Indulge in the ultimate comfort food journey with our collection of macaroni and cheese recipes, a true testament to culinary bliss. From the classic American comfort food to innovative gourmet twists, our diverse selection caters to every palate. Dive into the rich, cheesy goodness of our traditional macaroni and cheese, where creamy cheddar cheese sauce envelops tender macaroni, creating a symphony of flavors. Embark on a culinary adventure with our unique recipes, featuring tantalizing variations like bacon and jalapeno macaroni and cheese, where smoky bacon and spicy jalapenos add a touch of heat to the classic dish. If you seek a gourmet indulgence, our lobster macaroni and cheese awaits, a luxurious combination of succulent lobster and velvety cheese sauce, sure to impress even the most discerning taste buds. Vegetarian enthusiasts will delight in our flavorful roasted vegetable macaroni and cheese, where roasted vegetables add a delightful medley of textures and flavors to the creamy cheese sauce. And for a lighter twist, our Greek yogurt macaroni and cheese offers a healthier alternative, with tangy Greek yogurt replacing butter and milk, resulting in a guilt-free indulgence.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CREAMY HOMEMADE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by children and adults.
Provided by The Chunky Chef
Categories Main Course Side Dish
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9x13"). Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep from sticking.
- While water is coming up to a boil, shred cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into three piles. Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over MED heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Mixture will look like very wet sand. Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often. Slowly pour in about 2 cups or so of the milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth. Slowly pour in the remaining milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
- Continue to heat over MED heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency. It should almost be the consistency of a semi thinned out condensed soup.
- Remove from the heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine. Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir until completely melted and smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
- Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 665 kcal, Carbohydrate 43 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 41 g, SaturatedFat 25 g, Cholesterol 126 mg, Sodium 700 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 3 g, ServingSize 1 serving
THE MOST AMAZING MACARONI AND CHEESE IN THE WORLD!
This macaroni and cheese is TO DIE FOR. People inhale it and drool over it as it's cooking, the aroma fills the whole house. Once it's on the table, it's gone in 3 seconds flat. It's pretty much AMAZING, if I do say so myself. DON'T skip any steps or substitute any of the ingredients, you have to make it just as it is for it to be amazing. NOT for the faint of heart! Quite an indulgence (look at the ingredients), but it's COMPLETELY worth it. It's the only way to make macaroni and cheese.
Provided by Cause Im awesome
Categories Cheese
Time 1h30m
Yield 1 pan, 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions, al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Whisk eggs together in big bowl until frothy. Add Velveeta, butter, and 2 cups of the half-and-half.
- Add warm macaroni, mix until smooth.
- Add rest of half-and-half, 3 cups sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, the rest of the various cheeses, salt, and pepper, tossing together.
- Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish, and bake for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of sharp yellow cheddar cheese and bake about 30 minutes more, until golden brown. If you want, you could dot the top with a few tiny pieces of butter, just to help it brown more.
- Serve hot. Enjoy!
THE BEST BAKED MAC & CHEESE RECIPE EVER
Super creamy and gloriously cheesy, this classic baked mac and cheese boasts a golden bubbling lid with ooey gooey goodness underneath.
Provided by Kare for Kitchen Treaty
Categories Main Course Side Dish
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil the pasta JUST until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside. (Mix in a little butter to keep the noodles from sticking if it's going to be awhile before you make the sauce)
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the flour, salt, dry mustard, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. With a wooden spoon or whisk, stir constantly for three minutes.
- Add the milk in a thin stream, stirring constantly with a whisk. Continue to stir constantly until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 5-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted. You'll reserve the last cup of cheese for topping. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and toss gently until all of the pasta is coated.
- Add half the pasta to a two-quart casserole dish (I like a tall 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish). Sprinkle on half the cheese. Add the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese, then dust lightly with the smoked paprika.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the mac and cheese is bubbling and browning on top.
- Serve, topping individual servings with parsley or cooked, chopped bacon if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 442 kcal, Sugar 7 g, Sodium 601 mg, Fat 22 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Carbohydrate 38 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 23 g, Cholesterol 68 mg, ServingSize 1 serving
THE BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE
Amanda Hesser brought this recipe to The Times in a 1998 article about a return to simply-prepared, down-home foods in response to the brash, over-the-top 90's style of cooking. It's an adaptation of one found in Pam Anderson's book, "The Perfect Recipe," and it calls for stirring the mixture every five minutes while it is baking. This gives it the ideal balance of lightness and creaminess -- a detail that is missing from most macaroni and cheese recipes.
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, editors' pick, pastas, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a 1 1/2-quart heat-proof dish, such as a souffle pan, in oven to warm.
- In a small baking pan, combine bread crumbs, a pinch of salt and the melted butter. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and the macaroni. Cook until almost tender but still a little firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to preheated dish. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
- In a small bowl, combine eggs, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, the pepper sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the mustard mixture. Mix well. Pour egg mixture over macaroni. Add 3/4 of the cheese, and stir until thoroughly combined and cheese starts to melt.
- Place dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Remove dish from oven and add about half of the remaining evaporated milk, and half of the remaining cheese. Stir well, and return pan to oven. Bake 5 minutes longer, remove pan from oven, and stir thoroughly. If mixture does not look moist and creamy, add a little more of the milk and cheese. Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes, removing pan from oven halfway through to stir in remaining evaporated milk and cheese.
- While macaroni is baking, add pan of bread crumbs to oven. Bake until bread crumbs are toasted and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. When macaroni has baked, sprinkle surface with toasted bread crumbs, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 824, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 39 grams, SaturatedFat 23 grams, Sodium 829 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram
Tips:
- Use a combination of cheeses for the best flavor. A good starting point is a blend of cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyère.
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains cellulose, which can make your macaroni and cheese grainy.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the sauce. It also adds a rich, nutty flavor.
- Use whole milk or cream for the sauce. This will make the sauce creamy and smooth.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. You can also add other spices, such as garlic powder or paprika, to taste.
- Stir in the cheese slowly. This will help to prevent the cheese from clumping.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will take about 30 minutes.
- Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help to set the sauce.
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 it can be easily customized to your own taste. With a few simple tips, you can make the most amazing macaroni and cheese in the world. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy meal, give this recipe a try.
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