Best 6 The Ultimate Creamy Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our creamy macaroni and cheese recipes. From the classic stovetop version to baked variations, our collection offers a diverse range of flavors and textures to satisfy every palate. Whether you prefer a rich and gooey cheese sauce or a crispy, golden-brown crust, we have the perfect recipe for you. Explore our selection of macaroni and cheese recipes and discover the perfect dish to warm your heart and fill your belly.

**Recipes Included:**

* **Classic Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese:** Experience the timeless flavors of this traditional recipe, featuring a velvety cheese sauce made with a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses.

* **Baked Macaroni and Cheese:** Elevate your mac and cheese game with this oven-baked version. A crispy, golden-brown crust complements the creamy interior, creating a delightful contrast in textures.

* **Crock-Pot Macaroni and Cheese:** For a hassle-free meal, try our slow-cooker macaroni and cheese. Simply toss all the ingredients into your crock pot and let it work its magic, resulting in a rich and comforting dish.

* **Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese:** Embrace the convenience of modern cooking with our Instant Pot macaroni and cheese. This recipe delivers a quick and easy version of the classic dish, perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous cravings.

* **Loaded Macaroni and Cheese:** Take your mac and cheese to the next level with our loaded version. Packed with flavorful additions like crispy bacon, diced tomatoes, and sautéed mushrooms, this recipe offers a hearty and satisfying meal.

* **Healthy Macaroni and Cheese:** For a lighter take on the classic dish, try our healthy macaroni and cheese. This recipe uses whole wheat pasta, low-fat milk, and reduced-fat cheese to create a healthier version without compromising on taste.

With our comprehensive collection of macaroni and cheese recipes, you'll find the perfect dish to satisfy your cravings, whether you're looking for a comforting classic or a unique and flavorful twist. So grab your ingredients, fire up the stove or oven, and let's get cooking!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

This is the ultimate creamy mac and cheese recipe. It's saucy, thick and very rich, with a wonderful cheddar flavor. Once you taste it, you'll be hooked. -Cindy Hartley, Chesapeake, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 55m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 to 2 cups 2% milk
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces cubed Velveeta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in sour cream, Velveeta, Parmesan cheese, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth and cheese is melted. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. , Drain macaroni; toss with cheddar cheese. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Stir in cream sauce. , Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 46g fat (30g saturated fat), Cholesterol 143mg cholesterol, Sodium 1141mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

THE ULTIMATE CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



The Ultimate Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

There is always room for one more mac & cheese recipe. This newly created version with the addition of ricotta cheese puts a whole new spin on this traditional comfort food. Is this recipe too large for your family? Remember, Mac & Cheese is terrific frozen in serving size portions for use later. Created for RSC 16, and was awarded First Place. My thanks to everyone that reviewed the recipe.

Provided by Diana 2

Categories     Macaroni And Cheese

Time 1h5m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 cups sweet onions, chopped
3 liters water, boiling
1 tablespoon salt
4 cups cavatappi pasta, uncooked
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon hot chili sauce, to start
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cups old cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 cup corn, flake crumbs
1/4 cup old cheddar cheese, shredded

Steps:

  • Saute onions, on low heat, in 1 tbsp of butter until just tender, but not brown. Set aside.
  • In a large pot, add 1 tbsp salt to the boiling water, and cook pasta until al denta. Drain, but do not rinse.
  • While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce.
  • In a microwave safe measuring cup, mix the half and half with the milk, and heat for 2 minutes on high, in the microwave. Let sit in the microwave until ready to use. (This step is not crucial, but the sauce will thicken faster when using warmed milk.).
  • Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a medium sized saucepan, using medium heat, melt 1/4 cup of butter along with the black pepper. Once bubbling, sprinkle with 1/4 cup of flour. Allow a few moments for the fat to absorb the flour, then stir to combine. Carefully stir the warmed cream/milk into the butter/flour mixture and cook until thickened. This generally takes about 10 minutes on my stove.
  • Remove from heat, and stir in the onions, hot chili sauce, ricotta cheese, and the 2 cups of shredded cheddar. Stir until the cheddar has melted. Taste, and add the optional salt if needed. Depending on your taste, you may also opt to increase the amount of hot chili sauce as well.
  • Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and gently stir. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
  • Mix together 1 tbsp melted butter with the corn flake crumbs. Sprinkle over the pasta and top with the 1/4 cup shredded cheddar.
  • Bake for 35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling.

ULTIMATE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese image

This is America's favorite comfort food--tender macaroni, rich and cheesy sauce and a crisp crumb topping.

Provided by McCormick Spice

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     McCormick®

Time 1h

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons McCormick® Mustard, Ground
1 ½ teaspoons McCormick® Black Pepper, Coarse Grind
1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
6 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon McCormick® Paprika

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package for al dente pasta. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
  • Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook 3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add macaroni; toss gently to coat. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix panko and paprika; sprinkle evenly over top.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Cholesterol 64.9 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 19.2 g, SaturatedFat 13.5 g, Sodium 550 mg, Sugar 4.1 g

CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

This baked mac and cheese - perfect for a large crowd or as a side dish - is super simple to make. The cream cheese gives it richness and a little tang.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield Serves 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 1/2 cups half and half
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 3 cups)
3 ounces gruyere cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
1 cup panko bread crumbs
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Steps:

  • Set an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it is al dente, about 6 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 3/4 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
  • Heat the half-and-half and cayenne in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering until the half-and-half is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
  • Add the macaroni and the reserved pasta water to the saucepan and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will suck up a lot of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if needed. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Toss the bread crumbs with the butter and a sprinkle of salt in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are lightly browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.

ULTIMATE CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Ultimate Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

This is just an awesome recipe for macaroni and cheese. It was passed down to me by a friend of my mother's who was elderly at the time she gave it to me. She was in her 80's when she gave it to me and has since passed away. I'm so glad that I was able to get this from her because it's the best recipe for macaroni and cheese...

Provided by Robyn Bruce

Categories     Side Casseroles

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 lb dry macaroni
4 c whole milk
4 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
12 oz grated or shredded gruyere cheese
4 c grated or shredded new york sharp cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese

Steps:

  • 1. Bring large pot of unsalted water to a boil and cook macaroni just until tender. Drain, rinse under cold water. Drain again and set aside. (I use unsalted water because cheese is naturally salty. You can always use a little salt once it is on your plate if it's not salty enough for your taste.)
  • 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • 3. Bring milk just to a boil in heavy saucepan (remove the second it starts to boil to prevent scalding) and set aside.
  • 4. Meanwhile, melt butter in another saucepan and add flour. Whisk over low heat for 5 minutes. Do not brown.
  • 5. Remove from heat and add hot milk to flour mixture. Whisk well. Add 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Return pan to heat. Cook over medium heat whisking constantly until thickened - about 5 minutes. Do not brown.
  • 6. Remove from heat. Butter a 13 X 9 X 2 baking dish. Fill it evenly with macaroni and sauce.
  • 7. Distribute the grated cheeses evenly over macaroni, sprinkle with black pepper and additional paprika.
  • 8. Place dish on baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, until hot - 20 to 25 minutes. Place under broiler until top is slightly golden and bubbly - 3 or 4 minutes.

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by LizAnn

Categories     Cheese

Time 25m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 cups whole milk or 4 cups half-and-half
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 lb sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb macaroni, cooked and drained
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup cubed monterey jack cheese
chili powder (optional)
garlic salt (optional)
chopped fresh onion (optional)

Steps:

  • Mix cornsartch with a little of the milk till desolved.
  • In Large saucepan or dutch oven, add remaining milk, and cornstarch mixture and mustard.
  • Stir and cook over med heat to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 1 minute.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Stir in shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted.
  • Stir in cooked macaroni noodles.
  • Stir in cubed monterey Jack cheese
  • Optional additions:.
  • Sprinkle individual servings with chili powder and garlic salt.
  • Top with fresh chopped onions.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 465.9, Fat 22.4, SaturatedFat 13.7, Cholesterol 67.4, Sodium 400.7, Carbohydrate 42.2, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 6.3, Protein 23.2

Tips:

  • 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 cheese that melts well and has a good flavor, such as cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente: This means that the macaroni should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it. If you overcook the macaroni, it will become mushy and the mac and cheese will be less enjoyable.
  • Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the sauce. A roux will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin and watery.
  • Use milk or cream: Milk or cream will help to make the sauce creamy and rich. You can use whole milk, low-fat milk, or even heavy cream, depending on how rich you want the sauce to be.
  • Season the sauce to taste: Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little bit of heat.
  • Top with breadcrumbs or cheese: Before baking the mac and cheese, top it with breadcrumbs or grated cheese. This will help to create a crispy topping.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients. Whether you like your mac and cheese simple or loaded with toppings, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try.

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