Are you looking for a super quick and easy recipe to feed your family with? I have the perfect mac & cheese recipe that every family member will love. As soon as I start to make this mac & cheese my kids develop a whole new level of excitement. Whether it is a busy afternoon or a cold winter’s evening, this Homemade White Sauce Mac & Cheese is so simple and quick to make.
This recipe holds a special place in my heart, not only because it was my dad’s recipe, but because it truly defines his most famous saying. My dad was a big cheese man and his attitude was, “if you made mac & cheese you go all the way with the cheese or what’s the point!” My kids couldn’t agree with him more.
Ingredients
Grandma Tweed’s White Sauce – You will need to make one batch of Grandma Tweed’s white sauce. If absolutely necessary, you can buy a premade white sauce to use in it’s place. The ingredients needed for the white sauce are butter, milk, nutmeg, all purpose flour, flour, cayenne pepper, ground mustard, and garlic powder
Nutmeg – When you add nutmeg to a mac & cheese recipe, it will bring out the nuttiness of the cheese and give your dish a more savory flavor.
Shredded Cheese – To keep your white mac & cheese white in color, use a white cheddar cheese. You can also do a combination of different cheeses such as gruyere, gouda, and cheddar. We usually make our homemade white sauce mac & cheese with shredded white sharp cheddar cheese, but as stated before, you can experiment and try blends of cheese as well. You can use pre-shredded cheese or shred a brick of cheese for this recipe. P.S.- Cream cheese is the secret ingredient to getting a really creamy macaroni dish.
Elbow Macaroni – My dad always used elbow mac and cheese for this recipe, but you can really use any kind of short pasta.
Cream Cheese – Adding cream cheese to the sauce will give the sauce a more creamy texture.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place a covered pot of heavily salted water on the stove and let heat until boiling. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente.(tender but firm)
- While the pasta is cooking, mix together one batch of Grandma Tweed’s White Sauce over medium heat in a large saucepan.
- When the white creamy sauce is thickened, remove the sauce from heat and add the cream cheese and shredded cheese to create an even more creamy cheese sauce.
- Combine together all of the ingredients and mix well. The spread the mac & cheese in a baking dish using the back of a spoon.
Top the baking dish with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. - Bake in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Dad's Homemade White Sauce Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 batch Grandma Tweedy’s White Sauce
- dash nutmeg
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheese such as sharp cheddar or a mix of cheddar and mozzarella
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened and cubed
- 8 oz macaroni or pasta of your choice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Grandma Tweedy's 20 Minute White Sauce Recipe.
- When the sauce is thickened, remove the sauce from heat and gradually stir in the shredded cheese and cream cheese until melted and smooth.
- Mix the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce until well blended.
Transfer to a baking dish
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish.
Top and Bake:
- Top with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the top with golden brown and bubbly.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestion
Add more salt and black pepper to taste and serve the creamy mac hot as a main dish or a side. Enjoy!
Notes
- If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a splash of whole milk to reach the desired consistency.
- For a creamier texture, you can substitute part of the milk with heavy cream.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your heat preference.
- Feel free to experiment with different types of cheeses or combinations of cheeses, such as Gruyère, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, or Gouda for a unique flavor twist.
- You can also melt butter and mix it with bread crumbs and top your mac and cheese with it prior to baking. Be sure to only use 2-3 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Crunchy goodness!
How to Store Leftover
Place any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for up to 4 days if stored properly. I can almost promise you that it will not last the full four days.
Conclusion
Dad’s Homemade White Sauce Mac & Cheese is such an easy dish to make. Feel free to experiment and adjust it to your liking.
I also want to remind you that this homemade mac and cheese is a great dish to bring as your next holiday side dish.
If homemade mac & cheese is a dish that you loved, you might also enjoy my Sausage and Kale with White Sauce recipe. Next time you make this recipe, don’t forget to comment with a star rating and let us know how you liked it and what kinds of cheeses you used for it.
