30-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Ditch the boxed variety in favor of a quick and easy recipe for White Cheddar Mac and Cheese that will be on your table in 30 minutes or less.

Few foods are as comforting and satisfying as a big ol’ pot of mac and cheese. The kind that slurps as you stir it, as a velvety smooth cheese sauce yields cheese pull after cheese pull. True Instagram-worthy stuff, if you ask me.

We mastered the sharp cheddar version and French onion version of this comfort food, so a recent purchase of way too many blocks of white cheddar meant only one thing: You get a bowl of 30-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese and you get a bowl and you get a bowl!

While the creamy consistency and mild taste of white cheddar may be the initial draw here, this mom of three (boys under age 5) is all about that total recipe time of 30 minutes. Yes, just 30 minutes from start to finish.

The setup is simple:

• Boil your noodles of choice
• Make your white cheddar cheese sauce
• Add cooked noodles to said cheese sauce
• Stir and devour

While white cheddar is most definitely the star of the cheese show, I like to also use an entire cup of grated Parmesan cheese. The salty richness of the Parm punches up the creamy tanginess of the white cheddar, making these two a match in cheese-lovers’ heaven.

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Main Course

30-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Ditch the boxed stuff in favor of an easy, cheesy recipe for 30-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese.

5 from 1 vote

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Servings 6 servings

Print Recipe

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 pound uncooked pasta, such as cavatappi or shells
• ▢ 4 cups whole milk
• ▢ 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• ▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
• ▢ 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta then set it aside.
• Add the milk to a medium saucepan set over low heat. Once the milk is hot to the touch, turn off the heat and set it aside.
• Add the butter to a large heavy-bottomed stockpot set over low heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour. Cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it is pale golden in color and smells slightly toasted, about 3 minutes. 
• Slowly whisk in the warm milk, whisking constantly to avoid any lumps. (The mixture will become very thick then thin out slowly.)
• Increase the heat to medium and continue whisking the mixture constantly until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Whisk in the salt and pepper.
• Stir in the white cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the cheese sauce is creamy and the cheese has melted.
• Stir in the drained pasta then taste and season the mac and cheese with salt and pepper. Serve.
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