Creamy Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this creamy, homemade macaroni and cheese. Macaroni and cheese is my go-to meal for quick side dishes. It’s a holiday favorite with the family.  You can’t have a barbecue or a Thanksgiving meal without it.

Creamy Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

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Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pasta

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Equipment

• casserole dish or cast-iron skillet

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried elbow macaroni (4.5 cups)
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tbsp chicken bouillon
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 cups milk
• 16 oz sharp cheddar cheese grated, do not use pre-shredded
• 16 oz mild cheddar cheese grated, do not use pre-shredded
• 16 oz colby jack cheese
• 1 tsp salt add more for preferred taste
• 2 tsp black pepper add more for preferred taste
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cajun seasoning (optional)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add dried pasta and chicken bouillon. Stir at least once every minute. Boil for 7 minutes. Pasta should be al dente so that it's not completely cooked.
• Drain water and add macaroni in a large bowl. 
• Grate all cheeses: sharp cheddar, mild cheddar and colby jack cheeses.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.
• Whisk in 4 cups of milk and heat on high until the milk begins to boil.
• Turn off the heat and add 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup of mild cheddar cheese to the milk and stir until smooth.
• In the large bowl, pour 2/3 of the cheese sauce over the macaroni and mix well. If necessary add the remaining cheese sauce. Mix in 1 cup of the mild cheddar cheese and 1 cup of colby jack cheese. Taste the macaroni and add extra salt and pepper if necessary.
• Next, pour the macaroni mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the colby jack cheddar on top of the pasta.
• Sprinkle smoked paprika seasoning on top of pasta.
• Bake macaroni for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and the top is golden brown.