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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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!!
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
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
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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