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Comfortcore Mac and Cheese

Comfortcore Mac and Cheese: The Ultimate Guide to Nostalgic Comfort Food

The creamiest, cheesiest mac and cheese you’ll ever taste! This Comfortcore Mac and Cheese
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 650 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pasta pot

Ingredients
  

  • Base Ingredients:
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 cups Gruyère cheese shredded
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon mustard powder

Instructions
 

Step 1: The Perfect Pasta Base

  • Boil pasta in heavily salted water.
  • Cook until just before al dente.
  • Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  • Do not rinse the pasta.

Step 2: Building the Ultimate Cheese Sauce

  • Melt butter over medium heat.
  • Whisk in flour and cook until golden brown.
  • Slowly whisk in warm milk.
  • Stir in shredded cheese gradually until smooth.
  • Mix in mustard powder for extra depth.

Step 3: Combining & Baking (Optional)

  • Toss cooked pasta with cheese sauce.
  • Transfer to a baking dish if baking.
  • Optional: Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes until golden.

Notes

Style Additional Ingredients Perfect For
Traditional Breadcrumb topping Family dinners
Truffle Truffle oil, mushrooms Special occasions
Buffalo Hot sauce, blue cheese Game day
Bacon Crispy bacon, jalapeños Indulgent cravings

⚠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem Solution Prevention
Grainy sauce Whisk over low heat Use room temp ingredients
Too thick Add reserved pasta water Monitor sauce consistency
Too thin Cook longer to thicken Measure flour carefully
Broken sauce Add cream, rewarm slowly Control temperature

🥡 Storage & Reheating

  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Add a splash of milk when reheating to maintain creaminess.
  • Freezing Tip: Freeze individual portions for easy meal prep!

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 25gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gSodium: 900mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6g
Keyword American Comfort Food, baked mac and cheese, best mac and cheese recipe, cheesy pasta, classic mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, easy mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, Mac and cheese
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