Indulge in a culinary masterpiece with our collection of Extra Sharp Macaroni and Cheese recipes. These tantalizing dishes elevate the classic comfort food to new heights of flavor and texture, using a blend of sharp cheddar cheeses to create a rich, bold taste experience. From the classic baked macaroni and cheese to innovative variations like skillet mac and cheese and creamy sun-dried tomato mac and cheese, our recipes offer a diverse range of options to satisfy any palate. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, making it easy for home cooks of all skill levels to recreate these delectable dishes in their own kitchens.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Kardea Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
- Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
- Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE CASSEROLE
This homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole is the best you've ever had. Tender noodles in a velvety sauce make the perfectly irresistible dish!!
Provided by Holly Nilsson
Categories Casserole Dinner Entree Main Course Pasta
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Cook macaroni al dente (firm) according to package directions. Drain and run under cold water.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan. Whisk in flour and let cook 2 minutes while stirring. Slowly whisk in milk, cream, mustard powder, onion powder, salt & pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat while stirring until thickened.
- Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese & 3 cups cheddar cheese until melted. Add soup if using.
- Toss cheese sauce & macaroni noodles together. Pour into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with remaining cheese.
- Bake 18-24 minutes or until bubbly. Do not over cook. Cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 539 kcal, Carbohydrate 39 g, Protein 24 g, Fat 32 g, SaturatedFat 20 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Sodium 529 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, TransFat 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 10 g, ServingSize 1 serving
EXTRA SHARP MACARONI AND CHEESE
We love creamy, tangy macaroni and cheese, so I was on a quest to create the perfect recipe. After experimenting with several different sauces, this one has fit the bill for us! Cooper sharp, extra sharp cheddar and my secret ingredient, sour cream, gives this mac and cheese the perfect tang we've been looking for!
Provided by Kialono .....
Categories Pasta Sides
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Prepare macaroni according to package, cooking about 1 minute less than it calls for. Drain and place in a 13 x 9 baking dish which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- 2. In a heavy, large sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt and pepper (about a pinch each) and let it sit for about 90 seconds so the flour cooks. Stir with a whisk until the flour is smooth, about 1 minute. Add the milk, slowly at first, to incorporate, whisking quickly. Add the sour cream (it will look lumpy). Whisk frequently until it just about boils, being careful not to let it boil. Add the cheeses, starting with the cooper sharp, a few slices at a time and whisk until incorporated. Add 2 cups of grated cheddar and the tiniest pinch of fresh, grated nutmeg. Don't boil, just whisk until the cheeses are melted and the sauce becomes smooth.
- 3. Pour the sauce over the macaroni (I use all of it because we like it very creamy. If you like a custard-y consistency, leave a little sauce out). Stir the sauce until the macaroni is covered. Top with the remaining 2 cups of grated cheddar. Do not cover. Cook in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45 minutes until it's bubbling. ENJOY!
BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE
In the South, mac 'n cheese is like everyone's favorite aunt-and this best-ever recipe beats out the rest.
Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen
Categories Casserole
Time 1h10m
Yield Serves 10
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium. Add next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup each of shredded Cheddar cheeses until melted. (Reserve remaining 1/4 cup each of shredded cheeses.) Stir in pasta and diced cheeses; pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
- Bake on a rimmed baking sheet in preheated oven until bubbly and golden, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheeses; broil 6 inches from heat until cheeses are melted and golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.
EXTRA RICH-AND-CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
- Combine the evaporated milk, eggs, havarti, Colby jack, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Add the pasta and sour cream to the sauce; toss to coat, then let sit 5 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly. Add the reserved cooking water to loosen, if desired.
MOM'S EXTRA SHARP MAC AND CHEESE
My Mom has been making mac and cheese this way for as long as I can remember. It gets a cheesy crust on top that the family fights for.
Provided by AcadiaTwo
Categories Cheese
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a 2-quart square baking dish place 1/2 a cup of cooked macaroni in a single layer.
- Cover macaroni with cheese evenly.
- Layer another 1/2 a cup of of macaroni on top of the cheese.
- Cover macaroni with cheese evenly.
- Layer another 1/2 a cup of of macaroni on top of the cheese.
- Add the milk.
- Cover macaroni and milk with cheese evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Set the oven to broil and and broil mac, milk and cheese 6"-8" away from broiler for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is browned.
- Warning: HOT, let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This recipe, inspired by Stouffer's macaroni and cheese, delivers the best of all worlds: creamy, saucy comfort, with a consistency that's slightly more set than a stovetop version, thanks to a final bake in the oven. It stays voluptuous and molten as a result of a higher ratio of sauce to noodles, which are cooked completely so they don't soak up as much liquid. The Velveeta is necessary here, as it has sodium citrate, which prevents the sauce from separating in the oven. Elbow macaroni works fine, but cavatappi is an especially fun shape to eat with its telephone-cord bounciness.
Provided by Eric Kim
Time 1h
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until just past al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Return the empty pot to the stove (no need to clean it) and set over medium heat. Melt the butter and simmer, whisking occasionally, until the butter stops spurting and quiets down, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth like gravy, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the milk. Raise the heat to high and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly, then immediately reduce the heat to low and continue simmering until the sauce lightly coats the back of a spoon, 2 to 5 minutes. At this stage, the sauce should be smooth but relatively loose. Take the pot off the heat.
- To the pot, add the Cheddar, Velveeta, Pecorino Romano, mustard powder, onion powder and cayenne, and season generously with salt and black pepper. Whisk until the cheese is melted and smooth like nacho cheese. Add the drained pasta, breaking up any clumps, and stir until evenly coated in the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or dish and bake until bubbling at the edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Baked Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ladyautumn
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 1 casserole, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook macaroni, drain, and place in casserole dish.
- Cook butter, salt, pepper, and flour.
- Add milk and boil for 1 minute.
- Add cheese a few cubes at a time until it all blended.
- Pour over macaroni.
- Bake at 350 until a "crust" is formed, about 30-45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 450.3, Fat 30.9, SaturatedFat 19.4, Cholesterol 90.3, Sodium 573.9, Carbohydrate 27.5, Fiber 1, Sugar 0.7, Protein 15.9
MACARONI AND CHEESE
This macaroni and cheese is served at The Community Kitchen where every weekday a different church serves a meal. I got this recipe from one of the lady's who works for the church. This is gotta to be one of the best macaroni and cheese recipes I've had. My newphews and niece really like this macaroni and cheese and eat it right up.
Provided by internetnut
Categories Cheese
Time 55m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Place melted margarine in a pan. Stir in flour, salt, dry mustard, and white pepper. Add milk and cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese. Pour the sauce over cooked macaroni.
- Bake at 350, covered half of the time, for 40 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 731.2, Fat 32.4, SaturatedFat 19.9, Cholesterol 102.3, Sodium 1330, Carbohydrate 73.4, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 2.5, Protein 35.3
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Macaroni and cheese may seem an easy proposition. Noodles, cheese. But the secret to this creamy dish with a crunchy and crisp top is American cheese. This is no place for fancy cheeses or fancy noodles. Leave the whole-wheat penne and artisanal orecchiette in the cupboard and bring on the elbow pasta.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories brunch, dinner, easy, lunch, weekday, casseroles, main course, side dish
Time 1h15m
Yield 8 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use one tablespoon butter to thickly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine grated cheeses and set aside two heaping cups for topping.
- In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, cheeses, cayenne (if using) and salt to taste. Place in prepared pan and evenly pour milk over surface. Sprinkle reserved cheese on top, dot with remaining butter and bake, uncovered, 45 minutes. Raise heat to 400 degrees and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until crusty on top and bottom.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 291, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 24 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 557 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 1 gram
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your macaroni and cheese.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a little bit of a bite to it.
- Use a good quality cheese. A sharp cheddar cheese is a good choice for macaroni and cheese.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different cheeses. You can use a combination of different cheeses to create a unique flavor.
- Add some other ingredients to your macaroni and cheese. This could include cooked bacon, diced ham, or vegetables.
- Top your macaroni and cheese with a crispy breadcrumb topping. This will add a nice crunch and flavor to the dish.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be easily customized to your own taste. Whether you like it simple or loaded with extras, there's a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try.
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