Are you craving a delicious and creamy bowl of mac and cheese, but short on time or skills? Fear not! The "cheater's mac and cheese" is here to save the day. This simplified version of the classic dish uses readily available ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, making it perfect for busy weeknights, college students, or anyone looking for culinary convenience. With a few pantry staples and a box of your favorite macaroni, you can whip up a satisfying and cheesy meal that's sure to please the whole family. So, grab your apron and let's embark on a delightful journey into the world of cheaters mac and cheese, where cheesy indulgence meets effortless cooking.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CHEAT'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
That packaged mac and cheese with the dry cheese is unavailable in Greece but that's the taste my kids want! This is my attempt at duplicating it - pretty good, I think - and my kids are happy.
Provided by evelynathens
Categories Kid Friendly
Time 25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Bring plenty of water to the boil and salt generously. Boil your pasta 2 minutes short of the time stated on the package.
- While the pasta is boiling, scald milk in a small pot and add the garlic granules, if using, all the cheese and the butter. Turn off heat and just allow the cheese to sit there and melt while your pasta is cooking. When pasta is nearly done, whisk melted cheese into milk to blend.
- Drain cooked pasta and immediately return to pot. Add hot milk/cheese mixture and stir pasta to coat. Cover pasta and allow to sit in this mixture for 10 minutes. Stir again to coat (most of sauce will have been absorbed by the pasta, leaving a thick, creamy sauce in the pot) and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 598, Fat 23.8, SaturatedFat 14.5, Cholesterol 60.5, Sodium 818, Carbohydrate 67.1, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 2, Protein 27.8
CHEATER'S MAC AND CHEESE
Some days call for a meal that soothes as much as it satisfies, and that's when this 20-minute mac-and-cheese swoops in. Pasta and broccoli are cooked in the same pot, then drained and stirred together with reserved pasta water, cream cheese, butter, and Parmesan for the easiest sauce ever. One carbo-licious bite, and all your cares will melt away.
Provided by Greg Lofts
Categories Food & Cooking Quick & Easy Recipes
Time 20m
Yield Serves 2
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a pot of generously salted boiling water 2 minutes less than per package instructions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and cover to keep warm. Add broccoli to pot; continue boiling until pasta is al dente and broccoli is bright green, 1 to 2 minutes more. Drain.
- Return pot to medium heat; add cream cheese, butter, and 2/3 cup reserved pasta water. Cook, stirring, until mixture is smooth and simmering. Remove from heat; stir in pasta, broccoli, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Toss with more pasta water as needed until sauce clings to pasta. Serve with more Parmigiano and black pepper.
CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE
Enjoy this classic macaroni and cheese recipe that is ready in 40 minutes - perfect for an Italian dinner.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 40m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°. Grease 2-quart casserole. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.
- Melt margarine in 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.
- Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in macaroni until well coated. Spoon into casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until hot in center.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 605, Carbohydrate 51 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 26 g, SaturatedFat 16 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 860 mg
MACARONI AND CHEDDAR CHEESE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 entree servings, 8 side servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat a medium, deep skillet over medium heat. Add oil and butter. When butter melts into the oil, add flour and combine. Gently cook, whisking flour and butter together, until smooth and flour has had a chance to cook, about 3 minutes. Slowly add milk while continuing to whisk. Gently bring milk to a bubble while stirring frequently. Allow the milk to thicken a bit, then stir in 2 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese a handful at a time. Season sauce with nutmeg and cayenne. Taste and add a little salt, if you like. Add cooked pasta to sauce and coat completely by turning over and over in the cheese sauce. Transfer to a flameproof baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Place baking dish under a hot broiler and brown the Cheddar cheese on top.
CHEESE LOVERS 5 CHEESE MAC AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F and butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.
- In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, saute the bacon until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Saute the onion in the bacon drippings until soft. Add the 5 tablespoons butter to the onion mixture and melt the butter stirring with a wooden spoon.
- Using a whisk, add the flour, and stir constantly until well mixed with the fat making a roux. Whisk in the mustard. Gradually add the milk and cream whisking constantly.
- Add the thyme, bay leaf, and salt. Let come to a simmer and stir frequently for 15 minutes.
- Strain the hot milk mixture into a metal bowl and discard the solids. Working quickly, mix in 1 cup fontina, blue cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyere, 1/2 cup white Cheddar, 1/2 cup Parmesan, the reserved bacon, and parsley. Continue to stir until all cheese is melted.
- Add the cooked noodles to the cheese mixture to coat. Add the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Mix the remaining cheese and bread crumbs together and sprinkle on top of the noodles. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown. Remove from oven when done and rest for 5 minutes.
CHEAT'S CAULI-MACARONI CHEESE
New idea for a family favourite
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Buffet, Dinner, Main course, Pasta
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pan of water to the boil. Toss in the pasta and bring back to the boil, then cook for a couple of minutes. Tip in the cauliflower and cook for a further 8-10 minutes until both are tender.
- Make the sauce: Drain the pasta and cauliflower well. Put the crème fraîche, mustard and most of the cheese (keeping back a good handful) into the pasta pan. Stir and warm through over a low heat just until the cheese starts to melt.
- Finish the dish: Preheat the grill to hot. Tip the pasta and cauliflower into the cheese sauce and gently stir together. Season to taste. Transfer to a flameproof dish, scatter the tomatoes over the top, then the rest of the cheese and a sprinkling of freshly ground black pepper. Grill for about 5 minutes until brown and bubbling.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 636 calories, Fat 33 grams fat, SaturatedFat 18 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 64 grams carbohydrates, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 25 grams protein, Sodium 0.98 milligram of sodium
CLASSIC BAKED MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: unsalted butter, all purpose flour, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, whole milk, heavy cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, elbow macaroni, unsalted butter, kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, panko breadcrumbs
Provided by Next Level Chef on Fox
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, and pepper and whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly, until smooth. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 4-5 minutes. Add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Fold in the cooked pasta until evenly coated.
- Pour the mac and cheese into a 9-inch square pan.
- Make the bread crumb topping: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and paprika with a fork until combined. Add the panko bread crumbs and stir until evenly coated in the butter mixture.
- Sprinkle the bread crumb topping evenly over the mac and cheese.
- Bake the mac and cheese for 10-15 minutes, or until the topping is browned (if the top isn't browning, broil on high for 2-3 minutes).
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 679 calories, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 36 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 22 grams, Sugar 6 grams
MACARONI AND CHEESE
When it comes to comfort food, nothing tops mac 'n' cheese, especially Martha's easy-to-make version.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Yield Serves 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into bowl with bread, and toss. Set breadcrumbs aside.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, whisking, 1 minute.
- While whisking, slowly pour in hot milk. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar cheese, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup Pecorino Romano; set cheese sauce aside.
- Fill a large saucepan with water; bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's directions, until the outside of pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce
- Pour mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano, and breadcrumbs over top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool 5 minutes; serve hot.
MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: milk, cheese, elbow macaroni, salt, pepper
Provided by Sofia Ben
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Boil the milk, then add the macaroni. Stir it continuously for 10 minutes.
- Then add cheese, salt and pepper.
- Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1057 calories, Carbohydrate 136 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 51 grams, Sugar 16 grams
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese. Choose a cheese that melts well and has a strong flavor, such as cheddar, Gruyère, or Parmesan.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but be careful not to overcook it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and won't hold its shape well in the mac and cheese.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken sauces. Adding a roux to your mac and cheese will help to create a creamy and smooth sauce.
- Use milk or cream: Milk or cream will help to make the mac and cheese sauce creamy and flavorful. You can use whole milk, low-fat milk, or even heavy cream, depending on your preference.
- Add seasonings: Season the mac and cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and other seasonings to taste. You can also add herbs, spices, or even hot sauce to give the mac and cheese a unique flavor.
- Top with breadcrumbs: Topped with breadcrumbs, the mac and cheese will have a crispy and golden brown crust. You can use plain breadcrumbs or seasoned breadcrumbs, depending on your preference.
- Bake until bubbly: Bake the mac and cheese until it is bubbly and the cheese is melted and gooey. This will usually take about 20 minutes.
Conclusion:
Cheater's mac and cheese is a quick and easy way to make a delicious and comforting meal. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a mac and cheese that is creamy, cheesy, and flavorful. Whether you are looking for a weeknight meal or a side dish for a special occasion, cheater's mac and cheese is sure to be a hit.
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