Recipe: Creamy Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is my go-to meal for quick side dishes. It’s a holiday favorite with the family. You can’t have a barbeque or a Thanksgiving meal without it. While mac and cheese is supposed to be cheesy, it shouldn’t be that you’re eating all cheese. I’m not a fan of six to eight different cheeses in one meal.  Having a couple is enough for me. It’s taken me a few years to get this recipe to where I can make it without looking at my own recipe cards. I hope you enjoy it!

Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese quick side dish.

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Course: Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pasta

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Equipment

• casserole dish or cast-iron skillet

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried elbow macaroni
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4 tbsp flour
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated, do not use pre-shredded
• 2 cups mild cheddar cheese grated, do not use pre-shredded
• 1 tsp salt add more for preferred taste
• 2 tsp black pepper add more for preferred taste
• 1 tsp cajun seasoning (optional)
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and grease casserole or cast iron skillet with butter.

  Set aside. 
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add dried pasta and cook 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 both sharp and mild cheeses. 
• In a large saucepan, melt butter and add flour to make a roux.
• Once the roux is smooth whisk in the 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.
• Add salt, black pepper and cajun seasonings to the cheese mixture. Before proceeding to next steps, taste the cheese sauce for extra seasoning.
• In the large bowl, pour the cheese over the macaroni and mix well. 
• Begin to add sour cream to macaroni and mix well. 
• In a small bowl, whisk one large egg and add to the mac and cheese mixture.
• Next, pour the macaroni mixture into the baking dish.
• Sprinkle the remaining mild cheddar on top of pasta. 
• Optional, sprinkle paprika seasoning on top of pasta.
• Bake macaroni for 40 minutes or until cheese is bubbly or golden brown.

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