Creamy Dreamy Mac and Cheese Recipe: Comfort in Every Bite

Creamy mac and cheese brings comfort to your dinner table like a warm culinary hug.

Pasta lovers will adore this classic dish that combines simple ingredients with rich, melted goodness.

Cheese lovers understand the magic of perfectly blended dairy and noodles.

Each bite promises a delightful blend of textures and flavors that dance across your palate.

Homemade versions always taste better than store-bought alternatives, offering more depth and personalization.

Smooth cheddar and sharp parmesan create a delectable symphony of cheesy deliciousness.

Hungry?

This recipe will make you the star of any gathering.

Why Mary Berry Mac And Cheese Is The Ultimate Comfort

• Master Comfort Food: A classic mac and cheese that delivers rich, creamy goodness guaranteed to satisfy serious cheese lovers and comfort food enthusiasts.
• Quick Family Pleaser: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe perfect for busy households, ensuring kids and adults will devour every cheesy bite.
• Customizable Delight: Easily adaptable recipe allows home cooks to experiment with different cheese blends, spices, or add-in ingredients like bacon or breadcrumbs for personalized flair.
• Low-Stress Cooking: Minimal technical skills required, making this dish approachable for beginners while still producing restaurant-quality results that impress everyone at the table.

What Goes Into Mary Berry Mac And Cheese

• Pasta: A classic macaroni or shell pasta that provides the hearty base for this comforting dish.
• Cheese: A blend of sharp cheddar and creamy cheese that creates a rich and flavorful sauce.
• Milk: Whole milk that helps create a smooth and creamy texture for the cheese sauce.

• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth roux for the cheese sauce.
• Flour: Helps thicken the sauce and provides a smooth consistency.
• Half-and-Half: Adds extra creaminess and depth to the cheese sauce.

• Salt, Pepper, Spices: Enhance the overall flavor profile of the mac and cheese.
• Olive Oil: Prevents pasta from sticking together after boiling.

Simple Steps For Mary Berry Mac And Cheese

Step 1: Fire Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 325°F and lovingly coat your 9×13-inch baking dish with a light layer of grease.

Step 2: Cook Pasta to Perfection

Boil your pasta until it’s just shy of fully cooked (al dente). Drain and give it a quick toss with a splash of oil to prevent sticking.

Step 3: Craft the Creamy Roux

In a spacious pot, melt butter until it’s golden and bubbling. Sprinkle in flour and whisk with passion for about a minute, creating a smooth, fragrant base.

Step 4: Create Silky Sauce

Gradually pour in milk and half-and-half, whisking continuously. Keep stirring until the mixture transforms into a luxuriously thick and velvety sauce.

Step 5: Cheese Magic

Remove the pot from heat and introduce your spices and most of the cheese. Stir until the cheese melts into a gloriously smooth mixture.

Step 6: Assemble the Comfort Casserole

Fold the cooked pasta into the cheesy sauce. Transfer this delightful combination to the prepared baking dish, creating tempting layers of cheesy goodness.

Step 7: Final Cheese Crown

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, creating a golden, crispy blanket of deliciousness.

Step 8: Bake to Bubbly Perfection

Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges are bubbling with cheesy excitement.

Tips That Help With Mary Berry Mac And Cheese

• Choose Quality Cheese: Select a mix of sharp cheddar and gruyère for deeper, more complex flavor that melts smoothly and creates rich taste.
• Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Cook pasta just until al dente to ensure it doesn't become mushy during baking, maintaining perfect texture in final dish.
• Create Silky Sauce: Whisk milk and flour mixture slowly and consistently to avoid lumps, creating a creamy and velvety cheese sauce.
• Layer for Maximum Flavor: Alternate pasta and cheese sauce in layers to distribute cheese evenly and guarantee every bite is deliciously cheesy.
• Crispy Topping Trick: Sprinkle breadcrumbs or extra cheese on top before baking to create a golden, crunchy exterior that adds wonderful textural contrast.

Fun Ways To Change Mary Berry Mac And Cheese

• Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese: Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or rice flour, use gluten-free pasta, and ensure all cheese is gluten-free.
• Vegan Creamy Comfort: Substitute dairy with cashew milk, nutritional yeast, and plant-based cheese alternatives like Daiya or Follow Your Heart.
• Protein-Packed Version: Add cooked chicken, crispy bacon bits, or diced ham to boost protein content and create a heartier meal.
• Veggie-Loaded Option: Mix in roasted broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, or peas to increase nutritional value and add color and texture to the classic recipe.

Great Pairings For Mary Berry Mac And Cheese

• Pair Creamy Comfort with Bold Reds: Rich Cabernet Sauvignon cuts through the mac and cheese's richness, providing a perfect tangy contrast to the cheesy, creamy texture.
• Crisp Salad Sidekick: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's heaviness, adding refreshing acidity and green crunch.
• Roasted Veggie Companion: Serve roasted brussels sprouts or asparagus with garlic and parmesan to complement the mac and cheese's cheesy profile, introducing a slightly charred, savory dimension.
• Wine Alternative Delight: Choose a hoppy craft beer like an IPA, which offers bitter notes that beautifully offset the mac and cheese's smooth, rich character.

How To Keep Mary Berry Mac And Cheese Fresh

• Store leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container for up to 4 days, ensuring it cools completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Pack mac and cheese in freezer-safe containers, leaving some space for expansion, and store for 2-3 months. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
• Place individual portions in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of milk to restore creaminess, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until warmed through.
• Spread mac and cheese in a baking dish, cover with foil, bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp the top and restore that delicious golden crust.

Mary Berry Mac And Cheese FAQ Guide

• Can I use different types of cheese?

Yes, you can mix cheeses like cheddar, gruyère, or monterey jack for more complex flavor profiles. Just maintain the total cheese quantity.

• How do I prevent my mac and cheese from being dry?

Use full-fat milk and half-and-half, don’t overcook pasta, and ensure sauce is creamy before mixing with noodles. The sauce should coat pasta generously.

• Is it possible to make this recipe gluten-free?

Substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free pasta. The rest of the recipe remains the same.

• What if I don't have half-and-half?

Replace half-and-half with equal parts whole milk and heavy cream to maintain the richness and consistency of the sauce.

Mac And Cheese Recipe

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4.5 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Creamy mac and cheese blends rich cheddar with velvety sauce, promising comfort in every forkful. Homemade goodness awaits you, delivering classic American comfort that satisfies deeply and deliciously.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cheese Ingredients:

• 4 cups (454 grams) shredded medium sharp cheddar
• 2 cups (226 grams) shredded Gruyere

Pasta and Base Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) dried elbow pasta
• 1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups (600 milliliters) half-and-half

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to a gentle 325°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light layer of grease.
2. Cook pasta in rapidly boiling water until tender yet firm, then drain and lightly coat with oil to prevent sticking.
3. Create a roux by melting butter in a large pot, then sprinkle flour and whisk continuously for one minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
4. Gradually stream milk and half-and-half into the roux, whisking steadily to develop a silky, thickened sauce without lumps.
5. Remove pot from heat and fold in seasonings and three-quarters of the cheese, stirring until completely melted and incorporated.
6. Gently fold pasta into the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring each noodle is generously coated.
7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, creating even layers and distributing remaining cheese across the top surface.
8. Slide into preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the top transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.

Notes

• Prevent pasta from sticking by stirring occasionally during boiling and using a tiny bit of oil after draining.
• Grate cheese fresh for maximum melting smoothness and richer flavor compared to pre-shredded varieties.
• Experiment with cheese combinations like sharp cheddar, gruyere, or monterey jack to create deeper, more complex taste profiles.
• Use whole milk or higher fat dairy for creamier, more luxurious texture that coats pasta perfectly without feeling grainy.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 528
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 510 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 23 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg