1-First Step: Preheat and Prepare Ingredients Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures it’s ready when your mac and cheese is assembled. Cook 1 pound of cavatappi pasta in salted water until al dente, which takes about 8-10 minutes, then drain and set it aside. For students or busy parents, this step is quick and lets you multitask with other parts of the recipe.

2-Second Step: Warm the Milk and Make the Roux Warm 4 cups of whole milk to room temperature for about 1-2 minutes; this helps it blend smoothly. In a large pot, melt 1/2 cup of unsalted butter over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, stirring for about 3 minutes to form a roux. This creates the base for a creamy mac and cheese that’s thick and flavorful.

3-Third Step: Add Milk and Cheese Slowly pour in the warmed milk, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens, which should take 5-7 minutes. Stir in 16 ounces of freshly grated sharp white cheddar cheese until it’s fully melted. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. For a smoother sauce, add the cheese gradually to avoid lumps, and adjust with a simple protein add-in like in this easy chicken spaghetti recipe if you want more variety.

4-Fourth Step: Mix in the Pasta Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until everything is well coated. Remove from heat to keep the sauce creamy. If it seems too thick, add a bit more milk. This step ensures the pasta absorbs the flavors, making your white cheddar mac and cheese recipe extra delicious for family meals.

5-Fifth Step: Prepare the Topping For the herbed breadcrumb topping, pulse 6 slices of white sandwich bread with 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning in a food processor until crumbly. If you don’t have one, tear the bread into small pieces and mix by hand for a quick alternative.

6-Sixth Step: Assemble and Bake Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish and sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over it. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until it’s golden and bubbly. Let it cool slightly before serving, which helps the flavors settle. This white cheddar mac and cheese is versatile for different dietary needs, like using whole wheat pasta for more fiber.

7-Final Step: Serving and Enjoying Once baked, serve your mac and cheese hot as a main or side dish. It pairs well with meals like roast turkey. For about 55 minutes total, you’ve got a homemade mac and cheese that’s ready to enjoy, with options to make it creamier or lighter based on your preferences.