Classic Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter or dairy-free butter
- 3 tablespoons gluten-free all purpose flour we used GF Jules (affiliate link]
- 3 cups milk preheated (we've used both 1%, 2% and whole milk and all have worked well)
- 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard sometimes we use only 1/4 teaspoon so start with 1/4 and taste
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- large pinch of black pepper
- 12 oz gluten-free elbow macaroni we used BioNaturae- affiliate link
- 3 cups sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
Buttered Bread Crumbs Topping (Optional)
- 3/4 cup Panko or Plain Bread Crumbs we used Aleia's - afiliate link
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or dairy-free butter melted
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F degrees and lightly butter a 9x9 or 9x7 baking pan. Set aside.
Buttered Breadcrumbs
- If using buttered breadcrumbs, combine bread crumbs with melted butter and mix together with a spoon. Set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt and cook elbow macaroni according to package until al dente. Drain.
Make cream sauce
- While the pasta water boils and pasta cooks, melt butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Cook, stirring over low heat, about 2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in hot milk until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture boils. Lower to low heat and continue cooking until thick and smooth, about 10 minutes.
- Season with mustard, salt and pepper.
Mix together
- Add 2 cups of cheese and the cooked pasta to the sauce. Mix to combine well.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Top with Buttered Breadcrumbs if using.
- Bake for approximately 40 minutes or until browned on top and bubbly.
- Enjoy!


We love this recipe! I use it for both gluten free pasta and regular pasta. it has been successful in converting my kids to homemade rather than the box kind. Upside is now I will actually eat Mac and cheese with them.
Thank you! So happy to hear you’re all loving it!
Wow! This was so good!! I used a blend of cheeses-colby-jack, smoked cheddar, and mozzarella. And I used Dijon mustard, along with the buttered toasted gluten-free panko bread crumbs. This was seriously delicious. Will definitely be my go-to recipe. Thanks.
So happy you loved it! Love the mix of cheeses you used! Thanks for sharing!
Made tonight! I have had horrible luck with homemade Mac and Cheese recipes. This one was so easy and a hit with all!!!
So happy to hear you found the recipe easy and you loved it! Thank you!!