Macaroni and cheese, a classic comfort food loved by people of all ages, is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in various ways. From the traditional baked mac and cheese with a golden brown crust to the quick and easy stovetop version, this dish offers endless possibilities for customization.
This article presents a collection of macaroni and cheese recipes that cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer a creamy and gooey texture, a crispy topping, or a healthier alternative, you'll find a recipe here that will satisfy your cravings. From the classic recipe using cheddar cheese to unique variations featuring different types of cheese, vegetables, and even seafood, these recipes offer a wide range of flavors and textures to tantalize your taste buds. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey and discover the magnificent world of macaroni and cheese!
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.
MAGNIFICENT MACARONI SALAD
Slightly sweet, classic macaroni salad recipe!
Provided by Christine Anne Limon
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Macaroni Salad Recipes
Time 50m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 10
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.
- Rinse macaroni in cold water until cool; drain.
- Stir mayonnaise, onion, parsley, mustard, rice vinegar, sugar, celery seed, and salt together in a bowl; add macaroni and eggs and stir to coat.
- Chill in refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 782.8 calories, Carbohydrate 53.4 g, Cholesterol 152.3 mg, Fat 57.4 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 14 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 718.8 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
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
MEG'S MAGNIFICENT MAC AND CHEESE
Macaroni and Cheese is a touchy dish! It depends entirely on a person's taste whether or not they will enjoy it. I've played around in the kitchen with different recipes and come up with something my family can live with every day all day! Yum! This is my party version, so if you're only cooking for a small dinner or...
Provided by Megan Flores
Categories Other Main Dishes
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350
- 2. Using a very large pot, bring salted water to a boil for macaroni. Boil for about 9-10 minutes. Do not overcook!
- 3. Turn off heat, drain macaroni and return to pot.
- 4. Add cheeses to macaroni
- 5. In a large bowl, whisk butter, sourcream, eggs, salt, pepper and milk until well combined.
- 6. Pour mixture into the pot with the cheese and macaroni. Mix well.
- 7. Spray a large roasting pan (I use the foil pan, since cleaning my own roasting pan is a pain and I'm lazy like that! lol)
- 8. Pour contents of pot into the roaster, even out with spoon.
- 9. Sprinkle extra cheese on top if you desire.
- 10. Bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until browning begins to occur on the top and sides.
- 11. Remove from oven..let stand for 10-15 minutes..ENJOY!
MAGNIFICENT MACARONI AND CHEESE
Another composite recipe sewn together of recipes from my grandmother, mother, celebrity chefs, dear friends, and random dips into the online well. Finally years of baked failures and "pretty good" recipes has come together into a Cheesy Mac that can only be described as "Magnificent."
Provided by PeteVenk
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 1 casserole, 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cook pasta, slightly tougher than al dente, remove from pot, set aside.
- Preheat oven to 325.
- Melt butter.
- Combine butter, flour, and mustard. Whisk to incorporate into butter over medium low heat. Be careful not to brown the flour and whisk enough to eliminate lumps.
- Add milk, half and half, paprika, onion, salt, and bay leaf.
- Bring just to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 8 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf.
- Temper the egg (http://www.ehow.com/how_4731920_temper-an-egg.html).
- Incorporate cheese, one third at a time, ensuring it is all melted before adding the next wave. Reserve about 2 cups for on top.
- Carefully fold in macaroni.
- Move to casserole.
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Combine dry topping ingredients.
- Melt butter in small skillet.
- Toss dry mixture in skillet until coated.
- Top casserole with topping.
- Bake 45 minutes.
- Allow to rest for ten minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.6, Fat 22.2, SaturatedFat 12.6, Cholesterol 79.7, Sodium 604.5, Carbohydrate 32.4, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 5.1, Protein 16.7
MAGNIFICENT MACARONI AND CHEESE
Since I was a young child, my Mother made this. And now that I have a young one and family of my own, I love to share this amazing dish. It's easy to make and the outcome is just pure heaven. Cheesy, comforting, and a classic. Hope you enjoy!!
Provided by jw0486
Categories Macaroni And Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 5-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Tear all 24 slices of cheese into pieces; place in a medium saucepan on low heat.
- Add butter and sprinkle with black pepper to taste.
- Add 2 cups milk just until cheese is almost covered (you can always add more later).
- Add pepper.
- Keep on low to medium heat until completely melted; be sure to constantly stir so it doesn't stick or burn.
- Boil macaroni as directed on package; drain and place in an 11x7 baking dish.
- Pour cheese mixture into macaroni; stir in thoroughly until well mixed. (This is my favorite part, where the magic happens!).
- Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes until edges are bubbling.
- Enjoy!
- The servings listed are as a meal, but it works well as a side dish too!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 719.3, Fat 28.8, SaturatedFat 17.4, Cholesterol 75.6, Sodium 825.6, Carbohydrate 84.5, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 2.8, Protein 29.7
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese. The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. Look for a cheese that is sharp and flavorful, such as cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan.
- Don't overcook the macaroni. Macaroni that is overcooked will be mushy and unpleasant to eat. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, or until it is al dente (still slightly firm to the bite).
- 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 cheese sauce from becoming thin and 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 the cheese sauce to be.
- Add some extras. You can add all sorts of things to your macaroni and cheese to make it even more delicious. Some popular additions include cooked bacon, crumbled sausage, diced tomatoes, and chopped green onions.
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 customized to your own liking. With a few simple tips, you can make a macaroni and cheese that is creamy, cheesy, and delicious. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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