Indulge in the classic comfort food of Old Fashioned Elbow Mac and Cheese, a timeless dish that has been enjoyed for generations. This delicious pasta dish is made with simple, wholesome ingredients and features tender elbow macaroni coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce. The combination of gooey melted cheese, savory seasonings, and the perfect texture of the macaroni creates a harmonious bite that is sure to satisfy. Our collection of recipes offers variations on this classic, including a stovetop version, a baked version with a golden-brown crust, and a slow cooker version for effortless preparation. Whether you prefer a traditional recipe or a unique twist, you'll find the perfect Old Fashioned Elbow Mac and Cheese recipe to warm your heart and fill your belly.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
CHEF JOHN'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
This easy-to-make old-school macaroni and cheese has a perfectly crispy crust.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to foam and bubble, stir in the flour; cook on medium heat until flour just begins to turn pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme, cayenne pepper, and white pepper; cook and stir another minute, then whisk in 1 cup of milk until smooth. Pour in remaining milk and whisk again. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
- Stir in nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, and salt; simmer on medium-low heat until thickened, about 8 minutes, whisking often. Turn heat off, then add 2 1/4 cups of Cheddar cheese; stir until melted and combined. Add Dijon mustard.
- Transfer the macaroni into a casserole dish, then pour in the cheese sauce; stir to thoroughly combine sauce with pasta. Mix panko bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl, and sprinkle crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese topping are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 694.8 calories, Carbohydrate 72.8 g, Cholesterol 94.5 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 29.4 g, SaturatedFat 19.9 g, Sodium 928.4 mg, Sugar 8.1 g
OLD FASHIONED ELBOW MAC & CHEESE
I've not seen any recipe like this here. Mom used to make it, and it is divine comfort food; chunks of cheddar and a basic Béchamel sauce, topped with buttery bread crumbs, make for an amazing dish! **Béchamel sauce technique updated, thanks Noo for pointing out the error.**
Provided by Katzen
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook macaroni, drain.
- Melt butter over medium heat, add flour and cook briefly while stirring, until slightly golden in colour. Meanwhile, heat milk in microwave or on stove in separate pot until warm.
- Slowly add milk to flour and butter mixture; cook while whisking until sauce thickens. Add salt and pepper.
- Put half the cooked macaroni in a 9x13 pan; layer half the cheese, and half the sauce. Repeat.
- Top with breadcrumbs.
- Sprinkle top with melted butter.
- Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes, until bubbling in middle.
OLD-FASHIONED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 1.5-quart baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- Add cooked macaroni, butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to the greased dish.
- Whisk together eggs and milk in a bowl. Pour the mixture over the macaroni.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts :
OLD FASHIONED MAC AND CHEESE
This is a classic recipe for macaroni and cheese. The kids will love this!
Provided by JAYDE175
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h5m
Yield 7
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Prepare the elbow macaroni according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in the flour until a cream colored paste forms. Then pour in the milk and stir constantly until this comes to a hard boil, then stir for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
- When the macaroni is cooked, spread 1/2 of it into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Then layer 1/2 of the grated onion, 1/2 of the salt and pepper and 1/2 of each of the cheeses. Repeat this one more time: macaroni, onion, salt and pepper and cheeses, and then pour the reserved white sauce over all. Top off with small pats of butter to taste.
- Cover and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 401 calories, Carbohydrate 29.1 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Fat 23.3 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 18.5 g, SaturatedFat 14.6 g, Sodium 450.2 mg, Sugar 4.6 g
BAKED ELBOW MACARONI AND CHEESE
Dish up some deliciousness with our Baked Elbow Macaroni and Cheese. This Baked Elbow Macaroni and Cheese casserole is a great way to make mac and cheese.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 1h
Yield 8 servings, 1 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°F.
- Cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt and reducing the cooking time by 2 min. Rinse macaroni under cold water; drain. Combine shredded cheeses; reserve 1/2 cup for topping.
- Melt 5 Tbsp. butter in Dutch oven on low heat. Add flour; mix well. Cook 2 min. or until hot and bubbly, stirring constantly. (Do not cook until browned.)
- Whisk milk gradually into butter mixture; cook on medium heat 5 min. or until sauce comes to boil and thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
- Add remaining shredded cheese mixture to the sauce along with the VELVEETA, blue cheese, mustard and 2 Tbsp. Parmesan; cook 3 to 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted, stirring constantly. Add macaroni; mix well. Spoon into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
- Melt remaining butter; mix with bread crumbs, reserved shredded cheese mixture and remaining Parmesan. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
- Bake 25 to 30 min. or until top is golden brown, and macaroni and cheese is hot and bubbly around edges.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 430, Fat 25 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Sodium 770 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 20 g
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.
Tips:
- Use a high-quality cheddar cheese. This will make all the difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese.
- Don't overcook the macaroni. It should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
- Make sure the cheese sauce is thick and creamy. You can add more milk or butter if needed.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different cheeses. You can use a combination of cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, or any other type of cheese that you like.
- Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers before baking. This will give it a golden brown crust.
- Serve the mac and cheese immediately. It's best when it's hot and gooey.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients, so you can easily customize it to your own taste.
Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special dish to serve at a party, mac and cheese is a great option. It's sure to please everyone at the table.
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