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a wooden spoon scooping baked Mac and cheese out of a 9 x 13 pan.

Baked Mac and Cheese

Delicious and easy to make mac and cheese recipe with only a few ingredients
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb elbow pasta
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2 ½ cups milk
  • 2 ½ cups chicken stock
  • 2 lbs cheese shredded
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Boil one pound of elbow pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Don’t forget to salt the water!
  3. When done, drain the pasta and pour it into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Do not rinse the pasta! The starches that remain on the pasta will help the cheese sauce to stick well.
  4. In a large saucepan, melt ½ cup of butter. Add ½ cup of flour and stir thoroughly on low heat until it is a smooth mixture. This is called a roux.
  5. Then add the 2 ½ cups of chicken stock and 2 ½ cups of milk. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is incorporated, and you’re sure the roux is well dissolved.
  6. Allow it to cook on low until you can run your finger on the back of your stirring utensil, and the sauce doesn’t fill the space you made.
  7. Keep the burner on low and add the 2 lbs of shredded cheese in increments, about a cup at a time. Mix slowly until all of the cheese has melted. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.*
  8. Pour the cheese mixture over the cooked elbow pasta and stir together. Bake in the 350-degree oven for 30-45 minutes, until it’s bubbly on the edge and heated through. Allow the dish to cool for ten minutes before serving and enjoy!

Notes

This recipe makes about 8 servings as a main dish but easily double that if it's a side dish. 
 
*You can add extra seasonings to this recipe as your family enjoys. Onion powder, garlic powder, and even nutmeg add extra depth of flavor.