This easy mac and cheese is the perfect quick dinner. Creamy cheese sauce, crispy bread crumbs, and fresh parsley make it a comfort food favourite. Ready in 30 minutes.
You'll also love my cheeseburger pasta, stuffed shells with cheese, and this creamy tuna pasta bake.
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⭐️ Why this recipe works
- Perfect Creaminess: Uses a combination of cheddar and parmesan to ensure a rich and creamy texture.
- Crispy Topping: Bread crumbs provide a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the creamy pasta.
- Simple Ingredients: Common kitchen staples make this dish accessible and easy to prepare.
- Comfort Food Favourite: A classic comfort food that is loved by both kids and adults.
- Customisable: Easy to adapt with different cheeses or add-ins like veggies or proteins.
🧾 Ingredients overview
- Macaroni, conchiglie or other short pasta: Provides the base of the dish, perfect for holding onto creamy sauce.
- Butter: Used to create the roux, adds richness to the sauce.
- All-purpose flour: Thickens the cheese sauce, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Milk: The liquid base for the cheese sauce, adds creaminess.
- Cheddar cheese: Main cheese, adds depth and sharpness.
- Parmesan cheese: Enhances flavor with a slightly nutty taste.
- Bread crumbs: Adds a crunchy topping for texture contrast.
- Fresh parsley or thyme: Offers a burst of colour and fresh flavour.
- Salt and pepper: Seasoning to enhance overall taste.
For precise measurements and additional ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
👩🏻🍳 Here's how to make it
Easy Mac And Cheese recipe step-by-step
- Preheat your oven: Set the oven to 180°C to be ready for baking.
- Cook the macaroni: Boil salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente, drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, add flour to form a roux, then gradually whisk in milk until thick. Stir in the garlic powder and mixed spice, if using. Remove from heat.
- Add the cheese: Stir in both cheddar and parmesan until the mixture is smooth and the cheeses are melted.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix the cooked macaroni with the cheese sauce, ensuring it's well-coated.
- Prepare the topping: Combine bread crumbs with a bit of melted butter, then sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- Bake: Place the mixture in a baking dish, top with bread crumbs, and bake until the top is golden.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley over the baked macaroni and cheese before serving.
📖 Variations
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta and flour.
- Add-ins: Include bacon, broccoli, or cauliflower for extra flavour and veggies.
💡 Chef's Guide: Expert Tips
Drawing on a decade of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I have compiled my top tips for recipe success.
- Roux Colour: For a deeper flavor, cook the roux until it's a light golden brown before adding the milk. This adds a subtle nuttiness to the sauce.
- Adding heat or smokiness: For a smoky flavour, include smoked paprika in the breadcrumb topping or mix some smoked cheese with the cheddar. And add some chilli for some extra heat.
🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 175°C until heated through, which helps maintain the texture.
❓Recipe FAQ's
How can I prevent the cheese sauce from curdling?
Avoid high heat and stir frequently. Add the cheese off the heat.
What's the best way to reheat this without drying it out?
Add a splash of milk when reheating to keep it moist and creamy.
How can I make a gluten-free version of the roux?
Use cornstarch or a gluten-free all-purpose flour as a substitute for traditional flour to thicken your sauce.
Looking for other creamy comforting pasta recipes like this? Try these:
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Easy Mac And Cheese
This easy mac and cheese recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a comforting, delicious meal on the table fast. The creamy cheese sauce pairs beautifully with the crispy bread crumbs and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
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Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 250 grams (½ lb) macaroni, or your favourite short pasta
- 30 grams (2 tablespoon) butter
- 30 grams (4 tablespoon) all-purpose flour
- 500 milliliters (2 cups) milk
- ¼ teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 200 grams (1 ⅔ cups) cheddar cheese, grated
- 50 grams (½ cups) parmesan cheese, grated
- 50 grams (¾ cups) bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly for about 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually add the milk, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Stir in the garlic powder and mixed spice.
- Add the cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the cheddar and parmesan cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine the pasta and sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring to ensure all the pasta is well-coated.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs with a bit of melted butter (optional for extra crispiness). Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the mac and cheese.
- Bake (optional): For a golden, crispy topping, transfer the mac and cheese to a baking dish, sprinkle the bread crumbs on top, and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with fresh parsley or thyme leaves before serving. Enjoy your easy mac and cheese with bread crumbs and parsley!
Notes
- Cheese options: Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, gouda, or gruyere, for a different flavour profile.
- Make it spicy: To give the cheese sauce a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the mac and cheese ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. When ready to serve, bake at 180°C for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 693kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1.08IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 700mg | Iron: 2mg
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Meet the Chef!
Hi, I'm Debs, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef dedicated to helping you create unforgettable meals on a budget. Discover more about my journey and dive into a world of foolproof recipes designed for those who love to eat well without overspending.
Katherine
Yum. I added bacon, peas and sweetcorn. It needed more liquid to make the sauce but it was tasty all eaten at great speed. Thank you for the recipe!
Deborah Rainford
So happy that you loved this! And those additions sound amazing!