This is one of those dishes that everyone should know how to make. I love playing around with it and adding different cheeses, but just plain ol mac and cheese seems to always hit the spot, whether it’s for adults or kids. And one fun way to serve it is put it in individual serving bowls (oven safe) or dishes, and let each person top it how they like. Get creative! Or not, you’ll still like it. : )
BAKED (or not) MACARONI AND CHEESE
8 T butter
8 T flour
salt and pepper
4 cups milk
1 lb. shredded cheddar cheese
12 oz. elbow macaroni (or noodle of choice), cooked firm*
Melt butter in pan until bubbly.
Add flour, salt, and pepper.
Cook, stirring, about 1 minute.
Add milk slowly, whisking in.
Cook until slightly thickened, then add cheese.
*If you don’t want to bake it, just cook the noodles all the way through and toss with sauce now and serve.
Spray a casserole dish or 9 by 13″ pan with nonstick spray.
Pour noodles into pan.
Pour sauce over noodles. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, broil for a couple minutes to brown.
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: (Bake as above with each one)
Sprinkle with breadcrumbs
Top with sliced tomatoes, then a little breadcrumbs
Cut 3 slices of bread into 1/2″ cubes (crusts removed), toss with 3 T melted butter.
Spread on top of dish, then top with 1 cup shredded cheese
Or (My favorite) top with 1 cup of shredded cheddar (shown at top)
Macaroni and Cheese
June 11, 2010
Category
Pasta
Persons
4
Prep Time
15 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Total Time
50 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 T butter
- 8 T flour
- salt and pepper
- 4 cups milk
- 1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 oz elbow macaroni (or noodle of choice), cooked firm*
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS:
- breadcrumbs
- tomatoes, sliced
- 3 slices of bread, cut into 1/2″ cubes and tossed with 3 T melted butter.
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- Melt butter in pan until bubbly.
- Add flour, salt, and pepper.
- Cook, stirring, about 1 minute.
- Add milk slowly, whisking in.
- Cook until slightly thickened, then add cheese.
*If you don’t want to bake it, just cook the noodles all the way through and toss with sauce now and serve.
- Spray a casserole dish or 9 by 13″ pan with nonstick spray.
- Pour noodles into pan.
- Pour sauce over noodles. Toss to coat.
- Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, broil for a couple minutes to brown.
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: (Bake as above with each one)
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs
- Top with sliced tomatoes, then a little breadcrumbs
- Cut 3 slices of bread into 1/2″ cubes (crusts removed), toss with 3 T melted butter
- Spread on top of dish, then top with 1 cup shredded cheese
- Or top with 1 cup of shredded cheddar
