Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our collection of mild and creamy macaroni and cheese recipes. Embark on a culinary journey to discover a range of delightful variations, each offering a unique twist on the classic dish. From traditional baked macaroni and cheese to innovative skillet and slow-cooker versions, our recipes cater to every taste and occasion.
Prepare to be captivated by the classic baked macaroni and cheese, a timeless recipe that delivers a golden-brown crust and a velvety smooth interior. Experience the magic of a skillet macaroni and cheese, where the pasta and cheese sauce come together in a single pan for a quick and satisfying meal. If you prefer a hassle-free option, the slow-cooker macaroni and cheese will become your go-to dish, effortlessly creating a creamy and comforting casserole.
For those seeking a healthier alternative, the lightened-up macaroni and cheese is a guilt-free indulgence, featuring whole-wheat pasta and a reduced-fat cheese sauce. Craving a touch of elegance? The gourmet macaroni and cheese incorporates a blend of cheeses, roasted vegetables, and a crispy breadcrumb topping, elevating the dish to a restaurant-worthy masterpiece.
Additionally, our macaroni and cheese recipes offer a variety of flavor combinations to tantalize your taste buds. Experiment with the four-cheese macaroni and cheese, combining cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses for a rich and flavorful experience. Add a touch of spice with the jalapeno macaroni and cheese, where diced jalapenos and a hint of cayenne pepper create a delightful warmth. If you prefer a smoky twist, the bacon and smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese is sure to satisfy, featuring crispy bacon and the bold flavor of smoked Gouda cheese.
No matter your preference, our mild and creamy macaroni and cheese recipes guarantee a satisfying meal that will warm your heart and soul.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is the ultimate creamy mac and cheese recipe. It's saucy, thick and very rich, with a wonderful cheddar flavor. Once you taste it, you'll be hooked. -Cindy Hartley, Chesapeake, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in sour cream, Velveeta, Parmesan cheese, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth and cheese is melted. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. , Drain macaroni; toss with cheddar cheese. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Stir in cream sauce. , Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 46g fat (30g saturated fat), Cholesterol 143mg cholesterol, Sodium 1141mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is my absolute very favorite macaroni and cheese recipe and I have a large collection of m/c recipes. Adapted from Southern Living. I don't make this very often because I could literally eat the whole thing and lick the dish clean.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Cheese
Time 1h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a big skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
- Whisk the flour in gradually until the mixture is smooth.
- Cook and whisk continually for 2 minutes.
- Add in salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic; stir to combine.
- Gradually whisk in half-and-half and milk.
- Cook and whisk continually for 8-10 minutes or until mixture is thickened.
- Add in half of the sharp cheddar cheese; stir.
- Add in all of the extra-sharp cheddar cheese; stir until smooth.
- Take skillet off stove burner.
- Mix together the cooked macaroni and cheese mixture; transfer to a greased 13x9 inch casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with the remaining sharp cheddar cheese.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes (may need to bake longer for a crispy top).
MILD AND CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
A nice, mild mac 'n cheese, no sharp flavors here. Very creamy with the addition of baked tomato slices on top.
Provided by JoAnn
Categories Grains
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook macaroni and drain.
- Melt butter in pan.
- Remove from heat and stir in salt, pepper and flour until smooth, making a light roux.
- Gradually stir in milk.
- Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Reduce heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese.
- Add macaroni.
- Pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole.
- Arrange tomato slices on top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
Macaroni and cheese is perfect supper food. It's a kids' favorite, and adults like it too. My recipe is simple and almost as quick as the boxed variety.
Provided by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Bring 2 quarts of water to boil in large soup kettle. Add salt and pasta. Using package directions as a guide, cook until al dente. Drain. To prevent sticking, drain and immediately pour onto a large lipped baking sheet and let cool while preparing sauce.
- Meanwhile, microwave the milk and chicken broth in a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup or bowl until hot and steamy (not boiling). Melt butter in the empty pasta pot; whisk in flour, then hot milk mixture. Continue to whisk until thick and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in mustard, Parmesan and pepper. Turn off heat, stir in cheddar until melted.
- Add drained pasta (and optional flavoring ingredients, see notes) to sauce, and stir until everything is well combined over low heat. Stir to heat through, and thin with a little water if the sauce is too thick. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 529.1 calories, Carbohydrate 47.1 g, Cholesterol 82.3 mg, Fat 26.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 25.1 g, SaturatedFat 16.1 g, Sodium 1202.9 mg, Sugar 8.5 g
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This baked mac and cheese - perfect for a large crowd or as a side dish - is super simple to make. The cream cheese gives it richness and a little tang.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield Serves 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Set an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it is al dente, about 6 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 3/4 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
- Heat the half-and-half and cayenne in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering until the half-and-half is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the macaroni and the reserved pasta water to the saucepan and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will suck up a lot of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if needed. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Toss the bread crumbs with the butter and a sprinkle of salt in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are lightly browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
There are two schools of thought about macaroni and cheese: Some like it crusty and extra-cheesy (here's our recipe), while others prefer it smooth and creamy. But most people are delighted by any homemade macaroni and cheese. It is light years ahead of the boxed versions. This creamy version has one powerful advantage for the cook: There's no need to preboil the pasta. It cooks in the oven, absorbing the liquid from the dairy products.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories brunch, dinner, easy, lunch, weekday, casseroles, main course, side dish
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees and position an oven rack in upper third of oven. Use 1 tablespoon butter to grease a 9-inch round or square baking pan.
- In a blender, purée cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg and salt and pepper. Reserve 1/4 cup grated Cheddar for topping. In a large bowl, combine remaining grated Cheddar, milk mixture and uncooked pasta. Pour into prepared pan, cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Uncover pan, stir gently, sprinkle with reserved cheese and dot with remaining tablespoon butter. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes more, until browned. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 427, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 26 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 22 grams, SaturatedFat 15 grams, Sodium 496 milligrams, Sugar 5 grams, TransFat 1 gram
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. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a bold flavor, or a mild cheddar cheese for a more subtle flavor. You can also use a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar and mozzarella.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: Macaroni that is cooked too long will be mushy and unpleasant. Cook the macaroni until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it.
- 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.
- Add milk or cream gradually: When you are adding milk or cream to the cheese sauce, do it gradually and whisk constantly. This will help to prevent the cheese sauce from curdling.
- Season the cheese sauce to taste: Once the cheese sauce is made, taste it and season it with salt and pepper, or other spices, to taste.
- Serve the macaroni and cheese immediately: Macaroni and cheese is best served immediately after it is made. If you need to store it, let it cool completely and then refrigerate it. You can reheat the macaroni and cheese in the oven or microwave until it is warmed through.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a quick and easy dish to make, and it can be customized to your own taste. Whether you like it mild or creamy, sharp or cheesy, there is a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give macaroni and cheese a try.
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