Macaroni and Cheese for Broke College Students Easy Budget Meal Recipe
A creamy, cheesy, and budget-friendly macaroni and cheese recipe perfect for college students needing a quick and comforting meal with pantry staples.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225g) elbow macaroni
- 2 cups shredded (200g) cheddar cheese
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
- 3 tablespoons (42g) butter
- 3 tablespoons (24g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (about 1 teaspoon salt per 4 cups water). Add the elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly for about 2 minutes until smooth and bubbly but not browned.
- Slowly pour in the milk while whisking nonstop to avoid lumps. Add salt, black pepper, and mustard powder if using. Bring to a gentle simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat and gradually whisk in the shredded cheddar cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until fully coated.
Notes
[‘Salt the pasta water well to enhance flavor.’, ‘Grate your own cheese for best melting and flavor.’, ‘Remove sauce from heat before adding cheese to avoid grainy texture.’, ‘Mustard powder boosts cheesy flavor but is optional.’, ‘Save some pasta water to loosen sauce if it thickens too much.’, ‘Reheat leftovers in a skillet with a splash of milk for best results.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: macaroni and cheese, budget meal, college recipe, easy dinner, comfort food, cheesy pasta