The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

MrOferto

Mac and Cheese is a recipe that is classic and universally regarded as one of the best ones in the world. It’s simple, it’s easy to understand, anyone can do it, and everyone loves it. Just delicious all around. But more than that: for many of us, it’s a piece of our childhood memories. A reminder of simpler times, with joy and excitement. Everyone has a secret “something” mac and cheese recipe. That’s what Mac and Cheese really is: the nostalgic feeling in a food format. It’s also pasta and cheese - you just can’t go wrong with this combo.

But there are a lot of people enjoying Mac and Cheese out there for the very first time, and may not have a secret mac and cheese family recipe. Well, this recipe you are reading right now is here to change this once and for all. Note that when you read “Best Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe”, it’s only an opinion, no matter how factually correct it is.

Of course, if you are an experienced cook, you will notice that this is a little different from the usual. That’s because the idea here is not to have the most perfect mac and cheese recipe, it’s to give you the basis for the best Mac and Cheese recipe to ever exist, that is, your own. Take it, adapt it to your own liking, and make your own best mac and cheese recipe! So here goes:

Source: Photo by Atharva Lele from Unsplash

What You Will Need

Dry pasta - ¾ pound of any small pasta will do, but the classic has always been the elbow pasta
Salted butter - 1 stick. You can use unsalted too, but the salted butter will give just a pinch of extra flavor to the mix
Milk - 2 or 2 ½ cups of milk. The fatter, the better: 2% or above is highly recommended
Salt and pepper
Shredded cheese - about 2 cups. Cheddar and mozzarella work the best, or both together, or any shredded cheese of your preference
Cream cheese - 1 tablespoon. It adds a “creamy” factor.
Dried oregano or other herbs if you want some extra something
A pot - just a regular pot, large enough for the pasta and the water, nothing special here
A saucepan - for the perfect melted cheese

How to Make the Perfect Mac and Cheese

Cook pasta, according to package instructions, but for about 1 minute less than what the instructions say
Drain the pasta and leave it for now (yes, really)
In the saucepan, melt the butter, then add the milk, and then the cheese and cream cheese to the mix
Mix cheese until the thickness is of your liking - or you can add some more milk if you don’t like it creamy
Pour the milk on top of the pasta, add the oregano, salt, and pepper, then stir it up until everything is mixed properly
Serve the meal and enjoy!