Welcome to the world of creamy, cheesy, and downright delicious mac and cheese! This classic dish has been a staple in kitchens and hearts for generations, and for good reason. With its comforting flavors and versatility, mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you on a culinary journey through the world of mac and cheese, exploring a variety of recipes that cater to every taste and preference. From the classic stovetop version to baked mac and cheese, and even a healthier version made with cauliflower, we've got you covered.
Our collection includes recipes for the traditionalists, the adventurous, and everyone in between. Whether you prefer a gooey, cheese-pulling mac and cheese or a lighter, healthier version, we've got the perfect recipe for you.
So, grab your apron, fire up the stove, and let's embark on a cheesy adventure!
THE BEST STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE
Our super creamy, quick and easy stovetop mac and cheese is better than the boxed stuff, but just as satisfying. The combo of mild American and sharp Cheddar with cream cheese creates a perfectly balanced sauce that will please even the pickiest of palates.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 35m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
- Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder and paprika; cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and slightly darker, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and comes to a simmer, 7 to 8 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar, American cheese and cream cheese until melted and remove from heat.
- Add the pasta to the sauce; toss, adding some reserved cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt.
"WORLD'S BEST" MAC AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter or oil an 8-inch baking dish.
- Cook the penne 2 minutes less than package directions. (It will finish cooking in the oven.) Rinse the pasta in cold water and set aside.
- Combine the cooked pasta and the sauce in a medium bowl and mix carefully but thoroughly. Scrape the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the cheeses and then the chili powder.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Let the mac and cheese sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Beecher's Flagship Cheese Sauce
- Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Continue whisking and cooking for 2 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
- Add the cheeses, salt, chili powder, and garlic powder. Stir until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are incorporated, about 3 minutes. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- This sauce reheats nicely on the stove in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently so the sauce doesn't scorch.
- Make Ahead
- This recipe can be assembled before baking and frozen for up to 3 months-just be sure to use a freezer-to-oven pan and increase the baking time to 50 minutes.
- notes
- One-half teaspoon of chipotle chili powder makes a spicy mac, so make sure your family and friends can handle it!
- The proportion of pasta to cheese sauce is crucial to the success of the dish. It will look like a lot of sauce for the pasta, but some of the liquid will be absorbed.
BEST EVER MAC AND CHEESE
Creamy comfort food!
Provided by FrackFamily5 CA->CT
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, butter, and cooked macaroni in a large baking dish. Stir in the Cheddar cheese. Arrange the tomatoes on top, then pour the tomato liquid over the casserole. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then mix the macaroni and cheese thoroughly. Continue to bake until lightly browned and bubbly, about 15 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 730 calories, Carbohydrate 61.7 g, Cholesterol 107.9 mg, Fat 40.3 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 30.1 g, SaturatedFat 24.9 g, Sodium 734.7 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
ABSOLUTELY THE BEST BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This is GOOD--trust me! Tastes like a million bucks--maybe 2 million. I like to use cavatappi pasta (double elbows) because they are long and squiggly so they hold a lot of the sauce.
Provided by Aimchick
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter a baking dish or coat with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Sprinkle flour into butter and whisk constantly until you have thick, smooth paste, about 5 minutes.
- Add mustard, red pepper and Worcestershire. Gradually whisk in milk and continue stirring until sauce thickens and returns to simmer.
- Reduce heat to low. Add 3 cups of cheese and stir until melted. Add macaroni, stirring until well coated. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over top, followed by crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden on top.
BEST MAC AND CHEESE EVER!!
This recipe makes the most wonderful creamy rich mac and cheese I've ever had. it is easy to make, looks and tastes wonderful and everyone loves it
Provided by lizzypoo222
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 55m
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350º F.
- Cook noodles as directed on box.
- While noodles are cooking, melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute-mixture will thicken. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring constantly until cheese is melted.
- Drain rinsed noodles. Gently stir into cheese sauce. Pour into un-greased 4-quart casserole.
- Stir together bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over the top of the Mac and Cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until bread crumbs are toasted and cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 564.5, Fat 32.1, SaturatedFat 19.3, Cholesterol 126.2, Sodium 701, Carbohydrate 46.6, Fiber 2, Sugar 6.8, Protein 22.4
BEECHER'S WORLD BEST MAC AND CHEESE
Steps:
- 1. Prepare sauce, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over med. heat. Add flour. Cook, whisking constantly, 2 min. 2. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly. Cook until suace thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. 3. Add cheese, salt, chili pwdr and garlic pwdr. Stir until cheese melts, about 3 min. 5. To prepare pasta, cook pasta 2 min less than package directions. Rinse pasta in cold water and drain well. 6. Combine pasta and sauce in a med bowl: mix thoroughly. Transfer to an 8 in sq baking dish. Sprinkly top with cheese and chili pwdr. 7. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20 min. Let stand 5 min before serving. Serves 4.
Tips:
- Choose the right cheese: For a classic mac and cheese, use a blend of sharp cheddar and Parmesan. If you want a more flavorful dish, try using a combination of different cheeses, such as Gruyère, fontina, or smoked Gouda.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the cheese sauce. To make a roux, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the mixture is golden brown.
- Use milk or cream: Milk or cream is used to thin out the cheese sauce. The amount of milk or cream you use will depend on how thick you want the sauce to be. For a thinner sauce, use more milk or cream. For a thicker sauce, use less milk or cream.
- Season the sauce: Once you've added the milk or cream, season the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. You can also add other spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika, to taste.
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Once the macaroni is cooked, drain it and add it to the cheese sauce.
- Bake the mac and cheese: Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a baking dish and bake it in a preheated oven until the top is golden brown and bubbly. The baking time will vary depending on the size of the baking dish.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips and tricks that you can use to make it even better. By following these tips, you can create a mac and cheese that is creamy, cheesy, and delicious.
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