Macaroni and cheese, a classic comfort dish loved by people of all ages, is a delightful combination of tender pasta, creamy cheese sauce, and a sprinkle of golden-brown breadcrumbs. This versatile dish can be prepared in various ways, each offering unique flavors and textures. From the classic stovetop macaroni and cheese to the gooey baked version, and even a healthier air fryer option, this article presents a collection of easy-to-follow recipes that cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether you're a cheese lover seeking a rich and decadent meal or a health-conscious individual looking for a lighter alternative, you're sure to find the perfect macaroni and cheese recipe here.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.
Provided by g0dluvsugly
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55 g, Cholesterol 99.6 mg, Fat 33.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.5 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 777 mg, Sugar 7.6 g
CHEESY MAC & CHEESE
Everyone comes home for dinner when I make this homemade macaroni and cheese. It also receives great compliments at potlucks. -Debra Sult, Chandler, Arizona
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, cream, half-and-half, sour cream, egg, mustard, cayenne, salt, pepper and nutmeg until smooth., Drain pasta. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Stir in cubed cheeses. Top with cream mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly and golden brown, 30-40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 563 calories, Fat 43g fat (28g saturated fat), Cholesterol 172mg cholesterol, Sodium 648mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.
EASY ONE-POT MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: whole milk, elbow macaroni, butter, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, fresh parsley
Provided by Matthew Johnson
Categories Sides
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large pot on medium-high heat, gently heat the milk to a simmer.
- Add in the elbow macaroni. Cook until the pasta is tender.
- Once the noodles are cooked, turn off the heat. Add in the butter, cheddar, salt, and pepper. Fold these ingredients with the pasta until the cheese and butter melt into the milk to create a thick sauce.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve!
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 758 calories, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 37 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 32 grams, Sugar 12 grams
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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.
EASY MACARONI AND CHEESE
A wonderful and easy Macaroni and cheese recipe. Have dinner ready for the hungry kids quickly. Serve alone or as a side dish.
Provided by Chelsea_
Categories Cheese
Time 25m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Melt butter in a saucepan over a medium heat.
- Stir in flour and salt.
- Add milk and macaroni to saucepan, and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, and cover.
- Simmer for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add cheese, and stir until cheese melts.
- Serve.
EASY CHEESY MACARONI AND CHEESE
I have been making this macaroni and cheese for a while now. It satisfies my cheese craving. This stove top recipe doesn't take much longer than the box stuff, but tastes like homemade without the preservatives. This is definitely comfort food!
Provided by Mary N.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 25m
Yield 3-4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in large saucepan. When melted, whisk in the flour until incorporated and cook for 30 seconds or so until thickened.
- Slowly pour in cream and milk while whisking. Cook until thickened on low heat, whisking frequently. Usually 3-4 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Once all the cheese has melted, add macaroni and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper per taste.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 961.7, Fat 62.5, SaturatedFat 38.7, Cholesterol 205.1, Sodium 528.2, Carbohydrate 71, Fiber 2.7, Sugar 6.7, Protein 29.5
MOZZARELLA MACARONI AND CHEESE
This one-dish wonder super-charges the cheesy flavor, taking ordinary mac and cheese from comfort food to "wow!" food. Follow three easy steps to get this dinner on the table in 30 minutes.
Provided by By Angie McGowan
Categories Entree
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.
- In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Using whisk, stir in flour, salt and garlic. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until mixture smells nutty and is lightly golden, stirring constantly with whisk.
- Add milk. Continue to beat with whisk, scraping bottom of skillet until mixture heats to boiling. Mixture will thicken. Remove from heat; add cheese and basil. Stir with whisk until smooth. Stir in drained macaroni.
- Serve with additional basil leaves if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 570, Carbohydrate 68 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 3 g, Protein 28 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1330 mg, Sugar 8 g, TransFat 1/2 g
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is the ultimate creamy mac and cheese recipe. It's saucy, thick and very rich, with a wonderful cheddar flavor. Once you taste it, you'll be hooked. -Cindy Hartley, Chesapeake, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in sour cream, Velveeta, Parmesan cheese, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth and cheese is melted. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. , Drain macaroni; toss with cheddar cheese. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Stir in cream sauce. , Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 46g fat (30g saturated fat), Cholesterol 143mg cholesterol, Sodium 1141mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will greatly impact the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. Choose a sharp cheddar cheese for a bold flavor, or a milder cheese like mozzarella or fontina for a more subtle flavor.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: You don't want the macaroni to be too soft, or it will become mushy in the cheese sauce. Cook it al dente, so that it still has a slight bite to it.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. This will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin and runny.
- Use milk or broth: You can use either milk or broth to make the cheese sauce. Milk will produce a creamier sauce, while broth will give the sauce a more savory flavor.
- Season the sauce: Don't forget to season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. This will help to enhance the flavor of the dish.
- Add-ins: Feel free to add other ingredients to your macaroni and cheese, such as cooked chicken, bacon, vegetables, or even hot sauce. This will help to create a more unique and flavorful dish.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips and tricks that you can use to make sure that it turns out perfect every time. By following the tips in this article, you can create a delicious and creamy macaroni and cheese that your family and friends will love.
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