Active Time: 25 mins | Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins | Yield: 10 serves
This is the best-ever mac and cheese that no doubt beat out the rest! It’s easy and quick to make. You can even prep this in advance. Rich, cheesy, and utterly delicious! This macaroni and cheese is comfort food at its finest!
Ingredients
6 tbsp salted butter
⅓ c. grated yellow onion
16 oz. uncooked large elbow macaroni, large shells, or Cavatappi pasta
2 tsp dry mustard
6 tbsp all-purpose flour
⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
3 ½ c. milk
1 ¾ c. heavy cream
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
4 oz. sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded, (about 1 c.), plus 4 ounces diced (about 1 c.), divided
4 oz. extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 c.), plus 4 ounces diced (about 1 c.), divided
How to make Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Following the package directions, cook the pasta until al dente.
Step 3: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the yellow onion, dry mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds. Next, add the flour and stir for about 2 minutes until golden. Then, slowly stir in the milk and cream. Bring everything to a boil, stirring often. Adjust the heat to medium-low and simmer while whisking for another 5 minutes until the mixture has slightly thickened. Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir to incorporate. Take the pan off the heat, then whisk in ¾ c. each of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Toss in the pasta along with the diced cheese. Transfer the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
Step 4: Bake the Mac and cheese on a rimmed baking sheet in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Step 5: Take the dish out of the oven and set the oven to broil.
Step 6: Over the Mac and cheese, sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese. Return to the oven and broil 6 inches from the heat for about 2 minutes until the cheese has melted and is golden.
Step 7: Place on a wire rack to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
Tips:
Prep the Mac and cheese in advance, but do not bake. Tent and store in the fridge. Before baking, bring to room temperature.
Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp salted butter
- ⅓ c. grated yellow onion
- 16 oz. uncooked large elbow macaroni large shells, or Cavatappi pasta
- 2 tsp dry mustard
- 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 ½ c. milk
- 1 ¾ c. heavy cream
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 oz. sharp white Cheddar cheese shredded, (about 1 c.), plus 4 ounces diced (about 1 c.), divided
- 4 oz. extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese shredded (about 1 c.), plus 4 ounces diced (about 1 c.), divided
Instructions
- Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees F.
- Following the package directions, cook the pasta until al dente.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the yellow onion, dry mustard, kosher salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds. Next, add the flour and stir for about 2 minutes until golden. Then, slowly stir in the milk and cream. Bring everything to a boil, stirring often. Adjust the heat to medium-low and simmer while whisking for another 5 minutes until the mixture has slightly thickened. Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir to incorporate. Take the pan off the heat, then whisk in ¾ c. each of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Toss in the pasta along with the diced cheese. Transfer the mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
- Bake the mac and cheese on a rimmed baking sheet in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Take the dish out of the oven and set the oven to broil.
- Over the mac and cheese, sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese. Return to the oven and broil 6 inches from the heat for about 2 minutes until the cheese has melted and is golden.
- Place on a wire rack to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
