Best Ever Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

For a real kid favorite without all the artificial nonsense, whip up an easy batch of this best ever mac and cheese. This warm pasta dish is creamy and oh-so-cheesy for that flavor you and your children crave. This best ever macaroni and cheese recipe is comfort food at its best; plus it is super simple to whip up for a quick weekday dinner. You can thank me later!

Best ever mac and cheese

ThisBest Ever Mac and Cheese Recipe is a family favorite of ours. It is simple to make, super creamy, and tastes amazing. You’ll never reach for that blue box again!

Best ever macaroni and cheese recipe

Start off by preheating your oven to 350 F. Then, cook 1 box of macaroni according to package directions. Then pour drained, cooked pasta in casserole dish.

Best ever mac and cheese recipe

In large pot melt 2 tablespoon butter until it melts; add in diced jalapeno(if you like it a little zesty like we do)and then stir in 2 tablespoon flour and cook over medium heat until it slights to ever so slightly brown.

Whisk in 3 cups milk, Stirring often as it will start to thicken somewhat. As you wait stir in 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 egg (beaten).

Finally add the 2 cups cheddar cheese stirring until well combined. Now pour mixture over cooked pasta and stir to combine.

Mac and cheese with croutons

Now mix together1/2 cup crushed, seasoned croutons and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over mac and cheese.

Best ever mac n cheese

Cook for just 10 minutes for a creamier mac and cheese or 30 minutes for a more casserole / baked consistency.

HINT: To toast the top like we did just pull of the foil and broil the top for a couple minutes before serving.

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Print Recipe

Best Ever Mac and Cheese Recipe

Beth Gorden

ThisBest Ever Mac and Cheese Recipe is a family favorite of ours. It is simple to make, super creamy, and tastes amazing. You'll never reach for that blue box again!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

1 box macaroni, cooked al dente
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
2 cups Cheddarcheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesancheese, shredded
3 cups milk
1 medium jalapeno, diced
1/2 cup seasoned croutons, crushed

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Put cookedmacaroniin casserole dish. Heat water and butter until butter melts (we zap in the microwave for about 30 seconds). Add hot mixture, milk, salt, mustard, nutmeg, and egg in a bowl and pour it over the cookedmacaroni. Top with cheddar and jalapenos. Stir to combine. Sprinkle crushed croutons and Parmesancheeseover the top of themacaroniand cook 35-45 minutes or until set and light golden on the top.

Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! She has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids ABCs, science, English grammar, history, math, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables - www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com. Beth studied at the University of Northwestern where she got a double major to make her effective at teaching children while making education FUN!