Best 6 Best Mac And Cheese Recipes

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In the realm of comfort food, finding the best mac and cheese recipe is a culinary quest that sparks endless debate among food enthusiasts. This versatile dish, believed to have originated in the 18th century, has captured the hearts of people worldwide with its creamy, cheesy goodness. Whether you prefer a classic or a modern take on this iconic dish, embarking on a journey to find the ultimate mac and cheese recipe is an adventure worth taking. This article aims to guide you through the intricacies of choosing the perfect recipe, considering factors such as cheese selection, cooking techniques, and adding unique flavor twists to create a mac and cheese masterpiece. Join us as we explore the world of mac and cheese and uncover the secrets to achieving the ultimate taste experience.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

THE BEST STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE



The Best Stovetop Mac and Cheese image

Our super creamy, quick and easy stovetop mac and cheese is better than the boxed stuff, but just as satisfying. The combo of mild American and sharp Cheddar with cream cheese creates a perfectly balanced sauce that will please even the pickiest of palates.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

Kosher salt
8 ounces elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups grated sharp yellow Cheddar (about 4 ounces)
3 ounces sliced American cheese, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
  • Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder and paprika; cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and slightly darker, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and comes to a simmer, 7 to 8 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar, American cheese and cream cheese until melted and remove from heat.
  • Add the pasta to the sauce; toss, adding some reserved cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt.

"WORLD'S BEST" MAC AND CHEESE



Categories     Sauce     Cheese     Side     Bake     Kosher

Yield serves 4 as a side dish

Number Of Ingredients 15

6 ounces penne
2 cups Beecher's Flagship Cheese Sauce (recipe follows)
1 ounce Cheddar, grated (1/4 cup)
1 ounce Gruyère cheese, grated (1/4 cup)
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (see Note)
Beecher's Flagship Cheese Sauce
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
14 ounces semihard cheese (page 23), grated (about 3 1/2 cups)
2 ounces semisoft cheese (page 23), grated (1/2 cup)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
(makes about 4 cups)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Butter or oil an 8-inch baking dish.
  • Cook the penne 2 minutes less than package directions. (It will finish cooking in the oven.) Rinse the pasta in cold water and set aside.
  • Combine the cooked pasta and the sauce in a medium bowl and mix carefully but thoroughly. Scrape the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the cheeses and then the chili powder.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Let the mac and cheese sit for 5 minutes before serving.
  • Beecher's Flagship Cheese Sauce
  • Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Continue whisking and cooking for 2 minutes.
  • Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat.
  • Add the cheeses, salt, chili powder, and garlic powder. Stir until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are incorporated, about 3 minutes. Use immediately, or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • This sauce reheats nicely on the stove in a saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently so the sauce doesn't scorch.
  • Make Ahead
  • This recipe can be assembled before baking and frozen for up to 3 months-just be sure to use a freezer-to-oven pan and increase the baking time to 50 minutes.
  • notes
  • One-half teaspoon of chipotle chili powder makes a spicy mac, so make sure your family and friends can handle it!
  • The proportion of pasta to cheese sauce is crucial to the success of the dish. It will look like a lot of sauce for the pasta, but some of the liquid will be absorbed.

BEST EVER MAC AND CHEESE



BEST EVER Mac and Cheese image

Creamy comfort food!

Provided by FrackFamily5 CA->CT

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

Time 1h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
1 (16 ounce) package cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
½ cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (10 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with juice
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
  • Combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, butter, and cooked macaroni in a large baking dish. Stir in the Cheddar cheese. Arrange the tomatoes on top, then pour the tomato liquid over the casserole. Season with salt and black pepper.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then mix the macaroni and cheese thoroughly. Continue to bake until lightly browned and bubbly, about 15 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 730 calories, Carbohydrate 61.7 g, Cholesterol 107.9 mg, Fat 40.3 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 30.1 g, SaturatedFat 24.9 g, Sodium 734.7 mg, Sugar 3.6 g

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST BAKED MAC AND CHEESE



Absolutely the Best Baked Mac and Cheese image

This is GOOD--trust me! Tastes like a million bucks--maybe 2 million. I like to use cavatappi pasta (double elbows) because they are long and squiggly so they hold a lot of the sauce.

Provided by Aimchick

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 cups small elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 pinch ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
2 cups fat-free half-and-half, heated
4 cups grated 70% cabot light cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup buttered bread crumb

Steps:

  • Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions.
  • Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter a baking dish or coat with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Sprinkle flour into butter and whisk constantly until you have thick, smooth paste, about 5 minutes.
  • Add mustard, red pepper and Worcestershire. Gradually whisk in milk and continue stirring until sauce thickens and returns to simmer.
  • Reduce heat to low. Add 3 cups of cheese and stir until melted. Add macaroni, stirring until well coated. Pour into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over top, followed by crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden on top.

BEST MAC AND CHEESE EVER!!



Best Mac and Cheese Ever!! image

This recipe makes the most wonderful creamy rich mac and cheese I've ever had. it is easy to make, looks and tastes wonderful and everyone loves it

Provided by lizzypoo222

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 55m

Yield 10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 lb uncooked noodles (I like the shells but anything kind will work)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)
4 cups whole milk or 4 cups half-and-half
1 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons of melted butter

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350º F.
  • Cook noodles as directed on box.
  • While noodles are cooking, melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute-mixture will thicken. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring constantly until cheese is melted.
  • Drain rinsed noodles. Gently stir into cheese sauce. Pour into un-greased 4-quart casserole.
  • Stir together bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over the top of the Mac and Cheese.
  • Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until bread crumbs are toasted and cheese is bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 564.5, Fat 32.1, SaturatedFat 19.3, Cholesterol 126.2, Sodium 701, Carbohydrate 46.6, Fiber 2, Sugar 6.8, Protein 22.4

BEECHER'S WORLD BEST MAC AND CHEESE



BEECHER'S WORLD BEST MAC AND CHEESE image

Categories     Pasta     Bake     Dinner

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

SAUCE:
1/4 c UNSALTED BUTTER
1/3 c FLOUR
3 c WHOLE MILK
14 oz BEECHER'S FLAGSHIP CHEESE, GRATED ABOUT 3 1/2 CUPS
2 OZ BEECHER'S JUST JACK CHEESE, GRATED 1/2 CUP
1/2 t COARSE SALT
1/4 TO 1/2 t CHIPOTLE CHILI PWDR
1/8 t GARLIC PWDR
This is a full batch
PASTA:
6 OZ PENNE PASTA (ABOUT 3 1/2) CUPS
1 OZ (1/4 C) cheddar CHEESE, GRATED
1 OZ (1/4 C) gruyere cheese, grated
1/4 -1/2 t CHIPOTLE CHILI PWDER
This is half of batch

Steps:

  • 1. Prepare sauce, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over med. heat. Add flour. Cook, whisking constantly, 2 min. 2. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly. Cook until suace thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. 3. Add cheese, salt, chili pwdr and garlic pwdr. Stir until cheese melts, about 3 min. 5. To prepare pasta, cook pasta 2 min less than package directions. Rinse pasta in cold water and drain well. 6. Combine pasta and sauce in a med bowl: mix thoroughly. Transfer to an 8 in sq baking dish. Sprinkly top with cheese and chili pwdr. 7. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20 min. Let stand 5 min before serving. Serves 4.

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. Look for a cheese that melts well and has a strong flavor, such as cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan.
  • Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken sauces. It will help to give your mac and cheese a creamy, smooth texture.
  • Use milk and cream: Milk and cream add richness and flavor to mac and cheese. You can use whole milk, skim milk, or a combination of the two. If you are using heavy cream, be sure to use it sparingly, as it can make the mac and cheese too heavy.
  • Add seasonings: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are all classic seasonings for mac and cheese. You can also add other spices, such as paprika, cayenne pepper, or nutmeg, to taste.
  • Don't overcook the pasta: The pasta should be cooked al dente, or slightly firm to the bite. If you overcook the pasta, it will become mushy and the mac and cheese will be less enjoyable.
  • Use a variety of cheeses: Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of cheeses. You can use a combination of cheddar, Gruyère, Parmesan, or any other cheese that you like. The more variety of cheeses you use, the more complex the flavor of your mac and cheese will be.
  • Add some extras: Mac and cheese is a great dish to add other ingredients to. You can add cooked bacon, ham, or chicken. You can also add vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or peas. Get creative and add your favorite ingredients to make your own unique mac and cheese.

Conclusion:

Mac 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 ingredients. Whether you are looking for a simple and easy recipe or a more complex and flavorful dish, there is a mac and cheese recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed.

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