Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients, making it a great option for any occasion. This article provides three delicious macaroni and cheese recipes that are sure to please everyone at your table. The first recipe is a classic macaroni and cheese made with a simple cheese sauce and elbow macaroni. The second recipe is a more gourmet version made with a creamy Gruyère sauce and penne pasta. The third recipe is a unique baked macaroni and cheese made with a crispy crumb topping. All three recipes are easy to follow and can be made in under an hour. So, whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special dish for a holiday gathering, these macaroni and cheese recipes are sure to be a hit.
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
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
MAC AND CHEESE WITH BREADCRUMB TOPPING
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish.
- In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in flour, dry seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually stir in the milk; continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture becomes thick and smooth. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir in the grated onion and cheese.
- Pour the macaroni into the casserole dish.
- Pour the sauce over the macaroni and gently mix to blend.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small heavy saucepan and sauté the minced garlic, if desired, in it for 1 minute. Toss the butter with the breadcrumbs and spread them evenly over the macaroni.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the mixture bubbles and the crumb topping turns golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 524 kcal, Carbohydrate 34 g, Cholesterol 93 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 23 g, SaturatedFat 19 g, Sodium 969 mg, Sugar 8 g, Fat 33 g, ServingSize 6 servings, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE WITH CRUNCH CRUMB
Need cheering up? This pasta bake features bacon and parmesan with a cheddar white sauce - a comfort food classic
Provided by Sarah Cook
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Put the bay leaves, leek and milk in a pan, and gently heat until steaming but just below boiling point. Take off the heat and set aside to infuse for 1 hr.
- Drain the milk and discard the leek and bay. Wipe out the pan, then add the butter, flour and mustard powder. Heat, stirring, until the butter has melted, then cook to a paste for 1 min. Splash in some milk gradually and stir until smooth and completely incorporated. Add the rest of the milk, a little at a time at first, then gradually add more as the mixture gets saucy. (If you get any lumps, give it a vigorous whisk to remove them.) Heat, stirring all the time and scraping the bottom of the pan so it doesn't catch, until the sauce is bubbling and nicely thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in 200g of the cheddar and 25g of the parmesan. Season really well - keep tasting, as it will need a generous amount of salt.
- Cook the macaroni following pack instructions, until it is almost tender but still has a bit of chew to it. Drain well, then stir into the cheese sauce with three-quarters of the spring onions. Scrape into a large ovenproof dish or several individual ones.
- Scatter the remaining cheddar over the macaroni, then alternate between draping over pancetta slices (bunching them up a bit) and scattering with the bread cubes and remaining spring onions. (If you keep swapping between ingredients you'll get a nice mix of everything on the top.) Sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and add a very little drizzle of oil - holding your thumb over the bottle so just a trickle comes out. Can now be cooled, covered and chilled for up to 1 day, or frozen for up to 1 month.
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake for 40 mins until bubbling, and crunchy and golden on top (if using individual dishes, check after 30 mins).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1011 calories, Fat 50 grams fat, SaturatedFat 29 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 97 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 14 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 43 grams protein, Sodium 2.5 milligram of sodium
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH CRUMB TOPPING
This is a different Macaroni and Cheese recipe. Some of the recipe can be made 1 day ahead. Great for pot luck. The recipe comes from Bon Appetit.
Provided by Barb G.
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h30m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Mix bread crumbs, Asiago cheese, and paprika in a medium bowl.
- Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add flour and stir 3 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in milk, then mustard and pepper.
- Cook until thickened, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
- Mix in cheese and parsley.
- Cool sauce slightly.
- (Topping and sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate. Rewarm sauce, stirring frequently and thinning with milk if necessary, before continuing). Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Butter 15 x 10 x 2-inch Glass baking dish.
- Cook Macaroni in pot of boiling salted water until just tender BUT still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
- Drain Macaroni.
- Return macaroni to pot; mix in sauce.
- Season to taste with salt.
- Transfer mixture to prepared dish.
- Sprinkle with topping and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
- Bake until cheese is bubbling and crumbs are brown, about 40 minutes.
- Cool slightly and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 529.3, Fat 27.6, SaturatedFat 16.7, Cholesterol 78.8, Sodium 498.8, Carbohydrate 47.5, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 8.2, Protein 22.3
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE!
This is a great recipe for anyone who wants to spend a little more time and work on the details. It's well worth it. This tastes great!
Provided by chefclean
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 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 3 tablespoons butter in a pot over medium heat. Whisk flour and mustard powder into melted butter until smooth, about 5 minutes. Mix milk, onion, paprika, and bay leaf into flour mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove bay leaf from sauce.
- Beat about 2 tablespoons sauce and egg together in a bowl to temper egg. Pour egg mixture into sauce and stir gently. Mix 3/4 of the Cheddar cheese into the sauce until melted and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Fold macaroni into cheese sauce and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese over macaroni mixture.
- Stir panko bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons melted butter together in a bowl; sprinkle over cheese layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and topping is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 463.5 calories, Carbohydrate 39 g, Cholesterol 98.1 mg, Fat 26.5 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 20.4 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, Sodium 680 mg, Sugar 5.8 g
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH A CRUMB TOPPING
Make and share this Baked Macaroni and Cheese With a Crumb Topping recipe from Food.com.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Macaroni And Cheese
Time 1h25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Lightly butter a 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
- Bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil.
- Add the macaroni, stir well, and cook for about 6 minutes.
- The macaroni will still be quite al dente; it will cook further in the oven.
- Do not overcook; drain thoroughly.
- While the pasta is draining, return the pot to the stove, add 4 tablespoons of the butter, and melt over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and reduce the heat to low.
- Let the flour mixture bubble, whisking occasionally, without browning, for 2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the hot milk, raise the heat to medium, and bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until the cheeses are melted.
- Return the macaroni to the pot and stir well.
- Season to taste with salt and hot pepper sauce.
- In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
- Spread the macaroni evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top with the bread crumbs.
- Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the crumbs.
- Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the top is browned, about 40 minutes.
- Serve hot, directly from the baking dish.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 828.4, Fat 42, SaturatedFat 25.7, Cholesterol 121.2, Sodium 603.6, Carbohydrate 76.9, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 3.3, Protein 35.1
CHEESY BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE WITH BUTTER CRUMB TOPPING
Steps:
- In a large pan, cook macaroni according to the package direction using the lesser time-al dente. (The macaroni will continue to cook in the oven.) While the pasta is cooking, crush crackers into large crumbs. You should have about 3/4 cups of cracker crumbs. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a small fry pan or saucier. Add the cracker crumbs to the melted butter and mix. Set this aside. When pasta is ready, drain, put back into pan and set aside.
- Preheat oven 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray or unsalted butter. To prepare, have your flour already measured out and stir the seasonings into the measured milk. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons of butter, and add the onion. Cook for 2-3 minutes until you can smell the onions and the onions are somewhat translucent. Add the flour; cook for 1-2 minute stirring constantly (don't let it burn or brown). Stir in milk and seasonings; cook stirring frequently until mixture boils and becomes thick. Stir the shredded Colby and grated parmigiano-reggiano into your sauce. Pour the cheese sauce into the macaroni and mix.
- Pour the macaroni mixture into a 2-quart, greased or sprayed baking dish. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs all over the top. Bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly and hot.
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
HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE
This is a nice rich mac and cheese. Serve with a salad for a great meatless dinner. Hope you enjoy it.
Provided by Judy
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
- In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
- Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.7 g, Cholesterol 141.6 mg, Fat 48.7 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 37.7 g, SaturatedFat 29.9 g, Sodium 879.3 mg, Sugar 10.7 g
MACARONI AND CHEESE V
This is my mom's recipe for macaroni and cheese with a bread crumb topping and a little dry mustard for zip. It is great!! You can make it more or less cheesy, depends on your taste.
Provided by LEACH
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Place the bread crumbs into a small bowl and mix well with the melted butter; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, then place into prepared casserole dish.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the minced onion and cook until the onion softens and turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the flour, pepper, salt, and dry mustard until incorporated, then pour in the milk and bring to a simmer. Simmer, stirring constantly until the milk has thickened, about 10 minutes. Take the milk off of the heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted. Pour cheese sauce over the macaroni, then sprinkle evenly with buttered bread crumbs.
- Bake until the top is golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 460.8 calories, Carbohydrate 43.9 g, Cholesterol 64.8 mg, Fat 23 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 19 g, SaturatedFat 13.9 g, Sodium 413.6 mg, Sugar 5.1 g
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in 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: Macaroni that is cooked too soft will become mushy in the casserole. Cook it al dente, so that it still has a slight bite to it.
- Make a creamy cheese sauce: The cheese sauce is the heart of macaroni and cheese. Make sure it is smooth and creamy, with a rich flavor.
- Use a variety of toppings: A crispy breadcrumb topping is a classic addition to macaroni and cheese, but you can also experiment with other toppings, such as grated Parmesan cheese, bacon bits, or chopped nuts.
- Bake until golden brown: Bake the macaroni and cheese until the top is golden brown and bubbly. This will ensure that the cheese sauce is melted and gooey, and the topping is crispy.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be easily customized to your own taste. With a few simple tips, you can make a macaroni and cheese that is both delicious and satisfying. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give this macaroni and cheese recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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