Grandma’s Heartwarming Old Fashion Mac and Cheese Recipe

Creamy mac and cheese has been a comfort food staple that sparks nostalgia for many home cooks.

Memories of childhood dinners flood back with each cheesy bite.

Countless variations exist, but this classic recipe stays true to its roots.

Simple ingredients combine to create a dish that feels like a warm hug.

Sharp cheddar and smooth milk blend perfectly to produce a luxurious sauce.

Perfectly cooked pasta catches every bit of rich, velvety goodness.

You can make this recipe your own by adding favorite mix-ins or experimenting with different cheese combinations.

Prepare to fall in love with this timeless comfort classic that never disappoints.

Why Good Old Fashion Mac And Cheese Is A Classic

• Create Comforting Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for bringing everyone together with its rich, cheesy goodness that satisfies all ages and tastes.
• Master Cheese Blending Technique: Learn professional cooking skills by creating a luxurious sauce using multiple cheese varieties like sharp cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan for complex, deep flavor profiles.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: Easily adapt the recipe by experimenting with different cheese combinations, adding crispy breadcrumbs, or incorporating extra ingredients like bacon or roasted vegetables to make it uniquely yours.
• Stress-Free Gourmet Cooking: Achieve restaurant-quality mac and cheese at home with straightforward techniques like tempering eggs and creating a smooth roux, making sophisticated cooking accessible to home chefs of all skill levels.

Mac And Cheese Ingredients You’ll Need

• Elbow Macaroni, Shell Pasta: Classic pasta shapes that create perfect pockets for holding the creamy cheese sauce.

• Whole Milk: Provides a rich and creamy base for the sauce.
• Butter: Adds depth of flavor and helps create a smooth roux.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Gruyère Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Creates a complex, flavorful cheese blend with layers of sharpness and nuttiness.
• Eggs: Helps to thicken and enrich the sauce with a luxurious texture.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Fundamental seasonings that balance and enhance the overall taste.
• Nutmeg, Paprika: Adds warmth and subtle complexity to the mac and cheese.
• All-Purpose Flour: Essential for creating a smooth, thickening roux for the sauce.

How To Make Old-Fashioned Mac And Cheese

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 375°F and grab a large baking dish. Coat the dish generously with cooking spray or butter to keep everything from sticking.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta Perfectly

• Elbow macaroni
• Shell pasta

Cook until the pasta is tender but still has a slight bite, around 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside, keeping a tiny splash of pasta water.

Step 3: Create a Buttery Base

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until it gets foamy and takes on a golden hue.

Step 4: Whip Up a Silky Roux

Sprinkle flour into the melted butter, whisking like crazy. Keep stirring for 2-3 minutes to cook out that raw flour taste without letting it brown.

Step 5: Pour in the Creamy Goodness

Slowly stream in whole milk, whisking continuously. Watch the magic happen as the sauce starts to thicken and become smooth.

Step 6: Tame the Eggs

Carefully mix a bit of the hot milk into the eggs, whisking frantically to prevent any scrambling action.

Step 7: Season with Flavor Bombs

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Nutmeg
• Paprika

Step 8: Cheese Party

• Sharp cheddar
• Gruyère
• Parmesan

Stir until the mixture looks glossy and smooth as silk.

Step 9: Marry Pasta and Sauce

Gently fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce, ensuring every single noodle gets a luxurious cheese coating.

Step 10: Prepare for Baking

Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.

Step 11: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Look for a golden-brown top and bubbling edges with crispy cheese bits.

Step 12: Let It Rest

Give the mac and cheese a 10-minute breather before serving. This helps the sauce set and lets the flavors get to know each other.

Tips For Creamy, Cheesy Mac And Cheese

• Prevent Pasta Sticking: Stir macaroni and shells frequently during cooking to avoid clumping and ensure even cooking.
• Cheese Melting Trick: Grate cheeses at room temperature for smoother, more even melting and better sauce consistency.
• Roux Mastery: Whisk flour and butter continuously to create a lump-free base that thickens sauce perfectly without burning.
• Crispy Top Secret: Sprinkle extra breadcrumbs or additional grated cheese on top before baking for a crunchy, golden-brown crust.
• Flavor Boost: Add a dash of mustard powder or worcestershire sauce to enhance the cheese sauce's depth and complexity.

Twists On The Classic Mac And Cheese Recipe

• Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese: Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, using gluten-free pasta to create a celiac-friendly version that maintains creamy texture and rich flavor.
• Vegan Cheese Lover's Delight: Substitute dairy ingredients with cashew cream, nutritional yeast, and plant-based milk, using vegan cheese alternatives to craft a dairy-free mac and cheese that satisfies comfort food cravings.
• Protein-Packed Upgrade: Incorporate cooked chicken, crispy bacon bits, or roasted cauliflower into the base recipe, adding extra protein and vegetables to elevate the nutritional profile of the classic mac and cheese.

What Complements Old Fashion Mac And Cheese

• Crisp Green Salad: Toss a light, tangy arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the cheese sauce.
• Robust Red Wine: Select a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel that complements the sharp cheese flavors and balances the creamy texture.
• Zesty Roasted Vegetables: Prepare garlic-roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts to add a crunchy, slightly charred contrast to the smooth mac and cheese.
• Smoky Protein Sidekick: Serve alongside grilled barbecue chicken or crispy bacon bits to introduce a savory, protein-packed dimension to the dish.

How To Store And Reheat Mac And Cheese

• Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
• Transfer cooled mac and cheese to freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Label with date to track freshness.
• Place portion in microwave-safe dish. Add splash of milk to restore creamy texture. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly. Stop when steaming hot.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread mac and cheese in baking dish. Cover with foil to prevent drying. Warm for 15-20 minutes. Uncover last 5 minutes for crispy top layer.

Mac And Cheese FAQs You Should Know

• Why use multiple pasta types?

Combining elbow macaroni and shell pasta creates different textures and cheese-holding capabilities, making each bite more interesting and enjoyable.

• Can I make this mac and cheese ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dish up to the baking stage, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

• How do I prevent a grainy cheese sauce?

Always add cheese off the heat and stir gently until smooth. Using high-quality, freshly grated cheeses and avoiding pre-shredded varieties helps prevent graininess.

• What's the purpose of the roux in this recipe?

The roux (butter and flour mixture) helps thicken the sauce and creates a smooth, creamy base that allows the cheese to melt perfectly without separating.

Good Old Fashion Mac And Cheese Recipe

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4.7 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty and nostalgic, good old fashion mac and cheese brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy cheddar cheese melts perfectly over tender pasta, creating a classic comfort dish that promises warm satisfaction with every delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta

• 450g / 1 lb elbow macaroni
• 225g / 8 oz shell pasta

Cheese Blend

• 225g / 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese
• 225g / 8 oz gruyère cheese
• 115g / 4 oz parmesan cheese

Base and Seasonings

• 60g / 4 tbsp butter
• 60g / 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 720ml / 3 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp paprika

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously grease a large baking dish to prevent sticking.
2. Cook the elbow macaroni and shell pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside, reserving a small amount of pasta water.
3. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat until it becomes foamy and golden.
4. Whisk in the flour to create a smooth roux, stirring constantly for 2-3 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste without browning.
5. Gradually pour in the whole milk, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and create a silky, thickening sauce.
6. Temper the eggs by slowly adding a small amount of the hot milk mixture while whisking vigorously to prevent scrambling.
7. Incorporate the tempered eggs into the sauce, then add salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and paprika for a rich, aromatic flavor profile.
8. Fold in the sharp cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan cheeses, stirring until the mixture is completely smooth and glossy.
9. Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, gently folding to ensure every pasta piece is lavishly coated.
10. Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to create a uniform layer.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the edges are bubbling with crispy, caramelized cheese.
12. Allow the mac and cheese to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the sauce set and intensifies the flavors.

Notes

• Cheese Selection Matters: Choose high-quality, freshly grated cheeses for maximum flavor and smooth melting, avoiding pre-shredded varieties with anti-caking agents.
• Pasta Texture Trick: Cook pasta just shy of al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven, preventing mushy mac and cheese.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free pasta to make the dish celiac-friendly.
• Flavor Enhancement: Add a dash of mustard powder or hot sauce to the cheese sauce for an extra depth of flavor and subtle kick that elevates the classic recipe.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 570
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 18g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 56g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 24g
• Cholesterol: 130mg