Indulge in a delightful culinary experience with our exquisite baked mac and cheese recipes, crafted to perfection for two. Embark on a journey of flavors with our classic baked mac and cheese, featuring a creamy béchamel sauce, perfectly cooked macaroni, and a golden-brown crust. For a touch of elegance, try our lobster mac and cheese, where succulent lobster meat elevates the dish to a luxurious masterpiece. If you prefer a vegetarian delight, our butternut squash mac and cheese offers a vibrant twist, combining the sweetness of butternut squash with the richness of cheese. And for those who love a kick, our jalapeño mac and cheese brings the heat with a spicy twist that will tantalize your taste buds. Each recipe promises a unique and unforgettable gastronomic adventure, ensuring a satisfying meal that will leave you craving more.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR TWO
This is one of those dishes that our family calls "a Mama recipe." My mother rarely consulted a cookbook, so when asked for a recipe, she could only estimate. I've worked out the ingredients to make it for two, but it can easily be doubled. It's simply a good, wholesome dish most folks seem to enjoy. -Betty Allen, East Point, Georgia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 40m
Yield 2 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, combine macaroni, cheese, milk, egg and salt; mix well. Pour into a greased 1-qt. shallow baking dish; dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 447 calories, Fat 27g fat (18g saturated fat), Cholesterol 190mg cholesterol, Sodium 1050mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 21g protein.
ULTIMATE MAC 'N' CHEESE CASSEROLE FOR TWO
Ooey-gooey, cheesy and bacon-y pasta: It's all here, and it will surely tempt you. Why? Because the orecchiette pasta is covered with the silkiest sauce of gruyere and sharp white Cheddar. Because crispy bacon pieces are sprinkled throughout the dish and on the top. Need I say more? The orecchiette pasta is the perfect shape for this dish because the cheese and bacon nestle into the pasta's earlike grooves to give you the ultimate mac 'n' cheese experience.
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and lightly spray a 2-quart oven-safe casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, following the directions on the pasta package. (You'll want it to still have a bite to it because it will finish cooking in the oven.) Drain well.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking vigorously, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue to whisk as you add the milk, then let the mixture gently come to a simmer and thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Add the Cheddar and gruyere and stir together with a spatula until all the cheese has melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and gently toss until everything is covered. Sprinkle half the bacon into the skillet and toss to incorporate. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remainder of the bacon, then bake, uncovered, until the mixture is bubbly and the pasta is cooked through, 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
CREAMY MACARONI & CHEESE - FOR TWO OR ONE
I shouldn't be surprised that there are more than 600 recipes for this dish. After reading many, many of them, I have come to the conclusion that this one has it's place here at Zaar. The sauce is smooth and creamy, with little pockets of melted cheese throughout. I hope you like this as much as I do. Cooking time includes the making of the sauce and baking.
Provided by Diana 2
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 40m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven at 350°F.
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al-dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the milk in the microwave, on high for 1-1/2 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add salt, pepper and chopped onion. Sauté on medium heat, until the onion is transparent and soft, but not brown.
- Sprinkle the flour on top, and allow the butter to absorb some of it before stirring.
- Add the hot milk in 3 additions, stirring constantly. The mixture will get thick very quickly.
- After the final addition of milk, continue heating the mixture, on medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and bubbly.
- *Remove from heat* and stir in the grated cheese, chives and red pepper flakes.
- Add the drained pasta and mix well.
- Fold in the cubed cheese.
- Pour into two greased onion soup bowls.
- Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool a bit before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 701.2, Fat 41.8, SaturatedFat 26.1, Cholesterol 126.7, Sodium 924.2, Carbohydrate 51.3, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 3.4, Protein 30.2
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese. A sharp cheddar or Gruyère will give your mac and cheese a rich, flavorful taste.
- Don't overcook the macaroni. Al dente pasta is the best choice for mac and cheese, as it will hold its shape and not become mushy.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the cheese sauce. This will give your mac and cheese a smooth, creamy texture.
- Add some extras. Feel free to add other ingredients to your mac and cheese, such as cooked bacon, diced tomatoes, or chopped green onions. This will give your dish a unique flavor and make it more visually appealing.
- Serve immediately. Mac and cheese is best served hot and fresh out of the oven. This will ensure that the cheese sauce is melted and gooey.
Conclusion:
Baked mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is perfect for any occasion. It's easy to make, delicious, and customizable. Whether you're serving it to your family or friends, this dish is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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