Mac & Cheese

I have always loved a bowl of homemade mac and cheese! While the boxed version is still nostalgic and a sort of comfort food, nothing beats homemade. I made this recipe every so often with a good friend of mine in college, occasionally adding bacon, sausage, or extra cheese!

If you want to smother your mac and cheese in a cheese and breadcrumb topping and bake, follow the whole recipe. If you just want a bowl of creamy mac and cheese, then stop at Step 8 and serve! We have found we prefer stopping there as it stays creamier that way. However, the breadcrumb topping is to die for!

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MAC & CHEESE

serves 6-8

INGREDIENTS:

• 24 oz. (4 Cups) Large Macaroni Noodles

Cheese Sauce:

• 1/2 cup Butter

• 2 cups Milk

• 5 Tbsp Flour

• 4 oz. Cream Cheese

• 1 tsp Garlic Powder

• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

• 1/4 tsp White Pepper

• 1/4 tsp Tony’s Seasoning

• 1/4 tsp Mustard or Dry Mustard

• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg

• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 1/2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese

• 1 cup Smoked Gouda Cheese

• 1/2 cup Parmesan or Romano Cheese

Topping:

• 1 cup Bread Crumbs

• 1/4 cup Butter, melted

• 1/2 tsp Tony’s Seasoning

• 1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese

• 1/2 cup Smoked Gouda Cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt the water.

2. Cook macaroni noodles for about 7 minutes, or until desired texture.

3. Drain macaroni noodles and put back in pot.

4. Melt butter in saucepan.

5. Add flour and cook for 1 min.

6. Pour milk in and mix. Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes.

7. Mix remaining cheese sauce ingredients in and keep on medium heat until the cream cheese and cheeses are melted in.

8. Stir cheese sauce into macaroni noodles.

9. Pour noodles into a 9x13 pan.

10. Mix bread crumbs, Tony’s seasoning, and melted butter in a small bowl until evenly mixed.

11. Sprinkle sharp cheddar and gouda cheese over the macaroni.

12. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over the top of this.

13. Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F.

NOTES:

• If making without the breadcrumb topping, stop at step 8 and serve.

• Cheeses can be played with, you can add Gruyère, White Cheddar, Gorgonzola, etc.

• If you don't have cream cheese, you can omit it. It just adds more creaminess.