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a blue bowl filled with white cheddar mac and cheese with a golden spoon.

Classic White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

This White Cheddar Mac and Cheese recipe is a creamy, sharp, and comforting take on a classic mac n' cheese. With an easy homemade cheese sauce and simple ingredients, this recipe is ideal for cozy nights or as a satisfying main dish the whole family will love.
4.91 from 21 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course pasta
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Pasta Macaroni or Shellbows
  • 3 tablespoon Salted Butter
  • 5 Garlic Cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoon All Purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Heavy Ceam (room temp if possible)
  • 1 cup Milk (room temp if possible)
  • 3 cups Sharp White Cheddar Cheese divided
  • 1.5 teaspoon Franks Hot Sauce
  • Kosher Salt and Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Boil water, add a few hefty pinches of salt and cook pasta al dente. Strain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and pinch of salt and cook for 2 minutes or until softened but not browned.
  • Whisk in flour and let the roux cook for a few minutes or until the flour taste has disappeared.
  • Whisk in milk, then heavy cream and a few pinches of salt then turn the heat to medium-low.
  • Let the sauce simmer for 5-10 minutes so that it is thickened and slightly reduced.
  • Now whisk in 2 cups of cheese, little by little, until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Be sure to reserve the other half cup of cheddar.
  • Add the hot sauce and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Mix in the pasta and then stir in the remaining cup of cheese then serve immediately!

Video

Notes

Turning this into a baked mac and cheese recipe is easy peasy! 
  1. Simply preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
  2. Pour the mac and cheese into an oven proof baking dish then choose which one you’d like:
FOR A CHEESY CRUST: Add 1.5 cups of shredded cheese on top and bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheesy on top is melted, blistering and bubbly!
FOR A CRUNCHY CRUST: Melt 2 tablespoon of butter and mix it with 2 cups of seasoned bread crumbs. Sprinkle it on top of the mac and cheese and bake until golden brown!
Don't like hot sauce? If you have a hot sauce aversion, simply swap it for 1 teaspoon of yellow mustard.
Keyword classic, mac and cheese, simple, white cheddar
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