Cheesy Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 4 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 0.5 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Fill a large pot with 4 cups of water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Place it on the stove over high heat and bring it to a boil.

   🔧 stove
2. 2

   Once the water is boiling, add 2 cups of elbow macaroni. Stir gently to prevent sticking.

   🔧 pot

   Stirring the pasta helps it cook evenly and prevents it from sticking together.
3. 3

   Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions (usually about 8-10 minutes) until it's al dente. Stir occasionally.

   🔧 pot

   Al dente means the pasta is cooked but still firm to the bite. This is important for the best texture!
4. 4

   Once cooked, carefully drain the macaroni in a colander and set aside. Be careful of the hot steam!

   🔧 colander

   Hot steam can burn you, so make sure to keep your face away from the steam when draining the pasta.
5. 5

   In the same pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When melted, add 2 tablespoons of flour and stir to combine.

   🔧 pot

   This mixture is called a roux. It helps thicken your cheese sauce!
6. 6

   Slowly pour in 2 cups of milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming.

   🔧 whisk

   Whisking helps to mix everything smoothly without lumps. It takes practice, so keep whisking!
7. 7

   Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat until it thickens and bubbles gently, about 5-7 minutes.

   🔧 stove

   Watch the mixture carefully as it heats. If it bubbles too much, lower the heat!
8. 8

   Once thickened, remove the pot from the heat and stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth.

   🔧 pot

   Adding cheese off the heat helps it melt slowly and prevents it from becoming gritty.
9. 9

   Add the drained macaroni back into the cheese sauce and stir until well combined. Season with 0.5 teaspoon of pepper to taste.

   🔧 pot

   Mixing it all together is what makes this a complete pasta dish!
10. 10

    Serve warm and enjoy your homemade cheesy mac and cheese!

    🔧 serving dish