Macaroni and cheese is a classic kid food. I suspect that plenty of adults also love the combination of cheese and noodles. I keep a few boxes of packaged Annie’s Homegrown mac and cheese in the pantry for days when I need something quick. It doesn’t take a lot of extra work to make it from scratch though.
Macaroni and cheese
Ingredients:
- 1 12-ounce package pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup grated cheese
Instructions:
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to the package instructions. My kids like farfalle because its funny to say, but any shape will do.
Drain the pasta and set it aside for a minute. Return the pot to the stove over low heat.
Melt the butter in the pot.
After the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour. Stir until it becomes a gummy mess. No really.
Add the milk and whisk your heart out. You can add more milk if its too thick. Now it is looking like a thin gravy.
When your satisfied with the texture of the gravy, add grated cheese by the handful. Stir while it melts.
Return the pasta to the pot and mix thoroughly.
At this point, you can add other things to your macaroni and cheese, like broccoli or bacon, if the kids will let you. This recipe is great because it is fast and requires no measuring once you get comfortable making it.
You can even share with the kids if you feel like it.
Macaroni and cheese
Ingredients
- 1 12-ounce package pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup grated cheese
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to the package instructions. My kids like farfalle because its funny to say, but any shape will do.
- Drain the pasta and set it aside for a minute. Return the pot to the stove over low heat.
- Melt the butter in the pot.
- After the butter is melted and bubbling, add the flour. Stir until it becomes a gummy mess. No really.
- Add the milk and whisk your heart out. You can add more milk if its too thick. Now it is looking like a thin gravy.
- When your satisfied with the texture of the gravy, add grated cheese by the handful. Stir while it melts.
- Return the pasta to the pot and mix thoroughly
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
2-3Amount Per Serving: Calories: 296Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 223mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 13g
Nutritional information is only an estimate from online calculators. For more precise information, enter the specific ingredients you are using into your preferred tool.
Sounds like something I might actually be able to do! I’ll try it.
=)
I love just butter and grated chedder cheese on my noodles. . .but my kids still prefer the blue box or until recently we we discovered easy mac. I must live in a cave, because it is wayyyy easier, not cheaper but easier!
I love macaroni cheese, but my younger son hates it, so I never make it these days. It doesn’t seem worth it for one.
Mac and cheese is my favorite food. After reading this I need to make some.
Thanks, Keri 🙂
Love the “made from scratch” philosophy…no additives, no preservatives, no artificial colors, usually less expensive, enables you to include your kids in the preparation so they see that not all food comes from a box…is there a downside? Probably not, unless it’s that it might take a little longer to make…you can always sing a song, do a finger play, read a picture book, march through the houss – everyone armed with a dustrag – dusting as you go…the options are endless.
Great post! I’ll be looking for more homemade recipes. When I write the next book in the Show Me How! series, maybe I can use some of yours. 🙂
i am not a fan of the blue box … it’s icky!
Don’t you just love it?? That has been my recipe for years!! Does anyone have another one to share??
My kids love mac and cheese. We always use a homemade recipe. I like the broccoli idea. Check out Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green. Everyone loves a good mac and cheese.
Dana
I ALWAYS fail at homemade mac & cheese. I think I have a birth defect that doesn’t allow me to make decent mac & cheese from scratch. So, if someone else makes it I prefer homemade. If I make it… it comes from a box *L*
I usually only like homemade mac and cheese…the blue box stuff doesn’t do much for me.
In my Cooking Light magazine this month they had a recipe for mac ‘n cheese soup that sounded easy and tasty and a lot easier on the butt!
Nice to see you here. Happy New Year!
Thanks for a fun post.
A+
This sounds so much better than the processed box stuff! I make it homemade sometimes but just use milk and butter and cheese. I think this sauce would be wonderful. I’m going to try it!