Best 5 Mack And Cheese Recipes

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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our carefully curated collection of mac and cheese recipes. Embark on a culinary journey that explores diverse flavor profiles, textures, and cooking techniques. From the classic stovetop method to the convenience of the Instant Pot, our recipes cater to every home cook's preference and skill level. Dive into a world of creamy, cheesy goodness, with options ranging from the traditional to the innovative. Prepare to delight your taste buds with a variety of recipes that showcase the versatility of this iconic dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE



Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese image

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

16 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni, large shells, or cavatappi pasta
6 tablespoons salted butter
⅓ cup grated yellow onion
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups milk
1 ¾ cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded, (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided

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.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE



Homemade Mac and Cheese image

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

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

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

MACK AND CHEESE



Mack and Cheese image

Make and share this Mack and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Food.com

Categories     Macaroni And Cheese

Time 1h20m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

1 1/2 lbs raw chorizo sausage
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 ounce shallot, sliced
4 cups heavy cream
6 ounces manchego cheese, freshly grated, plus 1 ounce shaved for garnish
6 ounces mackenzie creamery chevre cheese, crumbled
6 ounces aged parmesan cheese, freshly grated
5 tablespoons tomato paste
4 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 lbs fresh fagiolini pasta or 2 lbs your favorite tubular pasta, par-cooked to al dente
10 ounces goat cheese
8 ounces cooked chorizo sausage, finely chopped
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces manchego cheese, grated
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leave, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pinch fresh ground pepper
2 lbs phyllo pastry sheets
1 lb clarified butter

Steps:

  • Mack and Cheese:.
  • Cook the chorizo in a saute pan over medium heat until browned and almost fully cooked. Add the garlic and shallots and stir until soft and the chorizo is fully cooked. Stir in the heavy cream. Add the Manchego, chevre and Parmesan. Stir in the tomato paste, thyme and pasta in that order. Cook until the cheese is melted and the sauce nicely coats the back of a spoon.
  • To serve, ladle the pasta mixture into bowls and top each serving with a Mack Streudel. Garnish with shaved Manchego.
  • Mack Streudels:.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, combine the goat cheese, chorizo, Cheddar, Manchego, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Place a sheet of phyllo on the counter and brush the entire surface very lightly with clarified butter. Place another phyllo sheet on top of the first sheet and very lightly brush with butter. (Be careful not to soak the sheets with butter.) Repeat layering and buttering the phyllo until you have a stack of 5 layers. Cut the stack crosswise into 5 equal rectangles. Place 1 tablespoon of the cheese filling at one short end of each rectangle and fold up as you would a flag to make triangles. Repeat to make more triangles with the remaining phyllo, butter and filling. Bake for 7 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2467.1, Fat 169.9, SaturatedFat 93.3, Cholesterol 463.5, Sodium 2941.7, Carbohydrate 156.2, Fiber 6.5, Sugar 6.4, Protein 77.9

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE



Baked Mac and Cheese image

Even people who have had their own homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe for years ask for mine when they taste this crumb-topped version. For the best baked mac and cheese, use extra-sharp white cheddar cheese for more flavor. -Shelby Thompson of Dover, Delaware

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 package (16 ounces) uncooked elbow macaroni
1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup butter, divided
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4-1/2 cups 2% milk
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente; drain., In a Dutch oven, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat; saute onion until tender. Stir in flour and seasonings until blended; gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., In a microwave, melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 30-35 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 689 calories, Fat 37g fat (22g saturated fat), Cholesterol 104mg cholesterol, Sodium 834mg sodium, Carbohydrate 62g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

BARBECUE PULLED PORK MAC AND CHEESE



Barbecue Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese image

Tangy barbecue sauce, cheesy mac, and a sprinkling of buttery, toasted Progresso™ bread crumbs team up to make this meal a total hit. Our bbq pulled pork mac and cheese is a super hearty meal that is easy to make whenever the inspiration hits you. The big, bold BBQ flavors add a delicious twist on the classic favorite, now reimagined as pulled pork mac and cheese. It all starts with the pulled pork and a homemade cheese sauce that comes together with just a little bit of whisking. From there, it's only a matter of combining the ingredients and baking them into the best bbq pulled pork mac and cheese.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 1h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 cups cold cooked shredded pork shoulder (from Make-Ahead Oven-Roasted Pulled Pork, thawed)
1 cup barbecue sauce
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (about 9 oz)
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 cups milk
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz)
1 1/2 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
4 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix pulled pork and barbecue sauce. Spoon evenly in baking dish.
  • In 4-quart saucepan, cook and drain macaroni as directed on package, using minimum cook time.
  • In same saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Beat in flour, salt, garlic powder and pepper with whisk until thickened. Cook 1 minute longer. Beat in milk. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently; boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in 3 cups of the cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni; pour into baking dish over pork layer. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top.
  • In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and melted butter; stir until combined. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
  • Bake 36 to 38 minutes or until mixture is bubbly (at least 165°F in center) and bread crumbs are browned.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 550, Carbohydrate 45 g, Cholesterol 90 mg, Fat 3, Fiber 1 g, Protein 25 g, SaturatedFat 15 g, ServingSize About 1 Cup, Sodium 930 mg, Sugar 12 g, TransFat 1/2 g

Tips:

  • Use a quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or try a combination of cheeses for a more complex flavor profile.
  • Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta will hold its shape and texture better when mixed with the cheese sauce.
  • Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the cheese sauce. It also helps to prevent the sauce from curdling.
  • 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 the sauce to be.
  • Season the sauce: Don't forget to season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.
  • Add mix-ins: Feel free to add mix-ins to your mac and cheese, such as cooked bacon, diced ham, or chopped vegetables.
  • Bake or broil: You can bake or broil your mac and cheese to give it a golden brown crust.

Conclusion:

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious mac and cheese that will be the hit of your next party or potluck. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!

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