It’s Party Mac and Cheese.
THIS MAC AND CHEESE IS SO GOOD.
Thick, creamy, and I might even say Panera-style in its creamy, cheesy, velvety glory.
This summer, my daughter and my husband biked 50+ miles to raise money for frogs (I know, can’t make this up, but stick with me). We had a little welcome home party at the end of the bike ride, and I made this mac and cheese for 25 people at that party. Multiple friends came up and asked me for the recipe.
Since then, I’ve made this several more times, always when we have friends for dinner or I’m feeding a big group of people.
So in my mind, this is a party mac and cheese. You can serve it to a lot of people, and mostly everyone will love it.
(Pictured here with the BBQ meatballs that I made for our friends last night! So yum.)
When I do this for a group of people, I’ll do a couple things ahead of time:
- Cook the noodles.
- Make the bechamel.
- Shred the cheese.
Then when it’s time to assemble, I reheat the bechamel, add the cheese, and stir the noodles in. A bit of warm water at the end helps it stay loose and creamy!
My favorite cheese lately has been the cheddar and Gruyere blend blocks that you can buy at ALDI or Trader Joe’s, but I also love some straight cheddar or even a few slices of American for a milder, creamier finish.
It’s just uncluttered, creamy, comforting homemade mac and cheese. Hope you love it!
How To Make This Mac And Cheese (Step-By-Step)
1
Grab Your Ingredients.
Pasta, cheese, butter, milk – all the essentials!
2
Cook Noodles.
Cook your noodles and set aside (I love to use classic elbow macaroni!).
3
Start a Roux.
Melt butter, add flour, and whisk until nice and bubbly!
4
Add Milk and Cream.
Go slowly and whisk after each little bit. Stir stir stir until it’s nice and smooth and thickened.
5
Melt in the Cheese.
Chef’s choice, but I like Gruyere and mild cheddar!
7
Add Noodles.
Add your noodles and bring it all together!
8
Serve!
That’s it! Cheesy, comforting, and so good.
Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
Description
Thick and creamy mac and cheese! People always ask me for this recipe. We call it party mac and cheese because it’s perfect for a crowd!
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups grated cheese (about 12 ounces, or a block and a half – I like a mix of mild cheddar and Gruyere)
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup warm water at the end
Instructions
- Cook Noodles: Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions, with a generous pinch of salt added to the water. Drain, set aside, and drizzle with a bit of oil to prevent noodles from sticking.
- Butter and Flour: Melt the butter over medium low heat. Add flour; whisk to incorporate. Let it bubble for 2-3 minutes to cook out any floury taste. Add onion powder and salt.
- Add Milk: Slowly add the milk, 1/2 cup at a time. It’ll start out clumpy, but as you whisk and add more liquid, it will turn into a smooth and thickened sauce.
- Add Cream: Add heavy cream; simmer and whisk until the sauce is smooth and lightly thickened. Turn the heat off. (You want it to be warm enough to melt the cheese, but not boiling hot.)
- Add Cheese: Add the grated cheese to the warm sauce. Stir to melt completely.
- Finish: Add your noodles. Stir to coat. It’ll be stringy, gooey, and delicious. This is where you’ll add warm water, a little bit at a time, to reach your desired final consistency. Serve immediately!
Notes
This will thicken up as it rests, so it is best to serve almost immediately.
If you want to prep it ahead (which I do quite a bit, being that it’s party mac and cheese) – I cook the noodles ahead, grate the cheese ahead, and even make the bechamel sauce with the flour, butter, and milk. Then, right before serving, I re-warm the sauce, gently melt the cheese in, and toss the noodles in the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: stovetop mac and cheese, easy mac and cheese, panera mac and cheese, mac and cheese recipe
