Best 5 My Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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**Macaroni and cheese**, a classic comfort food dish, is made with cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce, most commonly cheddar. It can be baked, stovetop-cooked, or deep-fried. In this article, we present a collection of macaroni and cheese recipes that cater to different tastes and preferences.

From the traditional baked macaroni and cheese with a crispy golden crust to the quick and easy stovetop version, we have recipes that suit various cooking methods and time constraints. For those seeking a healthier alternative, we offer a lightened-up version with reduced cheese and whole wheat pasta. And for those with dietary restrictions, we provide a gluten-free recipe that uses alternative pasta and a dairy-free cheese sauce. Additionally, we have a special recipe for deep-fried macaroni and cheese balls, a fun and unique way to enjoy this classic dish. With this diverse selection of recipes, everyone can find their perfect macaroni and cheese.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

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

MACARONI AND CHEESE MY WAY



Macaroni and Cheese My Way image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

18 pieces extra-large shell pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup tasso ham or bacon
5 large shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, mined
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup white wine
2 cups cream
1 cup grated fontina
1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
18 medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups gently packed spinach
Kosher salt and ground white pepper
Hot pepper sauce, to taste (recommended: Tabasco)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley leaves

Steps:

  • Preheat broiler.
  • Bring a large post of water to a rolling boil, add pasta shells and cook al dente, according to package instructions.
  • Meanwhile, in a large skillet, add the olive oil and tasso or bacon, cook until just crisp,
  • then add shallots and garlic. Cook and stir over moderate heat just until shallots are translucent. Add the flour, cook stirring constantly to blend and toast the flour, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine, reduce until almost dry. Add the cream, bring to a simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheeses, shrimp and spinach. Gently stir until cheese is melted, spinach is wilted and shrimp is beginning to turn pink. Season with salt and white pepper, to taste. Season with hot sauce, to taste.
  • Drain the pasta, making sure to shake all of the water off and out of the shells.
  • In a large flameproof baking dish, place drained shells. Add the cheese and shrimp mixture and gently fold into the pasta. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and chopped parsley. Place under the broiler until the breadcrumbs are toasted about 2 to 3 minutes.

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

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

1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 teaspoon smoked or hot paprika
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar cheese, grated
12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated
1 cup coarse bread crumbs or panko
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

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

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Simple Macaroni and Cheese image

A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.

Provided by g0dluvsugly

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (8 ounce) box elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

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.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55 g, Cholesterol 99.6 mg, Fat 33.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.5 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 777 mg, Sugar 7.6 g

CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE



Classic Macaroni and Cheese image

Savor a saucy, cheese crowd-pleaser with this Classic Macaroni and Cheese! You can't go wrong this delicious recipe. Watch now to find out how Classic Macaroni and Cheese will leave a lasting impression.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Macaroni & Cheese

Time 40m

Yield 6 servings, 1 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook and stir 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add 1-1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until melted. Stir in macaroni.
  • Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole sprayed with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  • Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 380, Fat 20 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 310 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 16 g

Tips:

  • Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will greatly affect the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or experiment with different cheeses such as Gruyère, Parmesan, or Gouda.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente: Macaroni that is cooked too soft will become mushy when baked in the cheese sauce. Cook the macaroni al dente, or slightly firm to the bite, so that it will hold its shape in the dish.
  • Make a creamy cheese sauce: The cheese sauce is the key to a delicious macaroni and cheese. Use a combination of milk, butter, and flour to create a smooth and creamy sauce. Add plenty of cheese and season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
  • Use a variety of toppings: Macaroni and cheese is a versatile dish that can be topped with a variety of ingredients. Try adding bread crumbs, bacon, diced tomatoes, or roasted vegetables.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are a few tips that can help you make the best macaroni and cheese possible. By following these tips, you can create a macaroni and cheese that is creamy, cheesy, and delicious.

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