The Ultimate White Cheddar Mac and Cheese (Super Quick)
White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese features elbow macaroni smothered in an extra sharp white cheddar sauce and topped with Italian breadcrumbs. It is the ultimate comfort food! This recipe is so easy and quick, it makes the perfect side dish for weeknight meals yet is fancy enough to serve at large gatherings and holidays.
Let’s be honest: there are few things in this world more comforting than a perfect bowl of macaroni and cheese. It’s the dish we crave on a chilly evening, the one our kids always ask for, and the ultimate cheesy, carby hug in a bowl. Forget the boxed stuff. This is the real deal, and it’s surprisingly easy to make. Get ready to create the mac and cheese of your dreams!
why You’ll Love The Ultimate White Cheddar Mac And Cheese
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Restaurant-Quality at Home: It has all the tangy, sharp flavor of a gourmet macaroni and cheese, but you control the ingredients (and the quality!).
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Simple Pantry Ingredients: No fancy cheeses or hard-to-find items needed. You probably have most of what you need right now.
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Ready in Under 30 Minutes: This is a perfect, crowd-pleasing meal for a busy weeknight.
Watch How-to Make White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Can I Use Add Ins In Macaroni And Cheese?
Absolutely! There are so many great add-ins that pair well with macaroni and cheese. Have some leftover bacon in the fridge? Throw it in! Or maybe you would like to incorporate some vegetables? Add in some broccoli or spinach. When adding in extra ingredients, adjust the milk level accordingly. If the add-in will absorb liquid (such as cooked chicken), you may need to increase the milk a little. On the other hand, if it releases more liquid into the dish, reduce the milk. Here are some add-in suggestions:
- Cooked Bacon
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Cooked Chicken/Ground Beef
- Sautéed Mushrooms
- Peas
Tips
- Cheese – Extra sharp white cheddar cheese is my favorite because of its strong flavor but any cheddar will work due to its low melting point. It is best to grate the cheese (either by hand or with a food processor) but you can also slice into small, thin pieces if desired. I typically use Cracker Barrel or Cabot.
- Make ahead of time – This dish is perfect for making in advance. Simply assemble and bake but reduce baking time to about 25 minutes. Let cool completely, cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake (covered with foil) at 350 degrees F until warm, about 15-20 minutes. You can remove foil for last 5 minutes to crisp top if desired.
My Preferred Tools
You may already have many of these items in your kitchen. I recommend the following for this recipe:
- Baking dish – 13×9 baking dish
- Hand grater – to grate cheese
- Large pot – to cook macaroni
- Strainer – to strain macaroni
White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
Note: Gram measurements do not adjust automatically with the serving multiplier.
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook elbow macaroni according to instructions on the box.
- While macaroni is cooking, cut up butter into a few slices and place on the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. Grate or cut up cheese into small pieces and set aside.
- Strain macaroni after cooking and pour into 13x9 dish on top of butter. Stir so that all the noodles are covered and butter is melted. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir again.
- Add the grated/cut cheese to macaroni and mix so it is evenly distributed throughout. Slowly, pour milk into dish just until you begin to see it coming up the sides (you can adjust amount of milk to your liking). Top with breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes depending on how crisp you prefer the top. Serve warm.
- STORAGE: Store (covered) in refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
- MAKE AHEAD: This dish is perfect for making in advance. Simply assemble and bake but reduce baking time to about 25 minutes. Let cool completely, cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake (covered with foil) at 350 degrees F until warm, about 15-20 minutes. You can remove foil for last 5 minutes to crisp top if desired.
Video
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