Many recipes call for several steps and ingredients but this one uses just the basics and is really the easiest and best recipe for baked macaroni and cheese I’ve ever made. It’s heavenly and adds a dimension that simply cannot be found in a box. By baking it in the oven, that is exactly what you’ll do.Īnd the 3rd thing that I think makes a delicious macaroni and cheese is having a wonderful layer of golden brown melted cheese on top. I want to pasta to completely be ensconced in cheese and to absorb all the cheese goodness, texture and flavor. If it’s simply cooked noodles swimming in some cheesy sauce, that’s not really what i’m looking for.
Make a roux: while pasta is cooking, in a large saucepan (4 quart) or medium pot melt butter over medium heat then add flour, cook 1 minute whisking constantly. Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Simple, use real cheese! And that’s exactly what you’ll do with this recipe.Īnother thing that makes a good macaroni and cheese is how the pasta takes on the cheese sauce. Cook pasta: bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, boil pasta to al dente according to package instructions. The best way to get a rich, creamy, delicious cheese sauce? Well, in my opinion, there’s three things…įirst and foremost is that commercial powder mixes or cheese “ soups” or spreads just don’t do the dish justice.Īll they do is imitate cheese flavor and texture and don’t do the job right at all. So what makes a good macaroni and cheese? I’ve always been a macaroni and cheese connoisseur so when i’m able to make my own with a recipe like this, it makes the world a better place.
Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes.
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and toss to coat well.