Go Back
–+ servings
Wooden spoon with Homemade Mac and cheese.
Print Recipe
5 from 19 votes

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Homemade macaroni and cheese with ham and peas is a perfect, quick meal that is always creamy and NEVER grainy. Get creative with the add-ins and toppings!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Peas
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 597kcal
Author: Erica Walker

Ingredients

  • 3 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
  • kosher salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded (about 4 cups)
  • 1 cup ham cubed (optional)
  • 1 cup peas frozen (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees (if baking).
  • Prepare macaroni according to directions on box, removing from the heat about 1 minute before recommended "al dente" cook time. If making GF noodles, check around 4 minutes. Drain noodles and set aside. 
    Cooked pasta in a colander.
  • Melt butter in a large, oven safe skillet or dutch oven over medium heat.
    Dutch oven with melted butter.
  • Slowly add corn starch while stirring constantly with a whisk. Keep stirring for about 1 minute until the roux becomes bubbly. 
    Dutch oven with roux and whisk.
  • Add milk, a little at a time, until sauce becomes thick (you want the consistency of gravy). Add more milk if necessary. If it gets too thin, you can mix a little corn starch with some milk and add it to the mixture to thicken. 
    Dutch oven with milk added to roux and whisk.
  • Add dry mustard, salt and pepper to taste.
    Salting milk mixture in dutch oven with whisk.
  • Add cheese (reserving a little if you want to add cheese to the top as a topping).
    Shredded cheese added to milk sauce in dutch oven and wooden spoon.
  • Add cooked macaroni to the sauce. Stir well to coat. If you are adding ingredients, stir them in now.
    Dutch oven with noodles mixed with melted cheese and sauce and wooden spoon.
  • To bake, add reserved cheese to the top and place in pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes or until cheese topping becomes bubbly (see notes above). If you want a creamier mac and cheese (not baked) reduce heat and cook on stove top until noodles are cooked through. You may need to add a little milk as needed.
    Shredded cheese on top of pasta in a dutch oven.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 3-5 minutes before serving. 
    Baled homemade Mac and cheese in a dutch oven.

Video

Notes

Some other favorite cheeses to make up the cheese sauce:
  • Gruyere
  • Gouda
  • Monterey jack
  • White cheddar
  • Colby jack

Nutrition

Calories: 597kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 653mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1030IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 529mg | Iron: 2mg