How to cook homemade mac & cheese

My wife's grandmother made this decadent American classic. I added my own touches over the last 22 years to make it my own. I hope you enjoy. This also comes out excellent from the smoker.

2815
STEPS
INGREDIENTS

Set oven to 325 degrees. Once the oven comes to temp, slice off a 1" cube of butter and put it in 9x13 glass baking pan. Melt it in the oven.

Set oven to 325 degrees. Once the oven comes to temp, slice off a 1" cube of butter and put it in 9x13 glass baking pan. Melt it in the oven.

When melted, our over you 15 crushed crackers on wax paper. Mix with 1 cup of your cheese mixture.

When melted, our over you 15 crushed crackers on wax paper. Mix with 1 cup of your cheese mixture.

While oven is warming up, bring the elbow macaroni to a boil in water with three tablespoons of dried onion flakes.

While oven is warming up, bring the elbow macaroni to a boil in water with three tablespoons of dried onion flakes.

When the noodles get done, strain them, but DO NOT get rid of the onion flakes left on the strainer. Use a spatula to move all of the noodles and remaining onions into your glass baking pan.

When the noodles get done, strain them, but DO NOT get rid of the onion flakes left on the strainer. Use a spatula to move all of the noodles and remaining onions into your glass baking pan.

Take the remainder of your butter and melt it in a large pasta pot. Slowly add flour 1 TBLS at a time until it forms a paste. Make sure not to burn. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly. Will thicken.

Take the remainder of your butter and melt it in a large pasta pot. Slowly add flour 1 TBLS at a time until it forms a paste. Make sure not to burn. Slowly add milk, stirring constantly. Will thicken.

At this point, add the remaining cheese. Slowly add cheese, stirring constantly.

At this point, add the remaining cheese. Slowly add cheese, stirring constantly.

By mixing the cheese in slowly, you will gradually make a thick cheese sauce rather than a milk sauce with cheese.

By mixing the cheese in slowly, you will gradually make a thick cheese sauce rather than a milk sauce with cheese.

Slow. Slow. Slow.

Slow. Slow. Slow.

Stir constantly.

Stir constantly.

See how the sauce starts to thicken?

See how the sauce starts to thicken?

Finally, a THICK cheese sauce.

Finally, a THICK cheese sauce.

Look at the golden color that starts to develop.

Look at the golden color that starts to develop.

Thick, gooey cheese sauce.

Thick, gooey cheese sauce.

Almost there....

Almost there....

And, we have sauce.

And, we have sauce.

Pour the golden, cheesy sauce over the elbow macaroni.

Pour the golden, cheesy sauce over the elbow macaroni.

If the cheese it thick enough, it oozes over the pan.

If the cheese it thick enough, it oozes over the pan.

Cover all areas of the pan in cheese.

Cover all areas of the pan in cheese.

See how the cheese fills every nook and cranny of the pan?

See how the cheese fills every nook and cranny of the pan?

And we haven't even cooked it yet!

And we haven't even cooked it yet!

Sprinkle your butter-drenched crackers with cheese mixture on top of the macaroni and cheese.

Sprinkle your butter-drenched crackers with cheese mixture on top of the macaroni and cheese.

Cover every square inch of the pan.

Cover every square inch of the pan.

The topping forms a crust over the top of the pan.

The topping forms a crust over the top of the pan.

When done, put in over for 35 minutes if you intend to reheat the pan the next day. Cook for 45 minutes if you intend to eat it the same day. When done, the cheese cooks to a golden brown crust.

When done, put in over for 35 minutes if you intend to reheat the pan the next day. Cook for 45 minutes if you intend to eat it the same day. When done, the cheese cooks to a golden brown crust.

At my inlaws, so I had to use a metal cake pan. Look at the golden crust that forms while baking.

At my inlaws, so I had to use a metal cake pan. Look at the golden crust that forms while baking.

On the plate and ready to eat. Yummy.

On the plate and ready to eat. Yummy.

This tastes even better the second time. Just warm it up for lunch the next day in a saucepan, adding a little milk.

  • 8.0oz Elbow macaroni (by volume)
  • 3.0Tbsp Dried onion flakes
  • 4.0c Medium cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2.0c Extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 15.0 Saltine crackers, crushed
  • 4.0Tbsp Flour
  • 4.0c Milk
  • 1.0 Stick butter