Homemade Macaroni & Cheese from Scratch
Looking for a delicious recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese that’s made from scratch? This simple, healthy dinner is a favorite of children and adults! With it’s creamy cheese sauce made from scratch, this unique varation on traditional macaroni and cheese makes for a yummy lunch or dinner for your family.
If you want to make this homemade macaroni and cheese from scratch even easier, check out our Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
Photos courtesy of Sara Welburn Photography
If you love macaroni and cheese but have issues with gluten, then try out this Gluten-free Mac and Cheese.
How to Make Homemade Macaroni & Cheese from Scratch
There are two parts to this recipe – the noodles and the sauce.
Noodles
Cook up 16 oz of elbow/macaroni noodles (or you can use shells if your children prefer that shape) according to the cooking instructions on the bag.
Or, if you want to take a shortcut, just add them to the Instant Pot and cover with 4 cups of water and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.
While those are cooking, you can microwave a bag of frozen vegetables you would like to add in (we like broccoli, cauliflower, and/or carrots in our home), as well as cute any amount of ham. When we’re having a busy day, we just slice up deli/lunch meat ham.
After draining and rinsing the noodles, start on the cheese sauce for this homemade macaroni & cheese from scratch.
If you like macaroni noodles, give this Classic Macaroni Salad a try.
Cheese Sauce
We also use these delicious cheese sauce on our homemade Ham and Cheese Rollups, which are incredible!
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 6 tbsp flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 tbsp chicken boulian or flavor base
- grated cheese
Melt butter on medium temperature stove. Mix in the flour to create a very thick paste.
Add milk and stir constantly (do not walk away at all or it will burn on the bottom). Continue stirring and as the sauce thickens, add the boulion.
Keep stirring until all lumps are out and sauce begins to boil. Continue stirring constantly while sauce boils for at least 1-2 minutes (be careful of splashes). Then add as much grated cheese as desired.
Put it all together
Pour the cheese sauce onto the noodles, and add the ham and vegetables. Enjoy your homemade macaroni & cheese from scratch!
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese from Scratch
Looking for a delicious mac and cheese recipe for homemade mac and cheese that's made from scratch? This simple, healthy dinner is a favorite of children and adults! With its creamy sauce made from scratch, this unique variation on traditional macaroni and cheese makes for a yummy lunch or dinner for your family.
Ingredients
- 16 oz macaroni noodles
- 1 bag frozen broccoli
- 1 lb chopped ham (or hot dogs or little weenies)
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 6 tbsp flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 tbsp chicken boullon or flavor base
- grated cheese
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni noodles according to the instructions on the bag (or use an Instant Pot with 4 cups of water for 4 minutes).
- Cook the frozen vegetables in the microwave.
- After the noodles are finished cooking, add the meat you chose and keep warm.
- To make the sauce, melt butter on medium temperature stove. Mix in the flour to create a very thick paste.
- Add milk and stir constantly (do not walk away at all or it will burn on the bottom). Continue stirring and as the sauce thickens, add the boulion.
- Keep stirring until all lumps are out and sauce begins to boil. Continue stirring constantly while sauce boils for at least 1-2 minutes (be careful of splashes). Then add as much grated cheese as desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200
Pin This Homemade Macaroni & Cheese from Scratch Recipe!
Love this recipe? Saving it for later? Then pin it!
I love your cheese sauce recipe! So easy and creamy! I used 2 cups gouda cheese and 1/2 cup grated parmesan. For pasta I did two cups of macaroni and two cups of cauliflower. I also seasoned with 1 T. dijon mustard and salt and pepper instead of bouillon. Big hit! a definite repeater.
Ooooh, that sounds delicious! I’ll have to give it a try next time! I’m glad you liked it!