Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
A rich and creamy stovetop mac and cheese recipe featuring a blend of shredded cheddar, Velveeta, Parmesan cheese, and creamy Greek yogurt for a luscious texture and tangy flavor. This comforting dish combines elbow pasta with a smooth cheese sauce seasoned with garlic, onion powder, and ground mustard, perfect as a satisfying main dish or side.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings (1 cup each) 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound elbow pasta
Cheese Sauce
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 ¼ cups milk
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 3 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the elbow pasta, and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Make Roux: In another large pot, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the butter and stir continuously, cooking for about 1 minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: Gradually whisk in the milk to the roux mixture. Continue to cook and stir over medium heat until the sauce thickens, usually a few minutes. Remove the pot from the heat once thickened.
- Add Cheese and Seasonings: Stir in the freshly shredded cheddar cheese, cubed Velveeta, grated Parmesan, plain Greek yogurt, ground mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Rinse the cooked pasta briefly under hot water and drain again to remove excess starch and prevent clumping. Add the pasta into the cheese sauce and gently stir to fully coat the noodles.
- Rest and Serve: Let the mac and cheese sit for a few minutes off the heat to thicken up before serving warm.
Notes
- You can substitute sour cream for Greek yogurt; however, this will slightly alter the flavor of the mac and cheese.
- The dish reheats well on the stovetop or can be warmed in the oven if needed. Adding extra cheese on top before baking can help retain creaminess.
- This recipe yields about 12 one-cup servings, which is ideal for portioning.
Keywords: creamy mac and cheese, stovetop macaroni and cheese, cheesy pasta, comfort food, Greek yogurt mac and cheese
Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/creamy-mac-and-cheese-recipe/
