagus
  • German Creamy Cucumber Salad
  • Fiesta Corn Salad
Easy Mac and Cheese

Easy Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 package pasta; 16 ounces
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. mustard
  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 cups medium cheddar cheese, shredded and divided

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat.
  4. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, chicken bouillon cube and mustard and stir until smooth.
  5. Now add the milk and stir constantly until boiling.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of cheese.
  7. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir until everything is combined.
  8. Stir in pasta and pour into a baking dish.
  9. Sprinkle top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
  10. Bake 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.

Notes

I like to add a chicken bouillon cube for added flavor.

HOW TO FREEZE 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.


HOW TO 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.

© Lois
Cuisine: American / Category: Side Dishes
Homemade Mac and Cheese ready to serve.


16 Comments

About Lois

Originally from Queens, NY, Lois now calls northeastern PA home. You can find her blogging over at Walking on Sunshine where she shares a little of her life, but more importantly what’s for dinner at her house tonight.

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Comments

  1. Char says

    November 3, 2019 at 1:16 am

    I’ve made your Mac and Cheese but don’t want to bake it till the next day.
    Will there be any problems doing this?
    Do I need to add any more liquid to it before baking?
    Thank you
    Char

    Reply
    • Lois says

      November 3, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      I have never tried this but I do think it will be fine! I wouldn’t add any extra liquid. Let me know how everything comes out after you bake it. Thank you for visiting my site.

      Reply
  2. Mary says

    July 25, 2018 at 4:15 pm

    Lois this looks so mouthwatering good. I am definitely going to make this. Show my daughter what a real mac and cheese is and not that boxy stuff.

    Reply
    • Lois says

      July 25, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      That is so funny! I could eat homemade mac and cheese a few times a week! Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  3. Michele says

    July 18, 2018 at 7:26 am

    I always have room for another mac and cheese recipe. This looks divine! I am ALL about the cheese!

    Reply
    • Lois says

      July 18, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Yes, same here. We love cheese too! Thank you for visiting!

      Reply
  4. Joanne DiPalo says

    September 13, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    Love this recipe, mine is very similar, I love adding the mustard. Now I just need the time to cook tonight. Pinning/sharing.

    Reply
  5. Lisa @ Flour Me With Love says

    March 20, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    This looks simple and delicious! I'm featuring it today…thanks so much for sharing at Mix it up Monday 🙂

    http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2013/03/featuring-you_20.html

    Reply
  6. Carol says

    March 15, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    Looks amazing, so cheesy, this would be a favorite in my house as well!

    Reply
  7. Sandra says

    March 13, 2013 at 10:09 pm

    Oh that looks SO good. YUM!

    My son would LOVE this, he is obsessed with Mac and Cheese 🙂

    Reply
  8. Cheryl @ TFD says

    March 13, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Mac and cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods! I'll try your recipe, thanks!

    Reply
  9. April says

    March 13, 2013 at 6:06 pm

    YUMMO! I may very well be making this for dinner tonight!

    Reply
  10. Debra Hawkins says

    March 13, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Yum… Mac N' Cheese might literally be one of my favorite foods.

    Reply
  11. Beth says

    March 13, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    I love mac & cheese. It is my favorite comfort food.

    Reply
  12. Liz says

    March 13, 2013 at 1:48 pm

    I make the same Mac & Cheese…it's from Martha's 101 recipe. Love it, and I think it's one of the best recipes out there, and EASY! 🙂

    Reply
  13. Debbie says

    March 13, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    Good morning! Oh my does this sound good! Everyone over here would love it I know! Hope all is well with you Lois and you are recovering nicely! Enjoy your day! HUGS

    Reply

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