Easy Mac and Cheese

The Best Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe – creamy and fast mac and cheese recipe is made with both cheddar pub cheese and shredded cheddar cheese for a deliciously rich and indulgent dinner recipe that's ready in about 20 minutes!

This macaroni and cheese recipe is incredibly easy and totally good – creamy and velvety, thanks to a heaping dose of pub cheese.

We LOVE pub cheese… it's one of our favorite easy spreadable cheeses (like our knockout pimento cheese, which is a recipe everyone needs to try at least once!) – and, we're mixing it with shredded cheddar for the most unbelievably good mac and cheese.

If you love this recipe – check out our easy Bacon Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese, too!

This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make and is suited to even beginner cooks – we hope your family loves it as much as we do!

We have a lot of readers on Avdaye with lots of questions about recipes, who have asked us to provide more information.

What Cheese To Use

For this recipe, we're using creamy, rich pub cheese and tangy sharp cheddar for a good balance and over-the-top cheesy flavor your whole family will love.

Since this recipe is simple, it is important to pick flavorful cheeses that will take this creamy pasta over the top!

What is Pub Cheese

Pub cheese is usually made from cheddar cheese, mixed with milk and cream, so it's easy to spread.

Pub cheese is great spread on crackers – but it also gives an good creaminess to macaroni and cheese that you have to taste to believe!

What Pub Cheese to Pick

We picked plain sharp cheddar pub cheese for this recipe to keep the classic creamy Mac and cheese flavor – but you can pick any flavor pub cheese you'd like.

You can change the flavor of your macaroni and cheese easily by grabbing different flavors of pub cheese – from bacon to chive, to port, or even jalapeno!

You can be as creative as you'd like with the type of beer cheese you grab.

What Cheddar Cheese for Mac and Cheese

Opt for sharp or extra sharp cheese for extra tangy flavor – or grab mild if your family prefers a more mellow cheese flavor.

This recipe works best with cheddar cheese that is freshly shredded – not the pre-shredded cheese from bags.

While it is easier to reach for pre-shredded cheeses, they are often treated with anti-clumping preservatives which can change how they melt – so shredding your own cheese fresh is the best option.

Kitchen notes

This mac and cheese is simple and easy to make – even for beginner cooks – but we have a couple of easy tips to make this recipe even easier, and to help you make it perfectly, every time.

Make A Roux

Making a roux (a browned butter and flour mixture) is an essential part of this recipe – it is a simple step, but brings so much flavor.

Don't rush your recipe or skip the roux – it helps make your macaroni and cheese thicker, with a nuttier, richer taste.

Serve it with

Mac and cheese goes with about everything – it is quick to whip up, and it goes with all kinds of good dinners.

We're sharing our favorite sides with mac aand cheese that are simple, quick, and full of flavor:

• 10 Minute Broccolini Recipe
• solid Sauteed Mushrooms
• Garlic Herb Butter Baked Pork Loin and Potatoes
• The Best Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Recipe

And if you'd like to top your mac and cheese with good meats, please check out our favorites below:

• solid Grilled Chicken Breasts
• The Best Air Fryer Steaks
• The Best Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• The Best Easy Broiled Lobster Tails Recipe
• The Best One Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp Recipe Ever

Mac and Cheese Without Mustard

This recipe includes mustard power as a part of the spice mixture – but if you're avoiding mustard (or you're allergic to mustard, like us!), we have a few tips below on other ways to get a rich flavor in your mac and cheese without the mustard.

Turmeric

You can use turmeric at a 1:1 ratio instead of mustard – it gives you the same yellow color and a similar earthy richness, but a less spicy kick than mustard.

Horseradish

Horseradish is spicier than mustard, so you won't want to make a 1:1 substitution – use half or slightly less than half the amount of horseradish you would mustard powder.

Wasabi

Wasabi is spicier than mustard, but gives a good tangy twist to this mac and cheese.

If using wasabi powder in macaroni and cheese, use half the amount of mustard powder you would add to the recipe.

Be careful when substituting wasabi if you have a mustard allergy (like us) – some wasabis are prepared with ground mustard.

Recipe FAQ's

Where do we find pub cheese in the grocery store?

Pub cheese is usually found near the specialty cheeses. grab sharp cheddar, and not another flavor, if you want a classic macaroni and cheese flavor.

What other types of pasta work with this recipe?

Penne, cavatappi, medium shells are great pasta alternatives for this recipe.

Can we use other types of beer cheese?

Any spreadable cheese works – pick a flavor you love, since this recipe is simple and doesn't have many ingredients.

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Avdaye Favorites

If you love this easy recipe, check out our reader favorites!

These tried and true classics are always a huge hit with our family and our readers families!

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Ingredients

• 1 lb large elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons salted butter
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 ounces pub cheese
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
• ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot.
4. Once melted, sprinkle in the flour and stir constantly until a roux starts to form, about 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Slowly add in the half and half and cook for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
6. Stir in the cheeses and seasonings until fully melting.
7. Stir in the cooked pasta and add salt and pepper to taste.