Best 6 Amanda Hessers Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Prepare to indulge in a symphony of cheese and pasta with this extraordinary Macaroni and Cheese extravaganza. Discover three tantalizing variations that cater to every palate. Dive into the classic baked macaroni and cheese, where gooey cheddar and béchamel create a golden masterpiece. Experience the delightful skillet macaroni and cheese, where a crispy crust meets tender pasta, and the irresistibly creamy baked macaroni and cheese for two, perfect for an intimate dinner. Each recipe offers a unique twist on the beloved classic, promising an unforgettable culinary journey. From the first bite to the last, satisfaction awaits.

Let's cook with our recipes!

CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

This recipe, inspired by Stouffer's macaroni and cheese, delivers the best of all worlds: creamy, saucy comfort, with a consistency that's slightly more set than a stovetop version, thanks to a final bake in the oven. It stays voluptuous and molten as a result of a higher ratio of sauce to noodles, which are cooked completely so they don't soak up as much liquid. The Velveeta is necessary here, as it has sodium citrate, which prevents the sauce from separating in the oven. Elbow macaroni works fine, but cavatappi is an especially fun shape to eat with its telephone-cord bounciness.

Provided by Eric Kim

Time 1h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Salt
1 pound cavatappi or elbow macaroni
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups whole milk
1 pound sharp or extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, coarsely grated (5 1/4 cups)
8 ounces Velveeta, torn into pieces
4 ounces Pecorino Romano, coarsely grated (1 cup)
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of ground cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until just past al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Return the empty pot to the stove (no need to clean it) and set over medium heat. Melt the butter and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the butter stops spurting and quiets down, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth like gravy, about 1 minute.
  • Whisk in the milk. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then immediately reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, 2 to 5 minutes. At this stage, the sauce should be smooth but relatively loose. Take the pot off the heat.
  • To the pot, add the Cheddar, Velveeta, Pecorino Romano, mustard powder, onion powder and cayenne, and season generously with salt and black pepper. Whisk until the cheese is melted and smooth like nacho cheese. Add the drained pasta, breaking up any clumps, and stir until evenly coated in the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or dish and bake until bubbling at the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

THE BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE



The Best Macaroni and Cheese image

Amanda Hesser brought this recipe to The Times in a 1998 article about a return to simply-prepared, down-home foods in response to the brash, over-the-top 90's style of cooking. It's an adaptation of one found in Pam Anderson's book, "The Perfect Recipe," and it calls for stirring the mixture every five minutes while it is baking. This gives it the ideal balance of lightness and creaminess -- a detail that is missing from most macaroni and cheese recipes.

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Categories     dinner, weekday, casseroles, editors' pick, pastas, main course

Time 1h

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup fresh bread crumbs from French or Italian bread
2 teaspoons salt, plus a pinch
1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, plus 4 tablespoons butter at room temperature
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
2 large eggs
12 ounces evaporated milk, heated until warm
1/4 teaspoon hot red-pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard, dissolved in 1 teaspoon water
10 to 12 ounces mild cheddar cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a 1 1/2-quart heat-proof dish, such as a souffle pan, in oven to warm.
  • In a small baking pan, combine bread crumbs, a pinch of salt and the melted butter. Mix well and set aside.
  • In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and the macaroni. Cook until almost tender but still a little firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to preheated dish. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
  • In a small bowl, combine eggs, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, the pepper sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the mustard mixture. Mix well. Pour egg mixture over macaroni. Add 3/4 of the cheese, and stir until thoroughly combined and cheese starts to melt.
  • Place dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Remove dish from oven and add about half of the remaining evaporated milk, and half of the remaining cheese. Stir well, and return pan to oven. Bake 5 minutes longer, remove pan from oven, and stir thoroughly. If mixture does not look moist and creamy, add a little more of the milk and cheese. Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes, removing pan from oven halfway through to stir in remaining evaporated milk and cheese.
  • While macaroni is baking, add pan of bread crumbs to oven. Bake until bread crumbs are toasted and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. When macaroni has baked, sprinkle surface with toasted bread crumbs, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 824, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 39 grams, SaturatedFat 23 grams, Sodium 829 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram

AMANDA HESSER'S MACARONI AND CHEESE



Amanda Hesser's Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this Amanda Hesser's Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by laurayelp

Categories     Cheese

Time 45m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 tablespoons butter, plus more for buttering dish
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups grated monterey jack cheese
3 1/2 cups cooked elbow macaroni
1 cup canned italian tomatoes with juice, drained (reserve the juice)
3/4 cup coarse breadcrumbs
ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350, and butter a casserole dish.
  • In a saucepan, heat the two tablespoons butter until foamy. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until it turns golden, then slowly pour in the milk, continuing to whisk.
  • Bring to a simmer over medium heat and let it thicken.
  • Stir in the cheese and remove from the heat (it should be a loose sauce). Fold in the macaroni, then add tomatoes by squeezing them between your fingers. The mixture should be loose like a thin batter; if it's gluey or thick, add a little milk or drained tomato juice.
  • Pour into the casserole dish and spread breadcrumbs over the surface. Top with 1/4 cup cheese and ground pepper. Bake until browned on the top and bubbling, about 25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 585, Fat 25.4, SaturatedFat 15, Cholesterol 70.1, Sodium 554.1, Carbohydrate 63.7, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 3.7, Protein 25.1

TUNA-MACARONI SALAD



Tuna-Macaroni Salad image

If there is such a thing as comfort salad, then this is it: A cold and creamy, mayonnaise-laden pasta that evokes your grandma's "tuna mac," but made a touch more sophisticated with the addition of cornichons and scallions. Amanda Hesser picked up the recipe, in 2006, from Clementine, a bakery and cafe in Los Angeles known for "its stylish take on home-style cooking." They were selling it for about 9 bucks a quart, but you can make it at home for about a quarter of that. Thankfully, it's no more difficult to make than Grandma's. Just boil up some macaroni and drain. Combine with two cans of tuna (if you're feeling flush, you can add chunks of cooked fresh tuna like we did for the photo) one cup of mayonnaise, chopped celery, cubed Cheddar cheese, sliced scallions and cornichons and two spoonfuls of chowchow, a green tomato relish that's an optional addition. Season well with freshly ground black pepper and serve cold.

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Categories     easy, quick, pastas, salads and dressings, side dish

Time 20m

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

Salt
1/2 pound uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup 1/4 -inch diced celery
2 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/4 -inch cubes
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/4 cup sliced cornichon rounds
2 tablespoons mild Tennessee chow chow (optional)
1 cup mayonnaise
2 6-ounce cans chunk light tuna in water, drained
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook. Drain and cool completely.
  • In a large bowl, fold together the macaroni with the remaining ingredients. Season.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 541, UnsaturatedFat 27 grams, Carbohydrate 30 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 28 grams, SaturatedFat 7 grams, Sodium 553 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams

SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE



Southern Macaroni and Cheese image

There is macaroni and cheese, and then there is special occasion macaroni and cheese like this one. Unlike most recipes, which start with a roux, this one begins with a milk-and-egg base, which gives the dish an incredibly rich, silky taste. It's adapted from Millie Peartree, the owner of Millie Peartree Fish Fry & Soul Food restaurant in the Bronx, who has been making this dish since she was a little girl. The recipe was passed down in her family for generations, but because of the generous amount of cheese used, the dish was only made for events like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Extra-sharp Cheddar adds tartness and a layer of Colby Jack creates a gooey, molten center. If you can't find a Colby Jack blend, shredded mozzarella or a Mexican-style blend will work in its place.

Provided by Kiera Wright-Ruiz

Categories     dinner, weeknight, casseroles, noodles, pastas, main course, side dish

Time 45m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs
4 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar (about 16 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
2 cups shredded Colby Jack (about 8 ounces)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions until a little under al dente, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk milk and eggs. Add cooked macaroni, 2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, melted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until well combined.
  • Add half the macaroni mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Colby Jack evenly on top. Spread the remaining macaroni mixture on top in an even layer. Cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil. Top the macaroni mixture with the remaining 2 cups Cheddar and 1/2 cup Colby Jack. Broil on top rack until cheese is browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes. (The broiled cheese can go from golden to burnt fairly quickly, so keep a close eye on it.)
  • Remove from oven and let cool until the macaroni and cheese is fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. (The mixture may first appear jiggly, but it will firm up as it cools.) Serve warm.

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

Think Stouffer's without the freezer. While it can be enjoyed straight from the pot, this macaroni and cheese has a slightly looser sauce than the stovetop variety to allow for thickening in the oven. Bread crumbs, while optional, make it truly spectacular.

Provided by Alison Roman

Categories     dinner, lunch, casseroles, pastas, main course, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 teaspoon smoked or hot paprika
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar cheese, grated
12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated
1 cup coarse bread crumbs or panko
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
  • Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
  • Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
  • Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
  • Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1076, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 85 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 46 grams, SaturatedFat 31 grams, Sodium 1027 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram

Tips:

  • Use a combination of cheeses for a more complex flavor. Amanda Hesser's recipe calls for sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan, but you can experiment with other combinations, such as fontina, mozzarella, and Gouda.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. Cook the pasta until it is al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy in the casserole.
  • Make sure the cheese sauce is thick and creamy. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the pasta evenly, but not so thick that it is difficult to stir.
  • Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will give it a crispy top and a creamy, gooey interior.
  • Serve the macaroni and cheese immediately. This dish is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven.

Conclusion:

Amanda Hesser's macaroni and cheese recipe is a classic for a reason. It is simple to make, yet delicious and satisfying. With its combination of creamy cheese sauce, tender pasta, and crispy bread crumbs, this dish is sure to please everyone at your table. So next time you are looking for a comfort food classic, give Amanda Hesser's macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics