Best 5 20 Minute Mac N Cheese Recipes

THE BEST HOMEMADE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside.Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.
• Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl.
• Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce.
• Melt butter in a deep saucepan, dutch oven, or stock pot.
• Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden.
• Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper.
• Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick.
• Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.
• Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese.
• In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

20-MINUTE MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE - (4.1/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Microwave 2 cups milk at HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes. Melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-low heat; whisk in 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in warm milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, 1 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and, if desired, 1/4 tsp. red pepper until smooth; stir in 1/2 (16-oz.) package elbow macaroni pasta. Spoon pasta mixture into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish; top with extra-sharp Cheddar cheese. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR 20-25

Steps:

• Melt butter in 3 quart or larger kettle, cook onion in butter until soft.
• Add flour mixed with salt, mustard, and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly until bubbly.
• Remove from heat, add milk, stirring or whisking continuously.
• Put back on heat and continue stirring until sauce thickens.
• Remove from heat, stir in worcestershire sauce and cheese.
• Stir until cheese is melted.
• Mix with elbow macaroni cooked according to package directions.
• Bake in a 400°F oven in two buttered 11X15 shallow pans,or three buttered 2 quart casseroles, or two 3 qt casseroles.
• Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then covered for an additional 15-20 minutes.
• Cover with aluminum foil is you don't have lids.
• If baked frozen, bake an additional 20 minutes.

CHEATER'S MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a pot of generously salted boiling water 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and cover to keep warm. Add broccoli to pot; continue boiling until pasta is al dente and broccoli is bright green, 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain.
• Return pot to medium heat; add cream cheese, butter, and 2/3 cup reserved pasta water. Cook, stirring, until mixture is smooth and simmering. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, broccoli, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Toss with more pasta water as needed until sauce clings to pasta. Serve with more Parmigiano and black pepper.

20-MINUTE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, in 3-quart nonstick saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, mustard and pepper. Cook over low heat 20 seconds, stirring constantly, until butter is absorbed. Remove from heat; gradually beat in half-and-half with wire whisk. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese until melted.
• Stir pasta, onions and bell pepper into sauce. Cook, stirring constantly, until hot.