Who doesn’t love a heaping bowl of creamy mac and cheese? If you’re looking for the best mac and cheese recipe ever, look no further! We have the ultimate mac and cheese recipe for you, baked and unbaked!

This mac and cheese recipe with sour cream is similar to Natasha’s Kitchen mac and cheese. If you love the Benny Medina restaurant mac and cheese recipe or the Dairy Dip Diner, you’ll love this gooey and delicious recipe.

What Is Mac and Cheese?

Mac and cheese is the shorthand name for macaroni pasta covered in a yummy cheese sauce and sometimes baked in the oven. You can make spiral mac and cheese, kid-friendly mac and cheese, box mac and cheese (no milk), or baked mac and cheese. The options and recipes are endless!

While there is no specific type of cheese or pasta you have to use, there are ingredients that work better than others, so keep this in mind if you decide to make any substitutions to recipes.

The Best Mac and Cheese Recipe

Mac and cheese is the shorthand name for macaroni pasta covered in a yummy cheese sauce and sometimes baked in the oven. You can make spiral mac and cheese, kid-friendly mac and cheese, box mac and cheese (no milk), or baked mac and cheese. The options and recipes are endless!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 571 kcal

Ingredients

  

Main:

• 2 cups Elbow macaroni or shell pasta
• 2 Tbsp All-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted butter
• 2 cups Whole milk or heavy cream
• ½ teaspoons Nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Dry mustard
• 2 cups Havarti cheese grated
• 2 cups Sharp white cheddar cheese grated
• ⅓ cups Sour cream
• Sea salt for pasta water

For Baked:

• 1 cup Gruyere cheese grated
• ½ cups Plain bread crumbs
• 3 Tbsp Unsalted butter

Instructions

 

For stovetop mac and cheese:

• Fill a large pot with water and generously salt it. Place the pot on high heat until it starts a rolling boil. Once the water boils, add the pasta and follow the instructions on the box. Drain pasta and return to pot when finished.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on medium heat and then add the flour. Whisk together and let simmer for about a minute until thick roux forms.
• Add the milk or heavy cream to the roux slowly. Add about ⅓ cup and then whisk, repeating until all the milk gets added. You should have a creamy, thick bechamel sauce.
• Add the nutmeg, garlic powder, dry mustard, and salt to taste. Turn the heat to low.
• Add all the grated cheese to the bechamel sauce. Stir every few minutes to help the cheese melt evenly.
• Once the cheese is thoroughly melted and the sauce is thick and gooey, pour the cheese sauce into the pot with the pasta. Turn the heat to low under the pot to warm the pasta and sauce.
• Add the sour cream to the pot and stir thoroughly until combined. Cover and let sit for a few minutes until warm.
• Taste a piece of pasta and add salt if necessary. Serve immediately.

For Baked:

• Preheat the oven to 375º F.
• Melt the butter in the microwave.
• Stir the butter into the bread crumbs and set aside.
• Pour the mac and cheese into a casserole dish.
• Sprinkle half the gruyere over the mac and cheese.
• Spread the breadcrumb mixture over the mac and cheese.Sprinkle the remaining gruyere cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
• Let cool for ten minutes, then enjoy!

Keyword mac and cheese, mac and cheese recipe with sour cream

Tips & Tricks for The Best Mac and Cheese Recipe

People often encounter the same problems and questions when making mac and cheese. This section will answer many of your mac and cheese inquiries!

How Long Can Mac and Cheese Sit Out?

Once the mac and cheese cools to room temperature, it can only sit for two hours. If the room temperature is abnormally high, the mac and cheese cannot sit out for longer than one hour. If left out longer, bacteria may start to grow, so refrigerate as soon as the mac and cheese cools.

How to Make Leftover Mac and Cheese Creamy?

Making leftover mac and cheese creamy again is easy! Add a splash of milk or cream and heat on the stove or in the microwave. To make it extra creamy, you can add a tablespoon of cream cheese or sour cream!

How to Fix Gritty Cheese Sauce?

Your cheese sauce is likely gritty for one of two reasons:

1. You added the milk to the roux too quickly.
2. You melted the cheese at too high of a temperature.

To avoid gritty mac and cheese, take your time making the cheese sauce and allow everything to melt and meld at a slow pace. You don’t want a gritty or watery mac and cheese– you want a thick and creamy mac and cheese! 

How Long Can Mac and Cheese Stay in the Fridge?

In an airtight container, mac and cheese can last three to five days. 

Why Is the Mac and Cheese Too Dry After Baking?

If your mac and cheese is too dry after baking, you either baked it too long, at too high of a temperature, or did not use enough milk or cream.

Nutrition Information of The Best Mac and Cheese Recipe

Below is the nutritional information for the unbaked mac and cheese recipe.

• Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe
• Calories: 571
• Total Fat: 31.9g
• Saturated Fat: 18.2g
• Cholesterol: 89.6mg
• Sodium: 564.7mg
• Carbohydrate: 48.7g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Total Sugars: 2.3g
• Protein: 21.8g

Below is the nutritional information for the baked mac and cheese recipe.

• Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe
• Calories: 654
• Total Fat: 36.2g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Cholesterol: 92.3mg
• Sodium: 574.7mg
• Carbohydrate: 51.1g
• Dietary Fiber: 2g
• Total Sugars: 2.3g
• Protein: 21.9g

Conclusion

When you use this mouthwatering mac and cheese recipe, there won’t be a leftover crumb after a meal! The mac and cheese is creamy like Chick Fil A mashed potatoes and flavorful like Soup Maison dishes!