Macaroni and cheese, a beloved comfort food enjoyed by people of all ages, is a versatile dish with a rich history. Originating in the 14th century, it has undergone numerous transformations, resulting in a diverse range of recipes across cultures. This article presents a collection of macaroni and cheese recipes that cater to various dietary preferences and culinary skills.
From the classic stovetop macaroni and cheese, made with a creamy cheese sauce and tender macaroni, to baked macaroni and cheese, featuring a golden-brown crust and a gooey interior, this article offers a variety of options for a satisfying meal. Additionally, there are recipes for one-pot macaroni and cheese, perfect for busy individuals seeking a quick and easy option, and slow-cooker macaroni and cheese, ideal for those who prefer a hands-off cooking experience.
For those with dietary restrictions, there are gluten-free and vegan macaroni and cheese recipes that provide the same comforting flavors without compromising on taste. The vegan recipe uses a combination of plant-based ingredients to create a creamy and flavorful cheese sauce, while the gluten-free recipe utilizes a special blend of flours to achieve the perfect texture.
Whether you're a seasoned cook looking to elevate your macaroni and cheese game or a beginner seeking a simple and delicious recipe, this article has something for everyone. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.
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
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.
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Try Ree Drummond's creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food Network.
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook the macaroni until still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg. In a large pot, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, whisking constantly. Don't let it burn. Pour in the milk, add the mustard and whisk until smooth. Cook until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
- Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Whisk together until smooth. Pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in the cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and the pepper. Add any additional spices if desired. Taste the sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! DO NOT UNDERSALT.
- Pour in the drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (while it's still very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly and golden on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and cut into bite-size pieces.
- In a separate pan, cook the onions in the butter over a low heat until caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Use a fork to crumble the gorgonzola.
- Put the bacon, caramelized onions and crumbled gorgonzola into separate bowls. Serve as delicious toppings for both sliders and macaroni cheese.
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
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
A friend of mine sent this recipe to me when I got my first apartment, because she knows how much I hate cooking! It's really easy -- even I can make it -- and tastes great. I'm not sure where she found the recipe, but it included the note 'Good source of protein, vitamin A, B group vitamins, calcium.'
Provided by Meredith
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Yield 3
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a large pot of salted water, lightly boil the macaroni for about 5 minutes until half-cooked.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a large cup. Add butter and cheese to the egg and milk. Stir well.
- Place the lightly cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese liquid over the macaroni, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stir well. Press the mixture evenly around the baking dish.
- Bake uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 968.1 calories, Carbohydrate 92.6 g, Cholesterol 194.2 mg, Fat 45.4 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 45.6 g, SaturatedFat 27.6 g, Sodium 736 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Trisha Yearwood
Categories side-dish
Time 50m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- For the macaroni: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the salt and macaroni. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the macaroni until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain well.
- For the cheese sauce: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Using a wire whisk, stir in the flour and salt, stirring and cooking over medium heat until the roux bubbles and the flour turns pale brown, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk and then whisk in the remaining 1 cup milk. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese and stir until it melts. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix thoroughly.
- For the topping: In a small bowl, stir the breadcrumbs with the butter until the crumbs are moistened.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Bake until the dish bubbles around the edges, about 15 minutes.
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Patrick and Gina Neely : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h5m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Add flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk in the warmed milk and bring to a boil, continue to whisk constantly. The mixture will thicken as the heat increases. Continue to stir while adding
- the dry mustard, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, pepper, hot sauce and Worcestershire. Stir in the 3 cups of Cheddar until it melts.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles and add to a 3 quart casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the chips, bacon and Parmesan on top and bake for 35 minutes.
DELUXE MACARONI 'N' CHEESE
Our six grandchildren, who don't think a meal is complete without macaroni and cheese, love this creamy version featuring cheddar and cottage cheese.-Bertha Johnson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, egg, salt, garlic salt and pepper. Add cheddar cheese; mix well. Add macaroni and stir until coated. , Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with paprika if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 255 calories, Fat 13g fat (9g saturated fat), Cholesterol 71mg cholesterol, Sodium 492mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 14g protein.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese: Opt for flavorful, sharp cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyère for a richer taste.
- Choose the right pasta: Select a small, sturdy pasta like macaroni or elbow macaroni that will hold the cheese sauce well.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Slightly undercook the pasta so it maintains a slight bite and doesn't become mushy when combined with the cheese sauce.
- Make a roux: To create a smooth and creamy cheese sauce, start by making a roux with butter and flour. This will help thicken the sauce and prevent it from curdling.
- Use milk or cream: For a richer sauce, use a combination of milk and cream. For a lighter sauce, use milk or even evaporated milk.
- Season the sauce: Don't forget to season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne or paprika for a touch of spice.
- Add mix-ins: Feel free to customize your macaroni and cheese with your favorite additions such as cooked bacon, diced ham, sautéed vegetables, or even lobster.
- Use a variety of cheeses: Experiment with different types of cheeses to create a unique flavor profile. Try a blend of sharp cheddar, Parmesan, Gruyère, and Fontina for a rich and flavorful sauce.
- Top with breadcrumbs: For a golden brown and crispy topping, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the macaroni and cheese before baking.
- Bake until bubbly: Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown on top. This ensures that the cheese sauce is heated evenly and melted throughout.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a versatile and comforting dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its creamy, cheesy goodness, it's a classic that never goes out of style. Whether you're looking for a simple weeknight meal or a special occasion dish, macaroni and cheese is always a great choice. Experiment with different cheeses, mix-ins, and toppings to create your own signature macaroni and cheese recipe.
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