Tell me a more comforting bowl of food than mac and cheese … I’ll wait. Chances are, kids (or teens and *cough* adults) will go through an “I only eat cheesy macaroni” phase and I’m totally here for it. We give you this speedy macaroni and cheese recipe – it’s a cheesy delight for dinner tonight!
While it’s not the most nutritious of meals, it’s an easy one to make and it’s one that the kids won’t rebel against so you know they’re going to bed with a full tummy and not feeling hungry. So with that said, pick your dinnertime battles, mum!
Cheese matters with this macaroni and cheese recipe!
Even though this macaroni cheese recipe is a super simple and cheap dish to make, there’s little room for hiding poor-quality ingredients.
Your choice of cheese matters – so make sure it is a yummy tasting cheese and grate the cheese fresh from the block if you can. Tasty-style cheese is a fabulous allrounder and one that families often have in their fridge but if you want some fun, stringy stretch to your cheese, mix in some grated mozzarella with the tasty cheddar.
TIP FOR ADD-INS: If you WANT to add some veggies in undetected, you could try adding some pureed pumpkin or pureed carrot and crossing your fingers. You could also add some fried bacon or shredded chicken for protein. Love mustard? You could add some Dijon for a tasty zing too! So many options to discover, and only your tastebuds are the limit.
Alas, as for me, I’m down for the original macaroni cheese recipe because it’s quick, easy and we’re digging into steamy bowls of goodness in under half an hour and when I’m hungry, I risk becoming hangry.
Perfect as an easy weeknight bowl of comfort or as a pretty delicious side dish, try this macaroni cheese recipe on your family and see if they think it’s a winner!
Easy creamy macaroni and cheese recipe
Ingredients
- 375g dried macaroni or elbows-shaped pasta
- 50g unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup plain flour
- 3 ½ cups full-fat milk
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 240g Tasty cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper
- bread crumbs and extra grated cheese (optional)
Method
- Cook the pasta according to the packet directions. While that’s cooking, cook the cheesy sauce so it comes together nicely at around the same time!
- Have all of your cheese sauce ingredients measured and ready so that you only have to reach for them. In a large saucepan or pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the flour and stir it constantly with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until it starts to become dough-like. Cook it for another minute, stirring so that the flour is cooked.
- Add in a quarter of a cup of the milk, stirring so that it incorporates the dough and gradually add in the remaining milk, stirring the whole time until it’s a smooth mixture. Add the onion powder and mix through.
- Add the grated cheese and stir through until completely melted. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as required.
- Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the cheese sauce mixture. Stir it through so it’s completely covered.
- You can serve it straight from the pot or tip it into a baking dish, top the macaroni cheese with breadcrumbs and grated cheese and bake it at 180°C until golden and bubbling on top (or pop it under the grill). Top with some parsley to garnish before serving. SO YUM!
Do your kids love a macaroni and cheese recipe dish and are they purists, liking ONLY cheese or do they like some delicious and nutritious add-ins? We’d love to hear, leave us a comment below!
