Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta

I've wanted to try this American pasta for a long time and I chose to make the basic and, in my opinion, the best mac and cheese recipe. The macaroni will have a strong taste of cheese and Bechamel sauce. Very filling, even the kids will love it.

I strongly recommend serving the mac and cheese with a vegetable salad. This will bring freshness to the hearty taste of pasta. Of course, this is up to your likes.

Ingredients
Elbow macaroni
500 g
mac and cheese is made with elbow macaroni, but you can choose any other shape you like
Cheddar cheese
250 g
I chose more colored cheddar
Butter
50 g
White flour
2 tbsp
Milk
350 ml
Heavy cream (32% fat)
200 ml
Salt
1.5 tbsp
to taste
Ground black pepper
0.25 tsp
Step by step
Step 1

Bring to a boil a large 5-liter pot filled with water and 1 tablespoon of salt. We will cook the pasta here.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 1
Step 2

While the water for the macaroni comes to the boil, we will prepare the Bechamel Sauce.

Melt 50g of butter in a deep, large saucepan.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 2
Step 3

Add 2 tablespoons of flour.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 3
Step 4

Mix well and cook together for 2 minutes.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 4
Step 5

Then add the milk gradually, stirring continuously to dissolve the lumps.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 5
Step 6

Now pour the heavy cream, mix and wait until the sauce starts to boil.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 6
Step 7

Add salt and a little pepper, to taste.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 7
Step 8

To this sauce, add 1/3 of the cheddar cheese, grated in advance.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 8
Step 9

Mix properly and leave over heat until the cheese melts completely and it's incorporated into the sauce.

Now turn off the heat and put the sauce aside.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 9
Step 10

For mac and cheese, elbow macaroni are commonly used. In stores, you will only find white macaroni. Durum wheat pasta in Romania can only be found online or in Italian shops.

Of course, you can use any kind of pasta here, the shape won't change the taste :)

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 10
Step 11

When the water starts to boil, put the pasta in, mix periodically and cook according to the time written on the box.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 11
Step 12

Drain the cooked macaroni add to the sauce in the pan, mix well.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 12
Step 13

Put half of the pasta mixed with the sauce in an oven dish.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 13
Step 14

Sprinkle over half of the remaining grated cheddar.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 14
Step 15

Add the rest of the pasta, level out.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 15
Step 16

Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and place the dish in the preheated oven to 200 degrees C for 10-15 minutes, just enough for the cheese to melt.

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 16
Step 17

Serve immediately, while it's warm and the cheese is soft, maybe with a vegetable salad.

Enjoy!

Easy Mac and Cheese Pasta - Step 17
Quantity: 8 serv ()
Prep time:
10 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 30 min