A word on those noodles: While elbow macaroni or any short pasta will work, we recommend something with ridges, such as cavatappi, which will grip nicely onto the sauce.ĭeploying four different cheeses here may seem excessive, but each plays its part in the recipe: Parmesan adds a salty hit to the crispy panko topping, while Gruyère adds a nutty richness, sharp cheddar lends tang, and fontina ensures the sauce is lush and creamy. Don’t be alarmed if the sauce looks thin at first it will continue to thicken as it bakes with the noodles. Allow a minute for the raw flour taste to cook off before adding the warm milk gradually. (Yes, macaroni and cheese is appropriate dinner party fare, and yes, this recipe can be doubled if you’re inviting a crowd.)īechamel, a roux enriched with milk, is what keeps the sauce creamy and it shouldn’t be rushed. 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.This baked mac and cheese recipe is our Platonic ideal of the comfort food classic: It is creamy and deeply cheesy, has a crunchy crust, and is impressive enough to serve at a dinner party. My kids like to eat this with baked beans! I like to serve this with a simple side salad dressed with my favourite Honey Mustard Dressing. 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.įor 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.

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.

We have it pretty much on a weekly basis, and I’ve spent a good many years perfecting it. Macaroni cheese is one of my all-time favourites – serious comfort food.

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!

How to make a cheese sauce for mac