Brian in the Kitchen Recipes
BRIAN IN THE KITCHEN brought to you by Stittsworth Meats
September 9 2026
Back To School - Easy Mac and Cheese
Image From sugarspunrun.com
8 oz dried macaroni, about 2 cups
1 cup whole milk
2 Tablespoons salted or unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard, (optional)
1 cup freshly shredded mild or medium cheddar cheese or Colby jack cheese, see note
4 slices American Cheese, see note
Bring 3 cups of well-salted water to a boil in a medium-saucepan over high heat.
Once water comes to boil, add pasta, return to a boil, and cook 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Strain pasta, discarding the water. Leave the pasta in the strainer and return the saucepan to your burner.
Combine milk, butter, salt, pepper and paprika and mustard in the saucepan over medium-low heat and stir frequently over low heat until butter is melted.
Return pasta to saucepan and stir well.
Add cheeses, allow to sit about 30 seconds until slightly melty and then stir until all noodles are coated. Don't turn up the heat or the cheese will not melt properly.
Mixture will seem soupy/thin at first, but turn off the heat and allow it to sit for 5 minutes (stir occasionally) and it will thicken and cling to the noodles.
Serve immediately. Add cooked chicken, cooked hot dogs, or steak bites to make it a full meal.