Macaroni and cheese, a classic American comfort food, is a dish that brings joy to people of all ages. This versatile dish can be prepared in countless ways, from simple to extravagant, making it a favorite for both everyday meals and special occasions.
In this article, we present a collection of macaroni and cheese recipes that go beyond the classic Kraft dinner. From a traditional baked macaroni and cheese with a crispy breadcrumb topping to a unique skillet macaroni and cheese with bacon and jalapenos, our recipes offer a range of flavors and textures to satisfy every palate. We also include a vegetarian version for those who prefer a meatless option.
Our collection also features a recipe for a healthier macaroni and cheese, made with whole wheat pasta and reduced-fat cheese. For those who love a bit of spice, we have a recipe for a spicy macaroni and cheese with a kick of chili peppers. And for a truly decadent experience, we offer a recipe for a lobster macaroni and cheese, perfect for special occasions or a luxurious dinner party.
With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, our macaroni and cheese recipes are easy to follow, even for novice cooks. So, whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a showstopping dish for a special occasion, our collection has something for everyone.
CRAFTIER THAN KRAFT MACARONI AND CHEESE
This doctored up version of boxed mac and cheese is quick and easy, but good enough to pass off as home-made. RECIPE CORRECTION SUBMITTED TO CORRECT TYPO ON THE MILK. :)
Provided by CookETC
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 25m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Boil salted water and cook the macaroni.
- In a microwaveble bowl, add cream cheese and milk.
- Microwave the cream cheese and milk for about 20 or 30 seconds then stir well so that the cream cheese is melted.
- Drain macaroni and put it back in the pot.
- Add the powder cheese from the box, melted cream cheese/milk combination, butter, Velveeta and cheddar cheese.
- Add seasoning salt, parsley and garlic powder (if you choose to use it).
- Cook over medium heat until all cheese is melted (add small amounts of milk as needed to keep the consitency you like).
- Sprinkle with paprika and serve -- OR top with more shredded Cheddar and bake at 350 degrees for about 5-7 minutes, then sprinkle with paprika before serving.
CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE
Savor a saucy, cheese crowd-pleaser with this Classic Macaroni and Cheese! You can't go wrong this delicious recipe. Watch now to find out how Classic Macaroni and Cheese will leave a lasting impression.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Macaroni & Cheese
Time 40m
Yield 6 servings, 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook and stir 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add 1-1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until melted. Stir in macaroni.
- Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake 20 min. or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 380, Fat 20 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 310 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 16 g
KRAFT HOME-STYLE MACARONI & CHEESE DINNER CLASSIC CHEDDAR
Bring a classic to your table with this always-popular macaroni & cheese recipe. Adults and kids will enjoy it, and you'll take almost no time making it.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 27m
Yield 4 servings, 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat oven to 425ºF.
- Cook Macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package; drain. Do not return macaroni to pan.
- Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook and stir 1 min. Gradually stir in milk; cook 1 to 2 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add Cheese Sauce and macaroni; mix well.
- Spoon macaroni mixture into 1-1/2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; top with shredded cheese and bread crumbs.
- Bake 5 min. or until shredded cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 500, Fat 27 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 65 mg, Sodium 1160 mg, Carbohydrate 47 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, Protein 16 g
UPGRADED KRAFT MAC N CHEESE
This recipe came from a Kraft newsletter. It's very simple, takes the 'blue box' of mac and cheese and adds just a few ingredients and steps to make it taste a bit more homemade. Note that this calls for the "dinner" Kraft mac n cheese, which is the one with the packet of cheese that you squeeze out, not the standard one with the powdered cheese. If you have to use the standard variety, use 2 boxes and add more milk or sour cream, as it tends to dry out during baking.
Provided by jaynine
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 40m
Yield 5 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prepare Mac n Cheese dinner as directed on package.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of the Cheddar cheese, the sour cream and pepper.
- Spoon into greased 1-1/2 quart baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese.
- Combine the melted butter and cracker crumbs and sprinkle over the top.
- Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 318, Fat 21.3, SaturatedFat 10.6, Cholesterol 46.6, Sodium 584.9, Carbohydrate 21.9, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 2.8, Protein 10.1
THE CHEESIEST® CHEESEBURGER MAC
This recipe combines two family favorites-cheeseburgers and mac & cheese-in one tasty 20-minute dish.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 20m
Yield Makes 4 servings, about 1 cup each.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain.
- Add water and Macaroni; stir. Bring to boil; cover. Cook on medium heat 7 to 8 min. or until macaroni is tender.
- Stir in Cheese Sauce Mix, meat and all remaining ingredients. Cook on low heat 1 to 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 500, Fat 25 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Sodium 850 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 8 g, Protein 28 g
EASY KRAFT MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
Steps:
- Preheat over to 400°F. Make the Mac and Cheese as normal, but leave the noodles slightly uncooked still, that "1 more minute" point. While it is cooking fry the ground beef and leave it unseasoned or season as you like, I use a little Montreal Steak Seasoning. Mix the Mac and Cheese, ground beef and tomato soup together.
- Pour into a 9x13 baking dish, top with cheese and a light sprinkle of seasoning salt. I always put this on a cookie sheet, it bubbles over the tiniest amount sometimes.
- Put in oven and bake 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted and slightly golden. Cool for a few minutes, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients. The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your mac and cheese will taste. Use fresh, sharp cheddar cheese, and avoid pre-packaged or processed cheese products.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means cooking it until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will become mushy and ruin the texture of your mac and cheese.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken sauces and gravies. It helps to create a smooth and creamy texture in mac and cheese.
- Use milk and cream. Milk and cream add richness and flavor to mac and cheese. You can use whole milk, 2%, or even skim milk, but the higher the fat content, the richer the flavor will be. You can also use half-and-half or heavy cream for an even richer flavor.
- Add cheese gradually. Add the cheese to the sauce gradually, stirring constantly until it is melted and smooth. This will help to prevent the cheese from curdling.
- Season to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little bit of heat.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you make the best mac and cheese possible. By following the tips in this article, you can create a delicious and creamy mac and cheese that your family and friends will love.
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