Macaroni and cheese, a classic dish loved by people of all ages, is a staple in many kitchens. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to suit different tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer a gooey, cheesy mac and cheese or a crispy, baked version, there is a recipe out there that is sure to satisfy your cravings. With so many different recipes available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one to try. This article will guide you through the process of finding the best mac and cheese recipe, taking into consideration factors such as ingredients, cooking methods, and personal preferences.
Here are our top 14 tried and tested recipes!
"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.
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.
BEST MAC 'N CHEESE EVER!
This is the best mac 'n cheese ever! I started out by going through the recipes on this site and when I found one I wanted to try, I was putting together the first few ingredients and said, 'Ya know what would be great to add to this...' and that's where the 'Best Mac 'N Cheese Ever' was created. By the time I was done and it was served at our New Year's Day lunch everyone was raving about how delish it was. Try this easy recipe for a down-home Southern taste of the Best Baked Mac 'N Cheese Ever!
Provided by CASS CLARK
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- 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; pour macaroni into the prepared dish.
- Beat eggs, sour cream, seasoned salt, and black pepper into a smooth mixture; stir Cheddar cheese and Cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese into mixture until thoroughly combined. Pour over macaroni and mix well. Top casserole with torn pieces of processed cheese. Drizzle melted butter over casserole, especially along the sides.
- Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is bubbling and cheese has melted, about 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 427.5 calories, Carbohydrate 27.3 g, Cholesterol 130.2 mg, Fat 27.9 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 17.2 g, Sodium 551 mg, Sugar 3.6 g
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
BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE RECIPE
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
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
BEST BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE EVER!
After being dissatisfied with many macaroni and cheese recipes, I experimented and came up with my own. Everyone that has tried it simply raves about it... I don't mean to toot my own horn but beep beep! (Serves 4)
Provided by AinsleyRose
Categories Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cook macaroni just until al dente and drain, set aside.
- While pasta is boiling, melt the butter in a large saucepan.
- Whisk in the flour over medium heat until smooth & bubbly (only about a minute).
- Stir in evaporated milk, cheese spread, pepper, mustard, seasoned salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and cayenne pepper Keep cooking and stirring over medium heat until sauce has thickened (about 3 or 4 minutes).
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and Velveeta to the white sauce and stir just until cheeses have melted.
- Add macaroni and stir until pasta is evenly coated with the cheese sauce.
- Pour into a casserole dish sprayed with Pam.
- Arrange cheese slices on top, sprinkle with cracker crumbs and dot somewhat generously with butter.
- Bake 15-20 minutes or until top is nice and golden and casserole is heated through.
- Let stand about 5 minutes before serving and enjoy!
EASIEST MAC-N-CHEESE EVER!
I have tried many more-complicated recipes for macaroni and cheese. Not only is this one often requested for family functions, but it is easy to make! Kids LOVE this recipe. It is so handy for busy moms.
Provided by Anncredible
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
- Place a saucepan over medium-low heat. Combine the cheese food, milk, and pepper in the saucepan; cook until the cheese has melted, stirring frequently. Stir in the drained macaroni until evenly coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 136.2 calories, Carbohydrate 15.9 g, Cholesterol 15.7 mg, Fat 5.2 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 241.5 mg, Sugar 2.4 g
REALLY THE BEST-EVER MAC 'N' CHEESE
Better than the normal, everyday, mac-n-cheese. I found this recipe online. Note: Use large shells such as chiocciole or conchiglie, or large elbow macaroni. A stout would go very well with this dish.
Provided by spacholl
Categories Brunch
Time 1h20m
Yield 12-16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the panko bread crumbs with the 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 the heat and whisk in the milk. Add the dry mustard, white and cayenne pepper, nutmeg, salt and bay leaf. Heat and stir to boiling, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaf.
- Stir in 3 cups of the cheddar until melted. Pour the sauce over the cooked macaroni in a large bowl, stirring until all of the macaroni is coated. Pour the macaroni into a well-buttered 9-by-13-inch casserole. Drizzle heavy cream around the edges of the casserole. Sprinkle on it the remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese, then the toasted bread crumbs.
- Cover the casserole with aluminum foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered an additional 10 minutes. Put under a preheated broiler for 5 minutes.
THE BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE
Amanda Hesser brought this recipe to The Times in a 1998 article about a return to simply-prepared, down-home foods in response to the brash, over-the-top 90's style of cooking. It's an adaptation of one found in Pam Anderson's book, "The Perfect Recipe," and it calls for stirring the mixture every five minutes while it is baking. This gives it the ideal balance of lightness and creaminess -- a detail that is missing from most macaroni and cheese recipes.
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, editors' pick, pastas, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a 1 1/2-quart heat-proof dish, such as a souffle pan, in oven to warm.
- In a small baking pan, combine bread crumbs, a pinch of salt and the melted butter. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and the macaroni. Cook until almost tender but still a little firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to preheated dish. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
- In a small bowl, combine eggs, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, the pepper sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the mustard mixture. Mix well. Pour egg mixture over macaroni. Add 3/4 of the cheese, and stir until thoroughly combined and cheese starts to melt.
- Place dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Remove dish from oven and add about half of the remaining evaporated milk, and half of the remaining cheese. Stir well, and return pan to oven. Bake 5 minutes longer, remove pan from oven, and stir thoroughly. If mixture does not look moist and creamy, add a little more of the milk and cheese. Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes, removing pan from oven halfway through to stir in remaining evaporated milk and cheese.
- While macaroni is baking, add pan of bread crumbs to oven. Bake until bread crumbs are toasted and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. When macaroni has baked, sprinkle surface with toasted bread crumbs, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 824, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 39 grams, SaturatedFat 23 grams, Sodium 829 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram
BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE EVER
Ok, My mom hates macaroni and cheese and when she tried this she instantly fell in love. My little brother(age 1 1/2) ate a whole plate.
Provided by MightyMickie
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h10m
Yield 8 bowls
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook macaroni, Drain.
- In sauce pan melt butter, stir in 4tbs flour, salt, pepper (until smooth) and add milk and cook (cook on low, milk will scald) while stirring until thickened and bubbly.
- Stir in 2 cups of the cheese until melted.
- Combine Macaroni and sauce in buttered casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in oven for 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 240, Fat 6.2, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 18.9, Sodium 503.8, Carbohydrate 36.9, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 1.1, Protein 8.8
BEST EVER MAC & CHEESE
To make this amazing mac, I make a sauce loaded with three different cheeses to toss with the noodles. When baked, it's gooey goodness with a crunchy topping that...don't get me started! -Beth Jacobson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a stockpot or Dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente; drain and return to pan. Pulse bread, 2 tablespoons butter, Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a food processor until coarsely ground., Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt remaining butter. Add onions and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Add ground mustard and cayenne; stir until blended. Stir in flour until smooth, about 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk and cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in Velveeta. Slowly add remaining cheeses a handful at a time, stirring until cheese is melted. Add Worcestershire and remaining salt and pepper. Pour over pasta; toss to coat., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in baking dish. Sprinkle bread crumbs over top of casserole. Bake until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbly, 10-12 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 762 calories, Fat 43g fat (25g saturated fat), Cholesterol 134mg cholesterol, Sodium 1138mg sodium, Carbohydrate 61g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 32g protein.
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.
THE BEST EVER MAC & CHEESE
Possibly the best tasting recipe ever for Macaroni & Cheese. It is also the easiest. Charlie and I can eat the whole bowl in one sitting. We absolutely love this recipe!
Provided by Chef Howe
Categories Cheese
Time 1h10m
Yield 1 casserole, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Spread butter on bottom of casserole dish.
- Add rest of ingredients except for the water in a large bowl.
- Mix together well then place in buttered casserole dish.
- Add the boiling water.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour.
- Let set for about 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 345.6, Fat 21.4, SaturatedFat 13.2, Cholesterol 64.4, Sodium 414.5, Carbohydrate 21, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 1.6, Protein 17
THE BEST BAKED MAC & CHEESE RECIPE EVER
Super creamy and gloriously cheesy, this classic baked mac and cheese boasts a golden bubbling lid with ooey gooey goodness underneath.
Provided by Kare for Kitchen Treaty
Categories Main Course Side Dish
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil the pasta JUST until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside. (Mix in a little butter to keep the noodles from sticking if it's going to be awhile before you make the sauce)
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the flour, salt, dry mustard, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. With a wooden spoon or whisk, stir constantly for three minutes.
- Add the milk in a thin stream, stirring constantly with a whisk. Continue to stir constantly until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 5-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted. You'll reserve the last cup of cheese for topping. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and toss gently until all of the pasta is coated.
- Add half the pasta to a two-quart casserole dish (I like a tall 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish). Sprinkle on half the cheese. Add the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese, then dust lightly with the smoked paprika.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the mac and cheese is bubbling and browning on top.
- Serve, topping individual servings with parsley or cooked, chopped bacon if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 442 kcal, Sugar 7 g, Sodium 601 mg, Fat 22 g, SaturatedFat 13 g, Carbohydrate 38 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 23 g, Cholesterol 68 mg, ServingSize 1 serving
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese. The type of cheese you use will have a major impact on the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a blend of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan for a classic flavor. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, such as Gouda, fontina, or smoked mozzarella.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that helps to thicken the sauce. It also adds a rich, nutty flavor. To make a roux, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the mixture is golden brown.
- Use milk and cream. Milk and cream add a creamy texture and flavor to the sauce. You can use whole milk, 2%, or skim milk, depending on your preference. If you want a richer sauce, use heavy cream or half-and-half.
- Season the sauce. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are essential seasonings for mac and cheese. You can also add other spices, such as paprika, cayenne pepper, or nutmeg, to taste.
- Cook the pasta al dente. Al dente pasta is cooked until it is still slightly firm to the bite. This will help to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy in the sauce.
- Add the cheese gradually. Add the cheese to the sauce gradually, stirring constantly. This will help to prevent the cheese from clumping and ensure that it melts evenly.
- Top with bread crumbs or crushed crackers. A topping of bread crumbs or crushed crackers adds a crispy texture and extra flavor to the mac and cheese. You can also top the mac and cheese with grated Parmesan cheese or chopped parsley.
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 different ingredients. Whether you like your mac and cheese simple or cheesy, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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