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Home » All Recipes » Easy Midweek Meal Ideas » Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

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Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

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Crisp on top, oozing with sauce and with perfectly cooked pasta, my Super Simple Macaroni Cheese is totally delicious, ready in just 20 minute and so simple to make – perfect for those busy days when you just want something easy!

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

Macaroni cheese is one of my all-time favourites – serious comfort food. We have it pretty much on a weekly basis, and I’ve spent a good many years perfecting it. I always used to get super frustrated because the cheese sauce would soak into the macaroni, meaning it was too dry and the pasta was overcooked. But after the best part of twenty years fiddling with it (it’s one of my oldest recipes) I think I finally have it nailed.

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

For me the key is getting the cheese sauce just right – not too thick, then making sure you under cook the macaroni so it doesn’t get overcooked when you put it in the oven and finally, putting it all in a really hot oven for just a short amount of time to crisp up the top without overcooking the macaroni or the sauce.

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

I like to serve this with a simple side salad dressed with my favourite Honey Mustard Dressing. My kids like to eat this with baked beans!

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

My favourite wine match for macaroni cheese is a crisp unoaked Chardonnay, but if you prefer red, a soft, fruity Merlot from Chile or France would work well here too.

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

 

More macaroni cheese recipes…

Love macaroni cheese as much as I do? Then you might like to try these other macaroni cheese recipes:

  • Spanish Style Macaroni Cheese with Chorizo and Manchego
  • Three Cheese Macaroni Cheese
  • Leek and Bacon Macaroni Cheese
  • Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese

 

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese
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4.93 from 14 votes

Super Simple Macaroni Cheese

Crisp on top, oozing with sauce and with perfectly cooked pasta, my Super Simple Macaroni Cheese is totally delicious and so simple to make - perfect for those busy days when you just want to make something easy!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, British
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 633kcal
Author Eb Gargano

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary
  • 300 g macaroni not the quick cook stuff, which really doesn’t work in this recipe
  • 30 g butter
  • 25 g flour
  • 500 ml milk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard (or to taste)
  • 200 g mature cheddar (or to taste), grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 220C / 200C Fan / Gas Mark 7.
  • Cook the macaroni until it’s a bit less done than normal – a couple of minutes less than you would usually do. The brand I use takes 10 minutes normally, so I give it 8 minutes for macaroni cheese.
  • While the macaroni is cooking, make the cheese sauce. Melt the butter in a medium sized pan on a low heat. When the butter is foaming, add the flour and stir until it’s mixed in. Then keep cooking for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. It takes guts to do this. It looks like something is going to go wrong but it doesn’t!
  • Very gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Make sure each bit of milk is incorporated before adding the next bit. If you do this slowly on a very low heat, you should end up with a perfectly smooth cheese sauce with no lumps and no need to whisk. However, if it does go wrong for some reason, you can always use a whisk to beat out the lumps.
  • When all the milk is incorporated, add the mustard, salt and pepper. (N.B. I use slightly salted butter, so I don’t add any extra salt here.) Then add half the cheese, stir to combine and turn off.
  • When the pasta is done, drain it, retaining a little bit of the cooking water.
  • Tip the pasta and a couple of tablespoonfuls of the cooking water into the cheese sauce and stir.
  • Pour the macaroni cheese into a shallow ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the remaining cheese.
  • Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. The top should be brown but the bottom should still be saucy and the macaroni should be perfectly cooked.

Notes

  1. I like to serve this with a simple side salad. My kids like to eat this with baked beans!
  2. Suitable for freezing.
  3. Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Nutrition Facts
Super Simple Macaroni Cheese
Amount Per Serving
Calories 633 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 17g106%
Cholesterol 81mg27%
Sodium 437mg19%
Potassium 381mg11%
Carbohydrates 67g22%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 27g54%
Vitamin A 891IU18%
Calcium 518mg52%
Iron 2mg11%
* % Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet
Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comments below.

 

Love Macaroni Cheese? Why not try some of my other versions?

 

Macaroni Cheese with Bacon and Leeks

Macaroni Cheese with Bacon and Leeks

 

Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese

Easy Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese

 

Three Cheese Macaroni Cheese

Three Cheese Macaroni Cheese

 

Want more delicious and hassle-free midweek meals? Find more here…

20 Delicious & Hassle Free Midweek Meal Ideas

 

Pin Three Cheese Macaroni Cheese for later

Crisp on top, oozing with sauce and with perfectly cooked pasta, my Super Simple Macaroni Cheese is totally delicious and so simple to make - perfect for those busy days when you just want something easy!

 

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Have you got your hands on a copy of my meal plan yet? If not CLICK HERE to download a copy of my FREE 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan today!
 

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52 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook says

    31st October 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Wow! I love super easy meals like this one. Thank you for sharing, Eb!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      1st November 2017 at 7:13 pm

      Thanks Jhuls! Super easy is what I do best 😀 Eb x

      Reply
      • Yvonne Jones says

        23rd February 2020 at 11:30 am

        What do you mean by non quick cook macaroni, is that something different from the normal macaroni I buy, does it state this on the pit.
        Thanks
        Yvonne

        Reply
        • Eb Gargano says

          23rd February 2020 at 5:14 pm

          Hi Yvonne – I just mean normal macaroni – the sort that cooks in 10 minutes (ish – maybe a bit more, depending on how you like it) normally. Sometimes you can buy quick cook macaroni which cooks in like 4 minutes or similar – that stuff would turn to mush in this recipe! Hope that helps. Eb 🙂

          Reply
          • Yvonne Jones says

            26th February 2020 at 5:23 pm

            Many thanks
            Yvonne

            Reply
            • Eb Gargano says

              27th February 2020 at 9:40 am

              You are welcome! Eb 🙂

              Reply
  2. Monika Dabrowski says

    1st November 2017 at 4:50 pm

    My kids would be happy to eat this every day! Looks so creamy and delicious! #CookBlogShare

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      1st November 2017 at 7:44 pm

      Thanks Monika – macaroni cheese is such fab comfort food, isn’t it? Good to know your kids would enjoy this 😀 Eb x

      Reply
  3. hilton Harvey says

    25th August 2018 at 11:36 am

    This has been a favourite of mine for years as my Mum makes it but I have not had it in eons.
    I used your recipe using 50g cheddar, 100g stilton and 100g of mozzarella and I added a bit of onion granules to the sauce.
    Bloody fantastic Eb! Thanks.
    Served with cajun chicken strips and garlic bread on wet and windy nights here in Plymouth England-

    I have made it three times this week now and on my last serving even my fussy Son (Home for the weekend) commented on how tasty it was 🙂

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      28th August 2018 at 9:07 am

      Thanks you so much for this lovely message! So pleased you like it 🙂 and I LOVE your adaptations!! I’m going to have to try your version now!! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  4. Robert says

    17th October 2018 at 6:02 pm

    First time in have made macaroni cheese in my life

    It came out really well

    Thankyou

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      18th October 2018 at 3:42 pm

      Hi Robert, thanks so much for this lovely comment! I am delighted it turned out so well for you Eb 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kira says

    9th June 2019 at 5:35 pm

    First time making macaroni cheese and it was bloody lovely. I topped it with Italian meatballs in tomato & basil sauce, crispy onions and cheese. It was so good. Thanks will make again.

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      10th June 2019 at 11:06 am

      Thanks for this lovely comment, Kira. So pleased you liked it… and I love the sound of your adaptations! Eb x

      Reply
  6. Betty Margai says

    9th June 2019 at 6:51 pm

    Loved it!!! my daughter loves mac and cheese at nursery so thought i would try and make it…went down well…thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      10th June 2019 at 11:07 am

      Thanks for this lovely comment, Betty. I am delighted you and your daughter enjoyed it so much! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  7. Marc Smith says

    14th June 2019 at 9:56 am

    Absolutely lovely. Me and the kids enjoyed very much. I added some crispy bacon in and it melted in my mouth. I`ll definitely have this again

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      14th June 2019 at 10:59 am

      Yay! I am so happy to hear that, Marc. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know – means a lot!! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  8. Dr Stickabod says

    29th July 2019 at 6:06 pm

    My 6 and 9 year olds have declared this the best macaroni cheese ever, and mac n cheese is one of their tried and tested favourites! A lot of pre cooking followed by a short spell in the hot oven is key I think, what a great tip. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      31st July 2019 at 8:55 am

      Thank you so much for this lovely comment – I am delighted to hear that you all enjoyed it so much! Being called ‘the best macaroni cheese’ by a 6 and 9 year old is high praise indeed (I know this because I have kids of similar ages and they are without doubt my harshest critics!!) Eb 🙂

      Reply
  9. Heike says

    24th October 2019 at 1:53 pm

    Really tasty. I have done mac cheese a few times, but this time was the best. The crunchy croutons and the consistency was great. The only thing I added was a bit if nutmeg as I think it goes well with cheese and a clove of garlic finely chopped in the butter.
    My son, who is an aficionado of mac cheese said it was the best he has ever tasted!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      25th October 2019 at 8:54 am

      Yay – I am so happy to hear this! Thanks for letting me know 😀 I love the sound of your adaptations! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  10. E says

    27th October 2019 at 9:40 am

    Hi, can this be made ahead or will it dry out? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      27th October 2019 at 3:00 pm

      It can be, but it won’t be as nice as if you make it fresh. I sometimes reheat leftovers for my lunch the next day and it’s OK – but the pasta is a little on the soft side and the sauce has all been absorbed… the flavour is still good though! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  11. Mary says

    5th November 2019 at 6:44 pm

    Lovely
    Just made this turned out great
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      7th November 2019 at 11:16 am

      Yay! I am so happy to hear that 😀 Thanks for letting me know! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  12. Bruce Nainby says

    28th November 2019 at 10:45 pm

    First time maker of macroni cheese and it came out very tasty – the mustard certainly added to the flavour although I’m not normally a fan. The pasta had stuck together somewhat so maybe wil rinse with boiling water nexr time. Aso struggled with roux possibly I was just being impatient..

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      29th November 2019 at 10:55 am

      Thanks, Bruce – I’m so happy you liked this – I agree about the mustard, it doesn’t really taste of mustard, but it really brings out the flavour of the cheese. Sorry to hear your pasta stuck together. I find the best remedy to this is to cook the pasta in a large pot with plenty of water and stir it occasionally. Then tip the pasta straight into the sauce as soon as you’ve drained it. It the pasta is cooked before the sauce, tip it back into the pasta cooking pot and stir through a very small amount of oil. This should stop the pasta sticking together while you finish off the sauce. A roux can be a little tricky the first time, but it’s much easier the more you practice! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  13. CANAN TEKIN says

    5th May 2020 at 4:53 pm

    OMG, finally I found super easy and yummy macaroni cheese for kids? yaaay. I added a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg if anyone likes nutmeg 🙂
    taste soooo good.
    Thank you soooo much ??

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      6th May 2020 at 8:51 am

      Yay! I am so happy to hear that you liked this recipe so much 😀 Love the idea of adding nutmeg! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  14. Monika says

    14th May 2020 at 4:41 pm

    Hello!! :))

    Can I use gluten free macaroni pasta for this recipe ??

    thanks!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      15th May 2020 at 11:07 am

      Yes, that should work just fine! You will obviously also need to use cornflour or some other GF flour to thicken the sauce – but that will work fine too. Do let us know how it turns out! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  15. Jacqueline says

    15th May 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Excellent
    Got my daughter to make it to (she is 16) showing her it’s easy to cook than phone in. She made this and now it’s a weekly thing, she makes dinner now once a week which is great all because she loved this thanks so much absolutely loved this

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      18th May 2020 at 11:01 am

      Hi Jacqueline, Thank you so much for this lovely message 😀 I am delighted to hear that you are enjoying this recipe so much… and especially that it has got your daughter into the kitchen and enjoying cooking – that’s awesome! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  16. Louise Holmes says

    16th May 2020 at 1:37 pm

    Hi
    After cooking the flour and butter on a low heat, do you add the milk gradually and also cook that on a low heat?
    Other recipes I have used for a cheese sauce say you add milk gradually , then bring to the boil , reduce heat and simmer on a low heat for around two minutes ( so the sauce thickens) take off heat then add the cheese.
    Or with this recipe do you not need a thicker sauce As it cooks in the oven ? Thanks

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      18th May 2020 at 11:05 am

      Hi Louise, Yes – cook the flour and butter for 2 minutes, then add the milk gradually as per the recipe until all the milk is incorporated… if you do this slowly, the sauce will thicken as you go, so no need to bring to the boil and simmer. And yes, as you rightly point out, it will get thicker in the oven too. Hope that helps! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  17. Grisel says

    18th June 2020 at 4:49 pm

    Looks amazing, planning to try this out soon???

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      19th June 2020 at 10:18 am

      Thanks you – do let us know how you get on 😀

      Reply
      • Charli Ellis says

        2nd October 2021 at 2:00 pm

        Hi when you say mustard which mustard are you referring to please. I’m English but presume it’s not English mustard as it would be too hot!

        Reply
        • Eb Gargano says

          4th October 2021 at 8:46 am

          Oooh – I do apologise. That should say Dijon mustard. I have now corrected that in the recipe card. Thanks for the spot! Eb 🙂

          Reply
  18. Deb says

    29th June 2020 at 1:28 am

    Made this tonight for my parents. So easy! I was nervous about the roux but it came out perfectly! I couldn’t get hold of macaroni so used penne Rigate instead – it’s smaller than regular penne. I cut down the quantities as there were only 3 of us and mum doesn’t eat much at the moment (no room currently in their freezer!), and also added grated Parmesan to the cheddar (approx a third of the amount of cheddar used). It was amazing! X

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      29th June 2020 at 10:34 am

      Yay! That makes me so happy to hear 😀 So pleased that it turned out so well for you! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  19. Lucy collett says

    14th August 2020 at 6:32 pm

    Lovely ? I’ve never made macaroni cheese before or a cheese sauce. My son really wanted to try macaroni cheese and I didn’t want to buy a ready made one as I thought it may put him off it. Easy to cook, thank you. I’m not the best cook but I turned out really good and he loved it as did I ?

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      17th August 2020 at 10:34 am

      Yay – I am so happy to read this. Delighted that your first go at making macaroni cheese was such a success and that your son loved it so much! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  20. Rosemary du Plessis says

    6th October 2020 at 8:26 am

    If I want to make it for 8-10 people is it okay to double up on all ingredients? This looks easy and delicious.

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      6th October 2020 at 9:22 am

      Yes, absolutely – just double up on everything! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  21. Eva says

    27th November 2020 at 8:53 pm

    My sauce split and after reading online it seems I should’ve removed it fron the heat before adding the cheese. Which is not what your recipe calls for.

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      30th November 2020 at 10:50 am

      Oh I am sorry to hear that and how strange, that has never happened to me… but it could be related to the type of cheese you are using. You could certainly try removing it from the heat first before adding the cheese to see if that improves things. Eb 🙂

      Reply
  22. toni Cleaver says

    22nd December 2020 at 11:16 am

    I really want to make this tonight, what flour did you use please?

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      22nd December 2020 at 11:20 am

      Hi Toni, I used plain (all purpose) white flour. Let me know how it goes! Eb 🙂

      Reply
  23. Ania says

    5th January 2021 at 7:48 pm

    I use hand held whisk and stir the sauce with it all the time and never get any lumps(when I make white sauce for lasagne for example) Will try this recipe tomorrow ?

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      6th January 2021 at 9:56 am

      That’s good to hear! Eb 🙂

      Reply

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Hi and welcome to Easy Peasy Foodie! I’m Eb – a professional blogger, busy mum and passionate foodie and it is my mission in life to make cooking EASIER and MORE DELICIOUS! READ MORE

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