I tried some totally unconventional methods, too. I tried mac and cheese with Monterey Jack, too, which offers less flavor than cheddar and produces an excessively gooey texture (that’s right-I didn’t want gloppy mac!). I also tried mac and cheese with evaporated milk, which seemed more like Velveeta than real cheese and left me with a stomachache. No matter the recipe, the béchamel versions turned out somewhat grainy and floury-tasting. NOTES ON OTHER METHODSīefore I stumbled on this technique, I tried mac and cheese recipes with béchamel sauce, both stovetop versions and baked. This mac and cheese turns out perfectly every time as written below. I also adjusted the method, since it was a little unreliable for me. That combination is subtle but makes a world of difference. My changes? Her recipe calls for freshly grated nutmeg, but I found that mac and cheese needs a few other spices to be utterly irresistible: mustard powder, garlic powder and onion powder, and the tiniest pinch of cayenne pepper. I stumbled across her stovetop mac and cheese recipe in her new book, Dinner: Changing the Game. I owe Melissa Clark credit for this technique. It’s really easy to make this mac gluten free.Without the flour, the glorious sharp cheddar flavor really shines through.You won’t need butter or flour for this recipe, and I promise you won’t miss either of them.It offers all the rich cheesy flavor and creamy texture you crave.Homemade mac and cheese for the win!įour reasons to love this mac and cheese recipe:

The best part? This mac and cheese could not be easier to make. It’s made simply with cheddar cheese and cream, and a few subtle dried spices to ramp up the flavor.

I purposefully used yellow cheddar and noodles that remind me of the boxed variety.

Here is my ultimate mac and cheese recipe, which meets all of the above requirements. I wanted it to be creamy and deliciously cheesy-but not oozing with so much cheese that I had to take a nap afterward. But, I wanted to make my stovetop mac and cheese with real ingredients. I wanted a classic stovetop recipe, like the blue box mac and cheese I grew up enjoying. It has taken me that long to find my go-to mac and cheese method. Meet my all-time favorite mac and cheese recipe! This recipe has been in the works for over one year, no exaggeration.

Easy dinner with mac and cheese noodles