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Comfort Classics

Stovetop Mac & Cheese From Scratch

Forget the blue box. This takes 20 minutes and costs the same.

👨‍🍳
Sofia Reyes
Recipe Developer
5 min Prep
20 min Cook
4 Servings
$1.80 Per serving
Nutrition per serving (estimated)
520 Calories
22g Protein
68g Carbs
18g Fat

🛒 Ingredients

12 oz elbow macaroni
2 cups sharp cheddar, grated (block, not pre-shredded)
½ cup Gruyère or extra sharp cheddar, grated
2 cups whole milk
1 cup pasta water reserved
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne
Salt and white pepper
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📋 Instructions

1

Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain.

2

Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Grate your own.

3

Melt butter in pot over medium. Add flour, whisk constantly 2 minutes — cook out the raw flour taste.

4

Slowly stream in milk, whisking constantly. Cook 4-5 minutes until thickened.

5

Remove from heat. Add cheese in handfuls, stirring between each addition.

6

Season with mustard, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, pepper.

7

Add pasta, toss to coat. Use pasta water to thin if needed. Serve immediately.

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