Description
This Chick-fil-A inspired mac and cheese recipe offers a creamy and cheesy comfort food experience with a blend of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. It features tender elbow macaroni enveloped in a rich, homemade cheese sauce made from scratch, with an optional baked crispy topping for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 cup elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Make Roux: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter completely. Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture turns a light golden color, forming a roux.
- Add Milk: Gradually pour in the whole milk while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Continue to cook and stir for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Melt Cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses until fully melted and smooth. Season the cheese sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine Macaroni and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat all the pasta evenly.
- Optional Bake: For a crispier top, transfer the mac and cheese to a greased baking dish and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting and texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute whole milk with 2% milk or a milk alternative, but the cheese sauce will be slightly less rich.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper according to your taste preference.
- The optional baking step adds a crunchy top but is not necessary for creamy mac and cheese.
- Use elbow macaroni or any small pasta shape you prefer for best results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop and Optional Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Chick-fil-A mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, homemade mac and cheese, cheddar Monterey Jack cheese mac, baked mac and cheese
