Macaroni and cheese, a classic comfort food dish loved by people of all ages, is a delectable combination of pasta, cheese sauce, and often additional ingredients like breadcrumbs, bacon, or vegetables. This versatile dish can be prepared in various ways, resulting in distinct flavors and textures. From the classic baked macaroni and cheese with its golden-brown crust to the creamy stovetop version, the options are endless. Whether you prefer a simple recipe with a few ingredients or one that incorporates unique flavors and toppings, there's a macaroni and cheese recipe to suit every taste. In this article, we'll explore several mouthwatering macaroni and cheese recipes, including the traditional baked version, a quick and easy stovetop variation, and a few creative twists that add a touch of gourmet flair to this classic dish.
Let's cook with our recipes!
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 AND CHEESE
Tender pasta is smothered in a creamy, cheesy sauce for a down-home casserole that always satisfies.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 40m
Yield 5
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°F. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package using minimum cook time.
- Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion, salt and pepper in butter, stirring occasionally, until onion is crisp-tender.
- In small bowl, mix flour and milk until smooth; stir into onion mixture. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni. Into ungreased 1 1/2-quart casserole, spoon macaroni mixture.
- Bake about 30 minutes or until bubbly and light brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 410, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 17 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1030 mg, Sugar 6 g, TransFat 1/2 g
MOM'S BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Quick and easy -- macaroni, cheese soup, milk and Colby cheese!
Provided by Courtnay
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Place macaroni in a 2 quart casserole dish. Stir in cheese soup and milk until well combined. Sprinkle with shredded Colby.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is brown and bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 673.9 calories, Carbohydrate 65.5 g, Cholesterol 86.6 mg, Fat 30.9 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 32.3 g, SaturatedFat 18.7 g, Sodium 849.1 mg, Sugar 3.8 g
MOM'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
The wonderful homemade goodness of this creamy macaroni 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 (originally from Taste of Home)
Provided by Barenakedchef
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 1h
Yield 6 serving(s)
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 275.4, Fat 14.7, SaturatedFat 9, Cholesterol 40, Sodium 417.8, Carbohydrate 27.8, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 0.9, Protein 8.1
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.
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
MAMA'S BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE
My kids say this is better than 'the blues' and gobble it up, even when I toss in a handful of cooked veggies like broccoli, peas, carrots, etc.... Make it a one dish meal with some tuna, cooked ham, etc... It is just as easy as the 'blue box' at least I think so and it is much healthier!
Provided by Mamas Kitchen Hope
Categories Cheese
Time 20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Make a roux by melting butter in pan and adding flour. Stir constantly and cook until it is the color of caramel candy. It burns easily so stir stir stir!
- Slowly and carefully add milk while stirring.
- When milk starts to steam add cheese and seasonings and stir until melted and well combined.
- Pour over cooked macaroni noodles and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 276.1, Fat 12.2, SaturatedFat 7.4, Cholesterol 35.6, Sodium 269.8, Carbohydrate 30.3, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 1.1, Protein 10.9
MOM'S MACARONI & CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Precut 1 lb. of cheese into cubes, and the remainder of the cheese shred or slice thinly and set aside. Place the butter in saucepan and let it melt. Add the cubes of cheese and milk. You may need to add more milk, depending on the consistency of the sauce and how you like your sauce-(thick or thin). Sift over low to medium heat and add the Wondra flour a little at a time until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat once you reach the desired consistency of your sauce. Drain the diced Italian tomatoes and add to the cheese sauce.
- Bring water to boil in large pot and add box of macaroni and cook for desired amount of time as specified on the box. Strain the macaroni and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the sauce and mix/blend together.
- Pour half of the mixer in the baking dish, add half or all* of the cheese (that you set aside earlier) to cover the macaroni and cheese, and pour the rest of the macaroni and cheese mixture on. *You may either place the rest of the cheese that you set aside if you did not use in the middle layer or you may sprinkle on the bread crumbs to make a light topping over the macaroni and cheese.
- Place in the oven for 30 minutes to 45 minutes to heat thoroughly and serve. Refrigerate the leftovers.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g
MY MOTHER'S MAC AND CHEESE
I remember my mother sending me to the store for 15 cents worth of cheese. The butcher would cut off a slice from a gigantic wheel covered with a wax-coated cloth. Mother would then blend that cheese into this tasty dish. Today, the memory of her cooking is like food for my soul. -Phyllis Burkland, Portland, Oregon
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a bowl, combine macaroni, tomatoes, onion salt, pepper and 1-1/2 cups cheddar cheese. Pour into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 15 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 373 calories, Fat 22g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 75mg cholesterol, Sodium 759mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
MOM'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is something my mom used to make for me when I was a kid. It is simple, quick, and great for kids and adults alike.
Provided by PalatablePastime
Categories Cheese
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender; drain.
- Mix cooked macaroni with butter, stirring well.
- While macaroni is cooking, cook ground beef, garlic and onion in a large skillet until beef is browned and cooked through.
- Drain any accumulated fat.
- Add chili powder, salt, pepper, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (with their juice), mixing well.
- Bring meat mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until macaroni is done.
- Mix meat mixture with cooked buttered macaroni (do NOT add any additional milk as package suggests).
- Sprinkle contents of cheese packets into pasta and stir until blended.
- Serve garnished with grated cheddar, if desired.
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese. A sharp cheddar cheese will give you the best flavor. You can also use a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Cook the macaroni until it is al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will be mushy and not as flavorful.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. This will help to keep the sauce smooth and creamy.
- Add milk or cream to the cheese sauce slowly. This will help to prevent the sauce from curdling.
- Season the cheese sauce to taste. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all good options.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs before baking. This will give the dish a crispy topping.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
- Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help to prevent the cheese from sticking to the pan.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips that you can follow to make sure that it turns out perfect every time. With a little practice, you'll be able to make a macaroni and cheese that is cheesy, creamy, and delicious.
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