This recipe can be considered among the easiest to make, and it can be easily prepared without any complications.

Pasta, dairy products, butter, cheddar cheese (or any other type of cheese), salt, and pepper are the main ingredients.

In this article, you will know the answer to the query “How To Thicken Mac And Cheese?“.

The rich taste of this recipe is loved by both kids and adults, and this recipe can be made with a wide variety of ingredients.

It can be substituted with any other kind of pasta you have on hand, or for a change of pace, swap out the elbow macaroni for bow tie pasta or rotini.

People often wonder how to thicken mac and cheese, so that is why many people wonder how to thicken mac and cheese.

Creating a creamy gravy-like sauce without milk or cream can become a problem when thickening sauce.

You will learn how to thicken mac and cheese in this article.

This recipe also teaches you how to make a thicker sauce without having to add any additional ingredients besides those already mentioned.

Common Mistakes When Making Mac and Cheese?

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when attempting to prepare this recipe:

A simple mistake is not cooking macaroni long enough after you boil it in salted water, but once it’s done drain it and you’ll have avoided this mistake altogether.

This way, you’ll be able to tell if your pasta is cooked.

In this particular case, the mistake is to avoid clumping, however, what you shouldn’t do is to mix your pasta too much (if at all) before adding it to the pot. If you do this, the pasta will become cakey instead of creamy.

The amount of cheese used in some recipes is not enough – For four cups of macaroni, many recipes will state 1/2 pound of cheddar cheese.

Yet, if you don’t have a very hot stove (but still want the dish creamy), a pound of butter is usually adequate.

Not waiting long enough for the cheese to melt – If you use your crockpot, then your dish will take about 4 to 6 hours to boil. However, if you use the stovetop method (which is more convenient), then it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.

When preparing a dish, it is imperative to avoid overworking the batter with too much flour, especially when you will not be making a roux.

Alternatively, cornstarch can be substituted for flour.

How to Thicken Mac and Cheese?

Usually, mac and cheese come with tomato sauce and bacon, which gives the dish a smoky and salty flavor. However, sometimes you are looking to make your mac and cheese more creamy to get that gravy-like texture.

It’s not very difficult to accomplish this and it’s also not very time-consuming. The question then arises: how do you thicken mac and cheese?

1. Using Cornstarch

Making your mac and cheese thicker is possible with cornstarch because it is an easy way to achieve that goal.

Once your pasta has finished cooking, all that needs to be done is to add a quarter cup of flour (or corn starch) directly into your pan.

There’s a one-quarter cup of water you’ll need to add if you’re using corn starch.

If you use your hands or a spoon to mix the cornstarch (or flour) into the cheese, it will clump up and turn pasty.

Once this has been done, let the pasta rest for about 5 minutes so that the cheese will thicken, but do not overcook the pasta.

Finally, serve the macaroni with a generous serving of tomato sauce and some crumbled bacon on top.

Alternatively, you can add more cheese if you wish.

2. Using Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta cheese, an alternative to roux or corn starch, can be used to thicken macaroni and cheese.

All you need to make your own is 1-2 cups of milk, 2 tbsp of butter, salt to taste, and vegetable oil for frying.

To replace the milk and butter combination with store-bought ricotta cheese, you’ll need 1-2 cups if you’re ordering it.

After the pasta is done boiling, add the cheese to the mixture, and continue cooking until most of the water evaporates. Stir occasionally, but not so much that your mac and cheese chunks form.

3. Using a Roux

Mac and cheese can be thickened using cornstarch or ricotta; however, if you’re interested in a southern treat, roux (like in gravy) will be the most traditional option.

One tablespoon of butter is all that’s needed for this method, and make sure to whisk it with a quarter cup of flour so that it doesn’t clump up.

Before adding the flour, make sure the butter has melted, then add the flour. However, make sure not to burn the flour or ruin your dish.

Once your macarons are ready, let them sit for a bit so the cheese can set and thicken.

4. Let it Simmer

The best way to thicken your mac and cheese even further is to simmer it for at least 15 minutes rather than using a roux or cornstarch.

In the end, you will have a thicker stew if you cook it longer.

If you want to serve the macarons with crumbled bacon and cheese, you should let them sit for at least 5 minutes before topping them with the cheese and tomato sauce.

5. Use Egg Yolk

Last but not least, you can thicken your mac and cheese with egg yolks.

For each egg yolk, you should beat with a fork, then add to your macaroni, but be careful not to overbeat the eggs or you will have scrambled eggs instead.

Once the egg mixture has been added to the mac and cheese, let it simmer for about 15 minutes, and then serve it alongside a plate of tomato sauce, crumbled bacon, and cheese.

Conclusion

A tasty dish that everyone will enjoy is macaroni and cheese.

You can make it easily at home with the right ingredients and it will taste delicious when you combine them, but you need to add something before serving to make it thick.

When thickening mac and cheese, there are plenty of options that you can try, but you should keep in mind that you shouldn’t burn any of the ingredients.

If you choose to use it this way or that, make sure it’s clean and simple, and your macaroni will be thick enough to change its shape once it’s in your mouth.

If you want to read more about cooking, read here: Cooking Tips and Tricks.