Macaroni and cheese, a classic comfort food dish enjoyed by people of all ages, is a delectable combination of tender pasta, creamy cheese sauce, and a golden-brown crust. This versatile dish can be customized with various cheeses, seasonings, and add-ins, making it a favorite for potlucks, family gatherings, and weeknight dinners. Our collection of macaroni and cheese recipes offers a range of options to suit every taste, from classic stovetop versions to baked mac and cheese with a crispy topping. Whether you prefer a simple and traditional recipe or one with a unique twist, you're sure to find the perfect mac and cheese recipe here.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
TWO-CHEESE MAC 'N CHEESE
A lot of stories claim that mac and cheese was created by Thomas Jefferson, Marco Polo or the cooks of China. My favorite theory? An Italian housewife invented it to introduce non-Italian Americans to macaroni. -Stephanie Sorbie, Glendale, Arizona
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h5m
Yield 15 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a Dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic if desired; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in flour, pepper and salt until blended; cook and stir until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes longer or until thickened. , Remove from heat. Stir in 4 cups cheddar cheese and Asiago cheese until melted. Mixture will thicken. , Preheat oven to 350°. Drain pasta; stir in cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese., Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 331 calories, Fat 17g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 58mg cholesterol, Sodium 306mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
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
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
SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE
There is macaroni and cheese, and then there is special occasion macaroni and cheese like this one. Unlike most recipes, which start with a roux, this one begins with a milk-and-egg base, which gives the dish an incredibly rich, silky taste. It's adapted from Millie Peartree, the owner of Millie Peartree Fish Fry & Soul Food restaurant in the Bronx, who has been making this dish since she was a little girl. The recipe was passed down in her family for generations, but because of the generous amount of cheese used, the dish was only made for events like Christmas and Thanksgiving. Extra-sharp Cheddar adds tartness and a layer of Colby Jack creates a gooey, molten center. If you can't find a Colby Jack blend, shredded mozzarella or a Mexican-style blend will work in its place.
Provided by Kiera Wright-Ruiz
Categories dinner, weeknight, casseroles, noodles, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 45m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions until a little under al dente, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk milk and eggs. Add cooked macaroni, 2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, melted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and stir until well combined.
- Add half the macaroni mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups Colby Jack evenly on top. Spread the remaining macaroni mixture on top in an even layer. Cover with aluminum foil, transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Carefully remove and discard the aluminum foil. Top the macaroni mixture with the remaining 2 cups Cheddar and 1/2 cup Colby Jack. Broil on top rack until cheese is browned in spots, 3 to 5 minutes. (The broiled cheese can go from golden to burnt fairly quickly, so keep a close eye on it.)
- Remove from oven and let cool until the macaroni and cheese is fully set, 10 to 15 minutes. (The mixture may first appear jiggly, but it will firm up as it cools.) Serve warm.
Tips:
- Choose the right pasta: Elbow macaroni is the classic choice for mac and cheese, but you can use other short pastas like shells, penne, or rotini.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means cooking the pasta until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. This will help prevent the pasta from becoming mushy in the cheese sauce.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. Be sure to cook the roux over medium heat until it is golden brown. This will help to give the cheese sauce a rich, flavorful taste.
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will have a big impact on the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or try a combination of different cheeses for a more complex flavor.
- Season the cheese sauce to taste: Be sure to taste the cheese sauce before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed. You may want to add more salt, pepper, or garlic powder.
- Serve immediately: Mac and cheese is best served hot and fresh out of the oven. If you are making it ahead of time, be sure to reheat it thoroughly before serving.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own taste preferences. With the right ingredients and a little bit of effort, you can make a delicious mac and cheese that will be a hit with your family and friends.
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