Grandma's Homemade Mac and Cheese

Who doesn't love their grandma's recipes? I sure do! From gram's cakes, to her mac and cheese, to her delicious knot cookies every holiday, we sure are lucky to have a grandma like her! I am happy to share this delicious mac and cheese recipe with you.

Serves: 10 (or lots of leftovers, yum!)

Cook prep time: 30 minutes

Bake time: 30 minutes

Total time: 1 hr

What you will need:

1 box cavatappi noodles (or elbow, medium shells)

1 stick of salted butter

1/2 cup flour

5 cups of milk
1 cups heavy cream

1/8 tbs ground mustard (powder)

1/8 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp salt
16 oz. cheese, shredded (mix it up, use yellow cheeses, or white cheese, or smelly cheeses lol whatever you like) 

1/8 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

What to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles per box while you work on the below -

1. In a large pot on medium heat, melt the butter then add the flour and stir until blended. This will create a roux which is a tan, creamy paste.

2. Slowly add milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, and stir constantly. (this step will take about 15-20 minutes, try not to rush it - keep the mixture on the thicker side). Add heavy cream 1 cup at a time and continue to stir. 

3. Once all of the milk and heavy cream are added, lower heat. Add ground mustard, salt, paprika, and stir. Stir in cheese. Remove from heat and stir until cheese is melted in, creating a creamy cheese sauce.

4. Add noodles, then cheese sauce to a large casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs. 

5. Bake for 30 minutes, until bubbling. Remove from oven and let sit for 5-7 minutes before serving.

With any leftover mac and cheese, be sure to check out my deep fried mac and cheese balls! Fried mac and cheese balls