The Best Easy Macaroni and Cheese Meal

This great old-fashioned macaroni and cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food. It's creamy, cheesy, decadent, and delicious! It's the perfect family meal when comfort food brings everyone to the table. Double the recipe to feed a crowd, you'll want to have enough for second (and third!) helpings. Serve this macaroni and cheese recipe with Garlic Broccoli (recipe below) for a hearty meal everyone will love.

Just a note, using full-fat evaporated milk and whole milk in this recipe is important to create the rich, creamy sauce. We tried using low-fat milk in various quantities and found that they curdled while baking, giving the finished dish a grainy texture. The recipe below is the tried-and-true, no-fail macaroni and cheese your family will love for years.

Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 (12 ounces) cans Carnation evaporated milk (regular, NOT low-fat or fat-free)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 1/2 cups grated mild cheddar cheese
• 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 pound elbow macaroni

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine and heat the milk (do not boil).

3. Add the butter. When butter is melted into the milk, add the flour while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture is smooth.

4. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, dry mustard, black pepper, 2 cups of mild cheddar cheese, 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, and 3/4 cup of the grated Romano cheese. Set cheese sauce aside.

5. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add the macaroni, and cook for the time specified on the package, making sure not to overcook it. Drain immediately and rinse under cold running water. Drain well.

6. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

7. Pour the mixture into a 3-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mild cheddar, 1/2 cup sharp cheddar, and 1/4 cup Romano cheese.

8. Bake until browned on top, about 20 to 25 minutes. Serves 8.

For a complete meal, add a delicious veggie on the side. No need to look any further because we've got you covered. And what goes with macaroni and cheese? Broccoli, of course! But this is not your everyday broccoli. This recipe gives the broccoli the right texture and flavor as a side dish, especially when paired with garlic.