Best 5 The Very Best Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with our collection of macaroni and cheese recipes. From classic stovetop versions to baked dishes bursting with cheesy goodness, our diverse range of recipes caters to every palate and occasion. Dive into the richness of our Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese, where a harmonious blend of cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Gruyère cheeses creates an irresistibly creamy and flavorful dish. Explore a lighter take with our One-Pot Mac and Cheese, which combines the convenience of a single cooking vessel with a creamy sauce made from Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cheese. Embark on a culinary journey with our Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese, featuring a golden-brown crust and a luscious filling infused with the flavors of the American South. For a touch of sophistication, try our Lobster Mac and Cheese, where succulent lobster meat elevates the classic dish to a luxurious level. And for those seeking a vegetarian delight, our Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese offers a hearty and flavorful alternative, showcasing the versatility of this timeless comfort food.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE



Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese image

In the South, mac 'n cheese is like everyone's favorite aunt-and this best-ever recipe beats out the rest.

Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen

Categories     Casserole

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 14

16 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni, large shells, or cavatappi pasta
6 tablespoons salted butter
⅓ cup grated yellow onion
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups milk
1 ¾ cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded, (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium. Add next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup each of shredded Cheddar cheeses until melted. (Reserve remaining 1/4 cup each of shredded cheeses.) Stir in pasta and diced cheeses; pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
  • Bake on a rimmed baking sheet in preheated oven until bubbly and golden, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheeses; broil 6 inches from heat until cheeses are melted and golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.

"WORLD'S BEST" MACARONI & CHEESE



We tasted this in Seattle at the Pike Place Market in the Beecher's store. It is the best! I had to get their recipe and I found it on the internet; It is a very rich creamy comfort food. I do not have Beecher's cheese so I improvised with what is available and it came out as tasty as the original. Serve this with a crisp salad. Enjoy!

Provided by Sageca

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

cheese sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups 1% low-fat milk
14 ounces white medium cheddar, grated
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
1 ounce asiago cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried chipotle powder or 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne
pasta
12 ounces macaroni
salt for pasta water
2 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces gruyere, grated
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried chipotle powder or 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350; F. Set a large pot of water on high heat.
  • Meanwhile, begin the sauce by making a roux: in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Continue to stir this roux over medium heat for two to three minutes.
  • The roux should be cooked and free of the flour flavor but still light in color.
  • Gradually add milk, whisking briskly to maintain a smooth sauce.
  • Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching.
  • When sauce thickens, add cheeses, salt and spices to the sauce, and stir until all the cheese has melted. I make my sauces in the microwave; turns out great and never scorches.
  • Somewhere during this sauce-cooking process, your pasta water has started boiling. The original is made with Penne noodles. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate). You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. Return pasta to pot.
  • Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated. The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy.
  • Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges. Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving.
  • Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. I divided this in 2 containers and froze one.

THE VERY BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE



The Very Best Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this The Very Best Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by butterflyday

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 50m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup butter
1 1/2 lbs elbow macaroni
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
1 small diced onion (1/2 cup)
4 minced garlic cloves
1 cup flour
5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
6 slices American cheese, broken
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
salt & pepper
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Butter a 13x9 inch pan.
  • Cook macaroni until it is al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, combine milk and cream.
  • In a pan on medium heat, melt only 1/2 pound butter.
  • Cook onions and garlic until clear, about 6 minutes.
  • Add flour and cook/stir for 3 minutes.
  • Add cream mixture and mix until smooth.
  • Boil, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Stir in 4 cups of Cheddar cheese, American cheese, and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese.
  • Stir until melted.
  • It will be thick and creamy --
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir sauce in pasta.
  • Pour in a 13x9 inch pan.
  • Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar, Parmesan and bread crumbs.
  • Bake uncovered, middle shelf for 20 minutes until bubbling and browned on top.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1735.5, Fat 111.5, SaturatedFat 68.9, Cholesterol 343.3, Sodium 1770.5, Carbohydrate 120.1, Fiber 4.9, Sugar 4.1, Protein 63.7

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Trisha Yearwood

Categories     side-dish

Time 50m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Unsalted butter, for the dish
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni with ridges
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups milk
2 cups grated sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Steps:

  • For the macaroni: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart casserole dish.
  • Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the salt and macaroni. Bring the water back to a boil and cook the macaroni until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain well.
  • For the cheese sauce: Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 1-quart saucepan. Using a wire whisk, stir in the flour and salt, stirring and cooking over medium heat until the roux bubbles and the flour turns pale brown, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in 1 cup of the milk and then whisk in the remaining 1 cup milk. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Add the cheese and stir until it melts. Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix thoroughly.
  • For the topping: In a small bowl, stir the breadcrumbs with the butter until the crumbs are moistened.
  • Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the prepared baking dish and top with the buttered breadcrumbs. Bake until the dish bubbles around the edges, about 15 minutes.

BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE RECIPE



Best ever macaroni cheese recipe image

This perfect baked macaroni cheese recipe comes with a creamy cheese sauce, a hint of mustard and uses leftover French stick for its crunchy topping

Provided by Jennifer Joyce

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 9

50g baguette, cut into small chunks
2 tbsp butter, plus 1 tbsp melted
350g spiral or other short pasta
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tsp English mustard powder
3 tbsp plain flour
500ml whole milk
250g vegetarian mature cheddar, grated
50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spread the baguette chunks over a baking sheet, drizzle with the melted butter and season. Bake for 6 mins until crisp, then set aside.
  • Boil the pasta for 2 mins less than stated on the pack, then drain. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the garlic and English mustard powder, cook for 1 min, then stir in the plain flour.
  • Cook for 1 min more, then gradually whisk in the milk until you have a lump-free sauce. Simmer for 5 mins, whisking all the time until thickened. Take off the heat, then stir in the cheddar and half the parmesan.
  • Stir the pasta and some seasoning into the cheesy sauce. Tip into a large ovenproof dish, or four individual dishes.
  • Scatter over the bread and the remaining parmesan, then bake for 20 mins until crisp and golden. Can be frozen before baking - defrost thoroughly before cooking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 860 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 25 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 88 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Protein 38 grams protein, Sodium 1.9 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Use high-quality cheese. The better the cheese, the better the macaroni and cheese. Look for aged cheddar, Gruyère, or Fontina cheeses.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente. This means it should be cooked until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will make the dish mushy.
  • Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. It helps to create a smooth, creamy sauce.
  • Add milk or cream gradually. Stir the milk or cream into the cheese sauce slowly, whisking constantly. This will help to prevent the sauce from curdling.
  • Season the cheese sauce to taste. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other spices to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little spice.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or grated Parmesan cheese. This will give the dish a nice golden brown crust.
  • Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown. This usually takes about 20-30 minutes.
  • Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help it to set up and become easier to serve.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and loved by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make the best macaroni and cheese that you have ever tasted. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give this recipe a try.

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