Best 5 Basic Elbow Macaroni Recipes

BASIC ELBOW MACARONI

Steps:

• In a large kettle, bring water to a boil. Add macaroni; return to boil. Cook, uncovered, for 6-8 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Rinse and drain.

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.

ELBOW MACARONI WITH CRISPY BREADCRUMBS AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the breadcrumbs and toast, stirring constantly, until they are crisp and golden, 4 to 5 minutes, taking care not to let them burn. Scrape into a small bowl and toss with the lemon zest and parsley and then season with salt.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until al dente while you make the sauce. Wipe out the skillet used to toast the breadcrumbs and return it to medium-high heat. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil and, when the oil is hot, add the broccoli and toss to coat. Saute until it turns bright green, 2 to 3 minutes, then add the garlic and pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute, then pour in the stock. Simmer until the broccoli is tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• When the pasta is done, scoop it out of the water with a spider or a small strainer and add directly to the sauce, reserving the pasta water. Simmer the pasta with the sauce just to blend the flavors, 1 to 2 more minutes, then drizzle with a tablespoon or so of olive oil and toss again.
• If the sauce seems dry, add up to 1/2 cup pasta water. Off the heat, stir in the cheese. Serve in warmed bowls and sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.

BAKED ELBOW MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt and reducing the cooking time by 2 min. Rinse macaroni under cold water; drain. Combine shredded cheeses; reserve 1/2 cup for topping.
• Melt 5 Tbsp. butter in Dutch oven on low heat. Add flour; mix well. Cook 2 min. or until hot and bubbly, stirring constantly. (Do not cook until browned.)
• Whisk milk gradually into butter mixture; cook on medium heat 5 min. or until sauce comes to boil and thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
• Add remaining shredded cheese mixture to the sauce along with the VELVEETA, blue cheese, mustard and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan; cook 3 to 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted, stirring constantly. Add macaroni; mix well. Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Melt remaining butter; mix with bread crumbs, reserved shredded cheese mixture and remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until top is golden brown, and macaroni and cheese is hot and bubbly around edges.

EASY ELBOW MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water to cool.
• In large bowl combine mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
• Add macaroni, celery, green pepper and onion; toss to coat.
• Cover; chill to blend flavors.