Whether you’re hosting a party or just want a quick, easy meal for days you don’t feel like spending too much time in the kitchen, this creamy mac and cheese recipe is the perfect option. It takes less than 30 minutes to make, and you only need one pot to make it, which is particularly helpful during the holiday season when you’re hosting guests and trying to clean up as little as possible. The best part? You don’t have to do loads of dishes afterwards.
Mac ’n cheese is one of the easiest and quickest dishes you can make. However, sometimes nailing the perfect cheese can be challenging, and making it can take some time. This is why we’ve rounded up some great cooking tips that will save you time in the kitchen and guarantee a great-tasting meal. Work smarter not harder!
To start, gather all the ingredients you’ll need for your meal – cheese, macaroni, salt, pepper, milk and butter. For the cheese lovers: add various types of cheese to your dish to enhance its flavour and creaminess. Now that we have all the ingredients, it’s time to start cooking!
The secret to a creamy mac ’n cheese
Rather than boiling the macaroni separately in salted water, gently simmer the milk over a medium-high heat until warm. When it’s warm, add the macaroni and stir. Make sure you stir continuously to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Another great tip to prevent the macaroni from sticking is to add some butter and simmer for 8–10 minutes.
Amp up the flavour
As soon as your macaroni is nice and tender, add some more butter, followed by the cheese of your choice. Make sure to use the best cheese you can, either purchase a block of cheese and grate it yourself or purchase a pre-grated bag of cheese. Grating your own cheese gives you more control over the texture of the cheese. The finer the texture, the quicker it will melt.
To bring out the creaminess and tanginess, you can combine mozzarella with Cheddar – remember; there’s no such thing as too much cheese! A little chicken broth can be added to brighten up the dish if you’d like to go the extra mile.
Lastly, season with salt and pepper, herbs such as origanum ,or garlic. Combine these ingredients with the pasta and fold until the cheese and butter are melted and smooth.
Keep stirring to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Take care not to overcook your mac n cheese. Once you’re happy with the flavour, serve it while it’s hot! Sprinkle over some parsley if you like.
Make it meaty
If you like, add some bacon for a smoky flavour.