Indulge in the classic comfort food that has stolen hearts for generations - macaroni and cheese. This iconic dish is a symphony of flavors, textures, and nostalgia. A harmonious blend of creamy cheese sauce blanketing perfectly cooked macaroni, topped with a golden-brown crust that adds an extra layer of delight. In this article, we present you with not just one, but a collection of exceptional macaroni and cheese recipes that will cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. From the classic stovetop version, a quick and easy microwave recipe, to gluten-free and vegan alternatives, we have something for every macaroni and cheese enthusiast. Prepare to embark on a culinary journey where gooey cheese, tender pasta, and a symphony of seasonings unite to create a dish that will warm your heart and satisfy your taste buds. So, grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and let's dive into the world of macaroni and cheese.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
ULTIMATE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is America's favorite comfort food--tender macaroni, rich and cheesy sauce and a crisp crumb topping.
Provided by McCormick Spice
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips McCormick®
Time 1h
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package for al dente pasta. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
- Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook 3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add macaroni; toss gently to coat. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix panko and paprika; sprinkle evenly over top.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Cholesterol 64.9 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 19.2 g, SaturatedFat 13.5 g, Sodium 550 mg, Sugar 4.1 g
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.
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Think Stouffer's without the freezer. While it can be enjoyed straight from the pot, this macaroni and cheese has a slightly looser sauce than the stovetop variety to allow for thickening in the oven. Bread crumbs, while optional, make it truly spectacular.
Provided by Alison Roman
Categories dinner, lunch, casseroles, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
- Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
- Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1076, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 85 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 46 grams, SaturatedFat 31 grams, Sodium 1027 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram
KILEN'S ULTIMATE MACARONI-N-CHEESE
My 14-year-old son thought up this recipe. He likes mac-n-cheese but wanted something different, so he started to mix things up and came up with a great combination!
Provided by staciw
Categories Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Time 20m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 5
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 and return pasta to pot. Stir butter and milk into macaroni until sauce is smooth.
- Mix croutons and mozzarella cheese into macaroni and cheese until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 306.4 calories, Carbohydrate 34.2 g, Cholesterol 38.3 mg, Fat 13.9 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 11 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 545.9 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
ULTIMATE MACARONI CHEESE
Learn how to make perfect macaroni cheese every time with this recipe
Provided by Angela Nilsen
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 1h10m
Yield Serves 4 generously, with enough for seconds
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Making macaroni cheese is a bit of a juggling act, so it's easier if you get a few things prepared ahead. Finely grate all the cheeses, keeping them separate. Tear the bread into pieces and whizz in a food processor to coarse crumbs. Mix 25g of the cheddar and one-third of the parmesan into the breadcrumbs. Toss the rest of the cheeses together and set aside. Thickly slice the tomatoes. Butter a dish, about 30 x 20 x 5.5cm. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
- Put a pan of water on to boil. Tip the macaroni into the boiling water, stir and bring it back to the boil. Simmer for 8 mins, or cook according to pack instructions, stirring occasionally to stop it sticking. While this is cooking, start the sauce.
- Warm the milk in a jug in the microwave (or in a pan). Melt the butter in a pan (big enough to take the macaroni as well), then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 min, stirring, then take off the heat. Pour in one-third of the warm milk and beat well with a wooden spoon until smooth - it is quite thick at this stage. Add another third - it may go a bit lumpy, but keep beating well and it will go smooth again. Pour in the final third of milk and keep beating until smooth.
- When the macaroni is done, tip it into a colander and put it briefly under very hot running water to keep it separate. Drain. Put the pan of sauce back on the heat and cook, stirring, until thickened and smooth. Lower the heat and simmer for about 4 mins until glossy, stirring every now and then. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese and mustard, then beat in 5 tbsp milk, or enough to give a slack coating consistency. Taste and season (you shouldn't need much salt). If the macaroni is sticking at all, put it under the hot tap again, then stir to separate. Drain well, then gently mix it into the sauce and stir to coat completely. If necessary, adjust the consistency again with milk. There should be enough sauce to coat the macaroni thickly and liberally.
- Tip the macaroni cheese into the buttered dish, scatter over the cheesy crumbs and lay the tomatoes casually over the top. Heat through in the oven for 12-15 mins until beginning to bubble around the edges. Grill for 3-5 mins to brown the crumbs. Let it all settle for 1-2 mins, then serve while still piping hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 819 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 26 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 78 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 36 grams protein, Sodium 2.03 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will greatly affect the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or experiment with different types of cheeses to create your own unique dish.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will make your dish mushy.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. A roux will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or watery.
- Use milk or cream: Milk or cream will help to make the cheese sauce smooth and creamy. You can use whole milk, low-fat milk, or even heavy cream, depending on how rich you want your sauce to be.
- Season the sauce: Don't forget to season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. A little bit of garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika can go a long way.
- Top with breadcrumbs: A crispy, golden brown breadcrumb topping is the perfect finishing touch for macaroni and cheese. You can use panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, or even crushed crackers.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With so many different ways to make it, there's sure to be a recipe out there that everyone will love. Whether you like your macaroni and cheese simple or cheesy, baked or fried, there's a recipe out there for you. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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