Creamy white cheddar mac and cheese is a true comfort food classic! This white cheddar mac and cheese recipe comes together in minutes and is perfect for serving as a vegetarian main dish or classic side.
Suitable for vegetarian diets.
Every kid, and if we’re honest, every adult, loves mac and cheese. It’s rich, creamy, and basically comfort food at its best. This white cheddar mac and cheese recipe is perfect as a meal, great as a side dish, and can be made in advance to make life easier.
So skip the bright orange powder and whip up this elegant white cheddar mac and cheese to serve up a meal your whole family will love.
Truly, what’s not to love about this grown-up version of those classic mac and cheese recipes?! White cheddar mac n cheese is so delicious and decadent and makes for a gourmet-level meal with minimal effort.
This white mac and cheese is vegetarian and can easily be made gluten free with a few simple modifications.
And if you love this white cheddar mac and cheese, you’ll want to check out this flavorful and colorful Rasta Pasta, Asparagus Macaroni and Cheese (because you can never have too many mac and cheese recipes), and my easy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese or srumptions Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.
Why Make This Recipe
- Creamy and Comforting – The flavor and texture of the white cheddar cheese sauce are the ultimate comfort food. Like a warm hug for your belly.
- SO Simple – White cheddar mac and cheese is easy to make from scratch in less than 30 minutes.
- Customizable – From the noodles to the white cheddar cheese sauce to additional mix-ins, this cheesy mac is entirely customizable to fit your tastes and preferences.
- Feed a Crowd – Just make a double batch of this easy recipe and there’s enough white cheddar mac and cheese to go around.
Ingredient Notes
- Macaroni – Elbow macaroni is the most common for mac n cheese white cheddar, but you can substitute cavatappi, shells, penne, farfalle, and more. You can also use gluten free pasta.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter so you have better control over the dish’s saltiness.
- Flour – Use all-purpose flour or substitute a one-to-one gluten free flour.
- Milk – Whole milk will give you a creamier sauce, but you can use 2% or skim milk if desired.
- White Cheddar Cheese – Shredded sharp white cheddar cheese is tangy and keeps the mac and cheese white in color. Freshly grated cheese will melt better than pre shredded cheese.
- Salt and Pepper – Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. You can also use ground white pepper.
- Nutmeg – A pinch of nutmeg enhances the flavor of this white cheddar mac and cheese.
Ready to learn how to make white cheddar mac and cheese? Gather up your ingredients and I will show you…
How To Make White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Recipe
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the macaroni and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Gradually whisk in the flour to create a roux and continue to cook for about 2 minutes until the flour starts to turn golden brown.
- Slowly add the milk while constantly stirring to create a creamy cheese sauce.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for about 3 minutes or until thickened.
- Remove the pot from heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Serve your white cheddar mac and cheese immediately, and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Cook macaroni to al dente, as it will continue to cook when you add it to the cheese mixture.
- Let the flour and butter mixture cook until it just starts to brown. This takes away the raw flavor.
- Slowly add the milk and constantly stir, so you get a creamy sauce without any lumps.
- Grate the white cheddar cheese yourself. It will melt much better than packaged shredded white cheddar cheese.
- Use a box grater or the grater attachment on a food processor to quickly grate cheese.
- Use whole milk for a flavorful and creamy mac.
- Mix in your favorite protein, vegetables, or seasonings to customize this recipe.
- Don’t skip the nutmeg. It enhances the flavor of the cheese sauce.
Delicious Variations
- Make It Gluten Free – Swap the pasta for gluten-free macaroni and use a one-to-one gluten free flour in place of the all-purpose flour for gluten free mac and cheese.
- Add Veggies – Stir in your favorite steamed veggies like broccoli or cauliflower or add chopped spinach for a more balanced meal.
- Add Protein – If not vegetarian, you can add cooked, chopped bacon or ham, shrimp, or lobster meat to bump up the protein.
- Use More Seasonings – The addition of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Dijon mustard will customize the flavor to suit your taste.
- Make It Healthier – Swap the pasta for whole-wheat pasta, decrease the amount of butter and cheese, and use low-fat milk for a healthier version.
- Swap The Cheese – White cheddar adds a delicious sharp flavor, but you can swap in yellow sharp cheddar cheese or your favorite melting cheese as preferred. Or try other grated cheese like gruyere cheese or cabot cheese. And add a dollop of cream cheese extra creamy goodness, if desired.
Prep Ahed And Storage
- Prep Ahead – For easy prep, cook the pasta up to 24 hours in advance. Be sure to toss the cooked pasta with a bit of oil to prevent it from sticking.
- Store – Leftover white cheddar mac n cheese can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up 4 or 5 days.
- Freeze – Freeze in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months.
FAQs
This white cheddar mac and cheese can absolutely be baked and makes a delicious casserole. Cook as directed, then transfer the prepared mac and cheese to a casserole or baking dish.
Top with broken potato chips or breadcrumbs and bake at 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C until golden and bubbly. It’s perfect for making ahead and can be refrigerated in the covered baking dish for a few days for easy meal prep.
It is best to reheat this mac and cheese in a large saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir gently and add more milk as needed to keep the mac and cheese creamy. You can also microwave in one-minute increments until warmed through.
This white cheddar mac n cheese recipe can be doctored with your favorite herbs and spices.
The sky is really the limit. Garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, red pepper flakes, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning are all flavorful options for customizing this white cheddar mac and cheese to suit your taste.
More Recipes You May Like
If you’re like me and simply can’t get enough mac and cheese, then you’ve got try these other mac and cheese recipes;
- Stovetop Mac and Cheese.
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese – 5 Ways.
- Air Fryer Mac and Cheese.
- Instant Pot Chicken Mac and Cheese.
- Instant Pot Pumpkin Mac and Cheese.
- Mac and Cheese Balls made with leftovers.
- Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Thank you for reading my mac n cheese white cheddar recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
Get The White Cheddar Mac n Cheese Recipe:
Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try White Cheddar Mac and Cheese! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (226g) elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup (34g) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (490g) milk
- 8 ounces (226g) white cheddar cheese shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the macaroni and set aside.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to create a rouxe and continue to cook for about 2 minutes until the flour starts to brown.
- Slowly add the milk while constantly whisking to make a creamy sauce.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 3 minutes or until thickened.
- Remove the pot from heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cook the macaroni to al dente as it will continue to cook when you add it to the cheese mixture.
- Let the flour and butter mixture cook until it just starts to brown. This takes away the raw flavor.
- Slowly add the milk and constantly stir so you don’t have any lumps.
- Grate the cheese yourself. It will melt much better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Use a box grater or the grater attachment on a food processor to quickly grate the cheese.
- Whole milk will have the best flavor and creaminess.
- Mix in your favorite protein, vegetables or seasonings to customize this recipe.
- Don’t skip the nutmeg. It enhances the flavor of the milk and cheese.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 5 days.
The sky is the limit. You may add flavor to this white cheddar mac and cheese by using garlic powder, onion drift hunters powder, chili powder, red pepper flakes, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning, among other alternatives.