Step 1

Heat oven to 400 degrees with rack in the middle of oven.

Step 2

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour to melted butter and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes.

Step 3

Slowly whisk in milk a little at a time. The slower you add the milk the thicker the sauce will be.

Step 4

Stir in 1 pound of cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese into the sauce. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup parmesan for the top.

Step 5

Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder and nutmeg to the sauce, stir until combined.

Step 6

Stir together the cooked macaroni noodles and the sauce and transfer to a 9 x 13 baking dish, that has been prepped with cooking spray if needed. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in the oven until golden and bubbling, 20-25 minutes.

Step 7

Sprinkle with flat leaf parsley if desired.