Feast your taste buds on a classic comfort food with a cheesy, creamy twist – Mom's Extra Sharp Mac and Cheese! Prepared with premium extra sharp cheddar cheese, this dish delivers an unforgettable burst of flavor that will leave you craving for more. Dive into our collection of recipes that range from the traditional baked mac and cheese to unique variations like the smoky bacon mac and cheese or the zesty salsa mac and cheese. Whether you're a cheese enthusiast or simply seeking a comforting meal, Mom's Extra Sharp Mac and Cheese has something for everyone. Let's embark on a cheesy journey and discover the perfect recipe to satisfy your cravings!
Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!
MOM'S EXTRA SHARP MAC AND CHEESE
My Mom has been making mac and cheese this way for as long as I can remember. It gets a cheesy crust on top that the family fights for.
Provided by AcadiaTwo
Categories Cheese
Time 50m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a 2-quart square baking dish place 1/2 a cup of cooked macaroni in a single layer.
- Cover macaroni with cheese evenly.
- Layer another 1/2 a cup of of macaroni on top of the cheese.
- Cover macaroni with cheese evenly.
- Layer another 1/2 a cup of of macaroni on top of the cheese.
- Add the milk.
- Cover macaroni and milk with cheese evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Set the oven to broil and and broil mac, milk and cheese 6"-8" away from broiler for 5-7 minutes or until cheese is browned.
- Warning: HOT, let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
MOM'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy Velveeta mac and cheese makes it a staple side dish in my mother's kitchen and in mine as well. It has tender noodles and a crowd-pleasing golden crumb topping. -Maria Costello, Monroe, North Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner Side Dishes
Time 1h
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat. Add the cheeses, stirring until cheese is melted. Drain macaroni., Transfer macaroni to a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over macaroni; mix well. Melt the remaining butter; add the bread crumbs. Sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 30 minutes or until heated through and topping is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 calories, Fat 20g fat (13g saturated fat), Cholesterol 60mg cholesterol, Sodium 569mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 11g protein.
BETTER THAN MOM'S MAC 'N CHEESE
Homemade macaroni and cheese is comfort food all the way and this recipe is ooey, gooey goodness. We loved ALL the types of cheese in this divine mac and cheese. Munster cheese and the extra sharp cheddar really stood out for us in the recipe. The cheesy crouton crumb topping is the perfect final touch. The next time you have an...
Provided by Tere Gill
Categories Pasta Sides
Time 1h45m
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- 1. (NOTE:) Recipe may be doubled for 9"x13" or 4 qt. casserole.
- 2. Lightly grease a 2 or 2 1/2 quart casserole dish; set aside.
- 3. (This step is the most time consuming, so you may want to shred the cheeses ahead of time. Please don't use the pre-shredded cheeses as it will negatively affect your results.) Gather and prep all ingredients except macaroni (shred cheeses, crush croutons etc...).
- 4. Add water and 1 teaspoon salt to large pot (5 qt. or larger;) over high heat, bring water to boil.
- 5. Add macaroni; stir. When water returns to boil, reduce heat to medium-high; set timer and cook for 8 minutes.
- 6. Drain macaroni, but do NOT rinse.
- 7. Return macaroni to the hot pot.
- 8. Immediately add butter and cream cheese; stir gently until melted.
- 9. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a plastic food bag or bowl combine cheeses.
- 10. Add combined cheeses to macaroni. Stir to mix well.
- 11. Into the half & half, add egg, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Whisk or beat well with a fork until very well combined.
- 12. Pour over macaroni and cheese mixture in pan; stir to mix well.
- 13. Pour macaroni mixture evenly into prepared dish. (If you have a little shredded cheese leftover, you may sprinkle on top of macaroni mixture, up to 1/2 cup.)
- 14. Make the topping by combining crushed croutons with melted butter.
- 15. Stir to coat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- 16. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni.
- 17. Bake at 350ºF for approximately 50 to 60 minutes (place a sheet of aluminum foil over it, towards the end of cooking time, if it is beginning to become too browned).
- 18. Serve immediately. Cover and refrigerate leftovers. If reheating, add a tablespoon of milk or half & half to the bottom of the dish.
EXTRA SHARP MACARONI AND CHEESE
We love creamy, tangy macaroni and cheese, so I was on a quest to create the perfect recipe. After experimenting with several different sauces, this one has fit the bill for us! Cooper sharp, extra sharp cheddar and my secret ingredient, sour cream, gives this mac and cheese the perfect tang we've been looking for!
Provided by Kialono .....
Categories Pasta Sides
Time 1h15m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Prepare macaroni according to package, cooking about 1 minute less than it calls for. Drain and place in a 13 x 9 baking dish which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- 2. In a heavy, large sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt and pepper (about a pinch each) and let it sit for about 90 seconds so the flour cooks. Stir with a whisk until the flour is smooth, about 1 minute. Add the milk, slowly at first, to incorporate, whisking quickly. Add the sour cream (it will look lumpy). Whisk frequently until it just about boils, being careful not to let it boil. Add the cheeses, starting with the cooper sharp, a few slices at a time and whisk until incorporated. Add 2 cups of grated cheddar and the tiniest pinch of fresh, grated nutmeg. Don't boil, just whisk until the cheeses are melted and the sauce becomes smooth.
- 3. Pour the sauce over the macaroni (I use all of it because we like it very creamy. If you like a custard-y consistency, leave a little sauce out). Stir the sauce until the macaroni is covered. Top with the remaining 2 cups of grated cheddar. Do not cover. Cook in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45 minutes until it's bubbling. ENJOY!
MOM'S FAVORITE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This is a macaroni and cheese I first made 3 years ago when I was in California. When I got back to Texas I made it for my mom. This is now her favorite baked macaroni and cheese. She begs me to make it when I come to visit.
Provided by GEPETTO_69
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk, salt, mustard and pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- To the milk mixture add the Cheddar and American cheeses; stir until cheese melts. Combine macaroni and cheese sauce in a 2 quart baking dish; mix well.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 561 calories, Carbohydrate 36.5 g, Cholesterol 100.1 mg, Fat 33.3 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 28.3 g, SaturatedFat 20.7 g, Sodium 1194 mg, Sugar 5.2 g
MARK'S MOM'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and then stir in flour; cook for 1 minute or until lightly golden. Slowly add the milk to the flour mixture, stirring until thickened, and then stir in the 3 cheeses until fully melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add cooked macaroni and stir to coat evenly. Transfer to a shallow baking dish. Bake for about 45 minutes, until brown and crisp on top.
- Remove from oven and preheat the broiler. Sprinkle Parmesan and bread crumbs over top. Return to the oven and broil until cheese is bubbly.
THE BEST HOMEMADE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
The BEST Homemade Mac and Cheese of your LIFE. Outrageously cheesy, ultra creamy, and topped with a crunchy Panko-Parmesan topping, this mac and cheese recipe is most definitely a keeper. I used three different cheese and a homemade cheese sauce to take this macaroni and cheese recipe over the top.
Provided by Trish - Mom On Timeout
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside.Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.
- Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl.
- Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce.
- Melt butter in a deep saucepan, dutch oven, or stock pot.
- Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper.
- Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick.
- Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.
- Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 642 kcal, Carbohydrate 40 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 41 g, SaturatedFat 24 g, Cholesterol 125 mg, Sodium 550 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 4 g, ServingSize 1 serving
MOM'S MACARONI & CHEESE
I've been eating this macaroni & cheese since I was a little girl. I'm not sure where my mom got the recipe from, but it is delicious. We usually sprinkle with some parmesan cheese before browning.
Provided by Suzy Q 2
Categories Cheese
Time 40m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Melt butter, add flour, salt, and pepper, wisk until smooth.
- Add milk slowly, whisking to blend.
- Cook until thick and smooth, add cheese and stir until melted.
- Cook elbow noodles as directed on package.
- Drain and pour into a baking dish.
- Pour cheese sauce over cooked elbows.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
- *It's best to use a double boiler or nonstick pan to make your cheese sauce.
MOMMA'S DEEP-DISH MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
My momma makes the best (and easiest!) deep-dish macaroni and cheese. It's like a baked mac 'n' cheese pie with a combination of smoked Gouda, pepper Jack, mozzarella, cottage cheese, and more. It's one of our family's favorite dishes and a holiday must-have.
Provided by Matt Ciampa
Categories Dinner
Time 1h5m
Yield 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 7 x 11-inch (17 x 27 cm) baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and return to the warm pot.
- Add butter to the macaroni and stir until melted and the noodles are well coated.
- In a large bowl, stir together the sour cream, cottage cheese, 1 cup cheddar, ½ cup Gouda, ½ cup pepper Jack, ½ cup mozzarella, the cheese sauce, evaporated milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne until well combined.
- Add the sauce to the pot with noodles and mix until fully coated. Season with more salt and black pepper to taste. Stir the eggs until well incorporated.
- Pour the macaroni into the prepared baking dish and smooth in an even layer.
- In a medium bowl, toss together the remaining 1 cup cheddar, ½ cup Gouda, ½ cup pepper Jack, and ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 30 minutes.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C). Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown. Let cool slightly before serving.
- Enjoy!
- RECIPE BY: Meiko Temple
Nutrition Facts : Calories 587 calories, Carbohydrate 43 grams, Fat 33 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 28 grams, Sugar 6 grams
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta: Short pasta shapes like macaroni, shells, or penne are best for mac and cheese because they hold the cheese sauce well.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but aim for al dente, or slightly firm, pasta. This will help it hold its shape and not get mushy when mixed with the cheese sauce.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken sauces. For mac and cheese, a roux will help create a creamy, smooth sauce.
- Use a flavorful cheese: Sharp cheddar is a classic choice for mac and cheese, but you can also use other cheeses like Gruyère, Parmesan, or fontina. Mixing different types of cheeses will create a more complex flavor.
- Add other ingredients: Feel free to add other ingredients to your mac and cheese to customize it. Some popular options include cooked bacon, diced ham, chopped vegetables, or herbs.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With its creamy, cheesy sauce and tender pasta, it's a dish that is sure to please everyone. Whether you follow the recipe exactly or experiment with different ingredients, you're sure to create a delicious mac and cheese that will become a family favorite.
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