Indulge in a culinary journey with our comprehensive guide to the world's best macaroni and cheese recipes. From the classic baked macaroni and cheese to innovative variations with lobster, bacon, and truffle, our curated collection offers a delightful array of flavors and textures. Discover the secrets to achieving the perfect cheese sauce, the right pasta consistency, and the ideal topping combination. Whether you prefer a traditional recipe or a creative twist, our detailed instructions and helpful tips will guide you in creating a macaroni and cheese dish that will impress your family and friends. Embrace the cheesy goodness and embark on a delicious adventure with our ultimate macaroni and cheese recipes.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
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.
WORLD'S BEST MAC AND CHEESE
It's a bold claim, but this mac and cheese from Kurt Beecher Dammeier's "Pure Flavor" cookbook is that good. Three types of cheese-cheddar, Gruyere, and Jack-add plenty of richness, while a touch of chipotle-chile powder imbues the dish with a subtle smoky flavor.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 45m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or oil an 8-inch baking dish; set aside.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain into a colander and rinse under cold water until cool, then drain again.
- Stir together pasta and cheese sauce until well combined. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cheeses and chile powder. Bake, uncovered, until lightly browned in places, about 20 minutes. Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving.
BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE
I found this recipe in a magazine. I made the recipe the other day, and this mac and cheese IS tasty. It makes a lot, too. So if you have to make dinner for a crowd, this is the one to make. To save on cost, I don't think you would have to use the gruyere cheese, although it does add a bit of a difference to ordinary mac and cheese, as does the bay leaf.
Provided by Chris Reynolds
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Toss the panko bread crumbs with melted butter on a small baking pan. Toast the bread crumbs until lightly browned about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat until melted, then stir in the flour. Heat and stir until the mixture is smooth and bubbling about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in the milk. Add the seasonings (next 6 ingredients).
- Heat and stir to boiling, then reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
- Stir in 3 cups of the cheddar cheese and all the Gruyere until melted. Pour the sauce over the cooked macaroni in a large bowl, stirring until all the macaroni is coated.
- Pour the macaroni into a well-greased 9x13 baking pan. Drizzle heavy cream around the edges of the casserole. Sprinkle on the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Top with the panko crumbs and cover the casserole.
- Bake 20 minutes. Remove the cover and bake an additional 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 458.8, Fat 28.1, SaturatedFat 17.2, Cholesterol 88.7, Sodium 508.3, Carbohydrate 30.9, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 1.2, Protein 20.4
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 cheese that melts well. Cheddar is a classic choice, but you can also use other cheeses like Gruyère, Parmesan, or Fontina.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: You don't want the macaroni to be mushy, so cook it al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the cheese sauce. It's important to cook the roux until it is golden brown, which will give the cheese sauce a nice flavor.
- Use milk or cream: You can use milk or cream to make the cheese sauce. Milk will make a lighter sauce, while cream will make a richer sauce.
- Season the cheese sauce: Don't forget to season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.
- Top with breadcrumbs: A topping of breadcrumbs adds a nice crunch to macaroni and cheese. You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Bake until golden brown: Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is golden brown on top. This will give it a nice crust and help to keep it warm.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients and flavors. Whether you like your macaroni and cheese simple or cheesy, there is a recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these macaroni and cheese recipes a try.
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