Best 10 Western Macaroni And Cheese Dinner Recipes

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Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with Western Macaroni and Cheese Dinner, a hearty and flavorful dish that will tantalize your taste buds. This classic American recipe combines tender macaroni pasta, a creamy and cheesy sauce, and a crispy breadcrumb topping, resulting in a golden-brown casserole that is sure to be a hit at any gathering. Along with the main recipe, this article also offers variations such as a healthier version with whole-wheat macaroni and reduced-fat cheese, a vegetarian option featuring roasted vegetables, and a spicy rendition with jalapeños and chili powder. Whether you prefer a traditional or a customized version, this versatile dish is sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you feeling warm and content.

Let's cook with our 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.

COWBOY MACARONI



Cowboy Macaroni image

A favorite meal of any cowboy. Includes a hearty combination of lean ground beef, macaroni, cheese, and a tomato sauce that will make you jump up and click your spurs together.

Provided by D. Carnes

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta

Time 50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (14 ounce) package macaroni and cheese
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 (10 ounce) can canned whole kernel corn
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (10 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, chopped
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C). Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the directions on the package.
  • Brown the ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
  • In a 2 quart casserole dish, combine the macaroni and cheese, ground beef, onion, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and corn with its liquid. Mix well.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until heated through. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.5 calories, Carbohydrate 62.2 g, Cholesterol 63.6 mg, Fat 16.7 g, Fiber 4.3 g, Protein 28.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.9 g, Sodium 1220 mg, Sugar 13.8 g

SOUTHWEST MAC AND CHEESE



Southwest Mac and Cheese image

This Mexican-inspired dish features ingredients loved in all cultures: cheese, pasta and corn!

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 22m

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 1/3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni or cavatappi pasta (8 ounces)
1 cup Old El Paso™ salsa (any variety)
1 1/2 cups milk
1 can (14.75 ounces) cream-style corn
1 can (11 ounces) whole kernel corn with red and green peppers
1 loaf (8 oz. box) VELVEETA™ Original Cheese, cubed

Steps:

  • Mix all ingredients except cheese in 12-inch nonstick skillet. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat.
  • Cover and simmer 10 to 14 minutes, stirring frequently, until macaroni is tender. Stir in cheese until melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 425, Carbohydrate 58 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 5 g, Protein 19 g, SaturatedFat 8 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1030 mg

WESTERN MAC



Western Mac image

I found this recipe off of a box of Western Family Macaroni & Cheese. It sounded so good that I had to make it, and when I did, my family loved it. This is also the type of recipe that kids will love and ask for over and over. Personally, I like the ease of how it comes together and also any leftovers the next night are great....

Provided by Jeanne Gliddon

Categories     Casseroles

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

7 1/4 oz box of macaroni & cheese
1 lb ground beef
1/2 c sliced celery
1/4 c chopped onion
2 c whole kernel corn, drained
8 oz can tomato paste
1/2 c water
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • 1. Gather all of your ingredients.
  • 2. Prepare Macaroni and Cheese Dinner as directed on box.
  • 3. Brown meat, celery and onion.
  • 4. Stir in corn, tomato paste, water, salt and pepper.
  • 5. Add macaroni and cheese and mix well.
  • 6. Pour into a two quart casserole and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese on top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Can also be left in iron skillet and baked. This is how I now do it thanks to Cassie's suggestion!
  • 7. Serve and enjoy!

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese image

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

1 pound elbows, shells, cavatappi, farfalle, fusilli or other short, tube-shaped pasta
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1 teaspoon smoked or hot paprika
Freshly ground pepper
12 ounces sharp or white Cheddar cheese, grated
12 ounces fontina or Gruyère, grated
1 cup coarse bread crumbs or panko
4 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

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

WESTERN MACARONI



Western Macaroni image

This is a very inexpensive, easy, and well-rounded dish sure to feed the heartiest of appetites. VERY bachelor and college-student friendly!:) I used to absolutley LOVE this dish when I was younger (before I decided to forgo the red-meat thing), but my family still enjoys it often.(I'm thinking of trying it with chicken?!?!) Let me know how it turns out if you do!!

Provided by Manda

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 30m

Yield 5 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package macaroni and cheese mix
1 lb hamburger
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • Prepare macaroni and cheese according to pkg.
  • directions.
  • Brown meat, green pepper, and onion.
  • Cook until veggies are tender and meat is cooked through.
  • Stir in corn, tomato paste, water, salt, and pepper.
  • Add prepared macaroni and cheese dinner and mix well.
  • Simmer 10-15 minutes.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE



Classic Southern Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Virginia Willis

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups elbow macaroni
8 ounces grated extra-sharp Cheddar (about 2 cups)
2 cups milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch ovenproof casserole dish.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until tender (a little more than al dente), about 12 minutes. Drain well in a colander.
  • In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, cheese, milk and eggs. Add some salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared dish.
  • Bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly before serving.

WESTERN MAC



Western Mac image

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Recipes

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 package Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups (1 lb. can) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1 tsp salt
Dash of pepper

Steps:

  • Prepare Kraft Macaroni and Cheese as directed.
  • Brown meat, celery, green pepper and onion, cook until tender. Stir in corn, tomato paste, water, salt and pepper. Add Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner; mix well.
  • Pour into 2-qt. casserole; bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 0 g, Fat 0 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 g, Sodium 0 g, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 0 g

OLD SCHOOL MAC N' CHEESE



Old School Mac n' Cheese image

This is a completely unpretentious, down-home macaroni and cheese recipe just like my grandma and mom always made. A simple white sauce where you add cheese and a few other flavors with macaroni and a potato chip crust. This recipe makes a lot, I like to make two pans so I can take one to a pot luck and have the other one to keep in the fridge for later. It's an easy recipe to adjust down if you only want to make one pan. If you aren't cooking it right away, just keep the topping separate until you are ready to put it in the oven.

Provided by Collette Duck

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h15m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 ¾ pounds whole-wheat macaroni
¾ cup butter
¾ cup all-purpose flour
6 cups milk, divided
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
3 (8 ounce) packages shredded American cheese
1 (8 ounce) bag potato chips (such as Lay's®), crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
butter-flavored cooking spray

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • 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 large pot over medium-low heat. Slowly add flour to butter, whisking constantly; cook until brown and the mixture no longer smells of flour, about 5 minutes. Pour 1 cup milk into the flour mixture, whisking continually until fully incorporated, about 45 seconds; repeat twice. Add remaining 3 cups milk to the mixture, whisking to incorporate. Stir Worcestershire sauce, mustard powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper into the mixture; season with salt and black pepper.
  • Reduce heat to low. Cook sauce, whisking frequently, until it begins to thicken, about 10 minutes. Add about half the package of shredded Cheddar cheese; stir continually until the cheese melts completely. Repeat with remaining half package of Cheddar cheese and the American cheese, about 4 ounces at a time. Once cheese is entirely incorporated, remove sauce from heat.
  • Stir drained macaroni into the cheese sauce to coat. Divide macaroni between two 9x13-inch baking dishes.
  • Mix crushed potato chips, 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl. Top the macaroni with the potato chip mixture evenly. Spray the potato chip mixture with cooking spray.
  • Bake in preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 506.7 calories, Carbohydrate 40.2 g, Cholesterol 75.9 mg, Fat 30.1 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 21.5 g, SaturatedFat 17.3 g, Sodium 783.4 mg, Sugar 4.7 g

SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE



Southern Macaroni and Cheese image

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

Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs
4 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar (about 16 ounces)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
2 cups shredded Colby Jack (about 8 ounces)

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:

  • Use high-quality cheese for the best flavor. A blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan is a classic choice.
  • Cook the macaroni to al dente according to the package directions. This will prevent it from becoming mushy.
  • Make a roux with butter and flour to thicken the cheese sauce. This will give it a smooth and creamy texture.
  • Season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a bit of mustard powder or cayenne pepper for a kick.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or grated Parmesan cheese before baking. This will give it a golden brown crust.
  • Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and hot. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
  • Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help it to set and make it easier to scoop.

Conclusion:

Western macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and loved by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. You can add different types of cheese, vegetables, or meat. You can also bake it in a variety of shapes and sizes. No matter how you choose to make it, Western macaroni and cheese is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

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