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How can I Make Macaroni and Cheese from Scratch?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Macaroni and cheese is a very popular food, and it is quite easy to make at home. By making this dish at home, cooks can control the quality of the ingredients, picking out healthier ingredients than those included in packaged mixes. Home cooks can also create variations on the recipe by adding their own supplements, ranging from exotic cheeses to smoked salmon.

Classic macaroni and cheese is a rich baked dish which can be seasoned in a wide range of ways. You can use this basic baked recipe to build casseroles with ingredients like tuna, broccoli, and mushrooms, or you can eat it plain. While it may seem complex, it's actually very easy to assemble this dish, and you may find the distinctive flavor preferable to boxed mixes.

Cheddar cheese is often included in macaroni and cheese.
Cheddar cheese is often included in macaroni and cheese.

Cooks are also not limited to macaroni when they make this classic dish. A variety of pasta shapes are acceptable, although bold, bulky shapes are best since they hold the creamy sauce well. A variety of cheeses can also be used; although cheddar and Swiss are common and popular, cooks might want to play with Gouda, Gruyère, or other rich, flavorful cheeses. A cheese blend is also an excellent idea.

A dash of ground cloves is all that's needed in mac and cheese.
A dash of ground cloves is all that's needed in mac and cheese.

To make macaroni and cheese, start by boiling water for noodles and preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Use your baking dish to measure out the amount of pasta you will need; remember that noodles swell as they cook; and different shapes take up different amounts of volume. The sauce which follows is designed for a one and one half quart baking dish, which yields four to six entree sized servings of macaroni and cheese. Scale it as needed for baking dishes in different sizes.

Paprika can be used to season macaroni and cheese.
Paprika can be used to season macaroni and cheese.

While the noodles are cooking, melt two tablespoons of butter in a heavy saucepan, and whisk in two tablespoons of flour to create a roux. Stir until the roux starts to turn a creamy, golden brown and then slowly whisk in two cups of milk. Add ingredients like pepper, paprika, nutmeg, bay leaves, cloves, garlic, or onions for extra flavor, and simmer until the sauce thickens. Strain into a pot and add salt and pepper to taste. If you time things properly, you can strain the cream sauce into the pasta pot while the pasta is draining.

Ingredients such as garlic can be added to macaroni and cheese.
Ingredients such as garlic can be added to macaroni and cheese.

When the pasta has cooked, toss it with the cream sauce to coat it and then pour half of the pasta into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the pasta with around one cup of grated cheese, and then pour the rest of the pasta on top, topping that pasta with another cup of cheese. Toast one half cup of breadcrumbs in a small skillet with some butter, and sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until the top of the dish browns, and serve after allowing the baked macaroni and cheese to rest for around five minutes.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon166335

i tried this, but since my husband likes his macaroni a little sweet i added a little bit of condensed milk at the end and everyone loved it. I've had to make it for them two more times since then.

calabama71

Every year my children look forward to the holidays because of my sister’s famous homemade macaroni and cheese. And what’s better? She cooks it in the microwave. It is very simple to make but my kids seem to like hers better than mine!

It calls for 1 8oz. box of elbow macaroni (cooked and drained), ¼ cup butter, 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1 egg, 1 5oz. can evaporated milk, and 1 tsp. ground mustard.

Use a microwave safe casserole dish and place the butter in the bottom of it. Pour your cooked macaroni over the butter and stir well to make sure the butter melts. In a small bowl, beat the egg and then add the ground mustard. Pour the egg mixture and evaporated milk into the macaroni. Add the cheese and stir well. Microwave on high for 10-12 minutes. Stir after about 6 minutes.

mendocino

To reduce fat in your macaroni and cheese dish, low fat cheese can be substituted for regular cheese. There are some low fat cheeses on the market that taste almost as good, if not as good, as full fat cheese.

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    • Cheddar cheese is often included in macaroni and cheese.
      By: Bert Folsom
      Cheddar cheese is often included in macaroni and cheese.
    • A dash of ground cloves is all that's needed in mac and cheese.
      By: bergamont
      A dash of ground cloves is all that's needed in mac and cheese.
    • Paprika can be used to season macaroni and cheese.
      By: Ekaterina Lin
      Paprika can be used to season macaroni and cheese.
    • Ingredients such as garlic can be added to macaroni and cheese.
      By: Schlierner
      Ingredients such as garlic can be added to macaroni and cheese.
    • Gouda, a cheese with lots of flavor, offers a wonderful taste to macaroni and cheese.
      By: steheap
      Gouda, a cheese with lots of flavor, offers a wonderful taste to macaroni and cheese.
    • A whisk may be needed to make macaroni and cheese from scratch.
      By: Seite23
      A whisk may be needed to make macaroni and cheese from scratch.
    • Breadcrumbs may be used to top homemade macaroni and cheese.
      By: Vidady
      Breadcrumbs may be used to top homemade macaroni and cheese.
    • Using a blend of multiple cheeses will help yield a flavorful macaroni and cheese.
      By: Studio Barcelona
      Using a blend of multiple cheeses will help yield a flavorful macaroni and cheese.
    • Smoked salmon can add protein to scratch macaroni and cheese.
      By: PhotoEd
      Smoked salmon can add protein to scratch macaroni and cheese.
    • The cheese sauce is made by adding cheese to a basic cream-based sauce and stirring slowly until it is melted.
      By: Lucky Dragon
      The cheese sauce is made by adding cheese to a basic cream-based sauce and stirring slowly until it is melted.