Macaroni and cheese, a classic dish loved by people of all ages, is a comforting and versatile dish that can be enjoyed in various forms. From the classic stovetop version to baked mac and cheese, and even air fryer mac and cheese, there's a recipe for every occasion and taste preference. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, a hearty dish to serve at a potluck, or a special side dish for a holiday gathering, our collection of macaroni and cheese recipes has something for everyone. With options ranging from traditional to unique and innovative flavor combinations, our recipes cater to diverse preferences and dietary needs. Dive into our delectable selection and discover your new favorite way to enjoy this timeless comfort food.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
SUPER DELUXE OLD FASHIONED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a non-reactive saucepan. When bubbly whisk in flour and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring every now and then. Slowly whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, whisking on occasion for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat and whisk in grated cheese. Stir vigorously just until cheese has melted. Then whisk in heavy cream to adjust the texture and season to taste with salt and cayenne pepper. In a mixing bowl combine sauce with sun dried tomatoes and drained macaroni and adjust seasoning. Transfer mixture to a 13 x 9-inch baking pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and dot with remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Bake until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
SUPER MACARONI AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 2-quart casserole; set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and celery and saute for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are very soft. Lower the heat and stir in the flour until well incorporated. Whisk in the hot half-and-half and then the wine. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes, or until the mixture has begun to thicken. Remove from the heat and beat in the cheeses, stirring until they have melted into the sauce.
- Stir in the macaroni and season, to taste, with hot sauce and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole.
- If using the Parmesan, combine it with the bread crumbs in a small bowl. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the macaroni. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the top is golden. Serve hot.
SUPER SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Super Simple Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by firefly68
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt butter in largish, heavy-bottomed saucepan over low-medium heat.
- Add flour, stirring with whisk or spatula until it bubbles; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute.
- Do NOT let it brown. [If it browns, save it for brown gravy and start again.].
- Remove from heat and mix in mustard, pepper, cayenne, and Worcestershire; blend well, then add milk APPROXIMATELY ONE TABLESPOON AT A TIME until it is soupy or gloppy. This method prevents lumps.
- Return to medium heat and gradually add the rest of the milk, and the salt.
- Stir or whisk constantly until it comes to a boil (a wooden spatula is a handy tool for this); simmer one minute, always stirring.
- Remove from heat and add cheese; stir occasionally until all lumps of cheese disappear.
- This takes 5-10 minutes, but you can return it to very low heat if necessary.
- Note: Removing it from the heat is not absolutely necessary with Velveeta; but with natural cheese, it is best to melt it this way to avoid clumping and stringiness. Natural cheese will blend much better if it melts into the sauce off the heat, something about how the protein reacts to heat.
- Meanwhile, slightly undercook cook elbows in salted water in large pot and drain and return to large pot.
- Add sauce and mix gently with a lifting motion so the pasta isn't smashed.
- Place in buttered or Pammed casserole dish; I like to use an 11x15 so I get lots of surface area for the crust, but if you don't like crusty mac&cheese use a smaller, deeper pan.
- [At this point, or after mixing in large pot, you can refrigerate it for a couple of days if desired. Let it return to room temp or cook longer. You can also freeze, thaw, and spread in pan.] Top with bread crumbs if desired.
- Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until it's bubbling well and top is browned the way you like it. Mmmm.
SUPER CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is a no bake, one pot recipe that my kids think is the best! For a special surprise, add a 15 ounce can of well drained regular diced, or my favorite, fire roasted tomatoes at the very end. You can broil this for a few minutes if you like the browned cheese look. Will lose it's creaminess if left to sit or is reheated, but still tastes great.
Provided by MarylandMomof3
Categories Macaroni And Cheese
Time 20m
Yield 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil macaroni until tender.
- Tear provolone in pieces and set aside.
- Mix flour, salt, mustard, and pepper and set aside.
- Once macaroni is in colander, melt butter in pot.
- Add flour mix and cook for a minute or so.
- Add milk and bring to a boil.
- Add cheeses and stir until smooth.
- Add macaroni back into the pot and stir. Serve immediately.
SUPER SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE
This macaroni & cheese dish was a hit at Thanksgiving and Christmas. It is so simple to make and can be made in big batches for a big group. Once you try it, this recipe will become a family favorite!
Provided by Miranda Roderick
Categories Pasta Sides
Time 1h20m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- 2. Grease a 13x9 baking sheet.
- 3. Mix together all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- 4. Pour mixture into grease baking pan and cover with foil.
- 5. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, stir, and bake for approximately 30 minutes more or until pasta is fully cooked.
- 6. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and enjoy! Told you it was simple :-)
SUPER EASY AND FAST MACARONI AND CHEESE
This can be made plain, with ham stirred into it, or with a can of Rotel (Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies) added when you add the Cheese Whiz. Another variation is to add crisp homemade bacon bits and peas.
Provided by Andtototoo
Categories Cheese
Time 1h10m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until tender.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Put the pasta into a large mixing bowl.
- Melt the Cheese Whiz in the microwave, stirring every 15 seconds until the Cheese Whiz is hot, and then stir the Cheese Whiz into the pasta.
- Add the grated cheese and stir until well blended.
- Put the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes until hot.
- If you want this super fast, put the mixture into a large glass bowl and microwave it, stirring every 30 seconds until the cheese has melted and macaroni is very hot.
- Sometimes I also use a blend of different grated cheeses.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 691, Fat 34.1, SaturatedFat 21.1, Cholesterol 107.7, Sodium 1092.5, Carbohydrate 61.2, Fiber 2.5, Sugar 4.3, Protein 33.3
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese: The cheese is the star of the show in macaroni and cheese, so it's important to use a good quality one. A sharp cheddar is a classic choice, but you can also use a combination of cheeses, such as cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère.
- Cook the macaroni perfectly: The macaroni should be cooked al dente, which means that it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it. If you overcook the macaroni, it will become mushy and the dish will be less enjoyable.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. A roux helps to create a smooth and creamy sauce that will coat the macaroni evenly.
- Season the cheese sauce: Season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika for a little heat.
- Top with breadcrumbs: A topping of breadcrumbs adds a nice crunch to macaroni and cheese. You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs. If you're using plain breadcrumbs, you can toast them in a little butter before adding them to the dish.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Whether you like it simple or cheesy, baked or fried, there's a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these recipes a try. You won't be disappointed.
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