In the culinary world, the convergence of creamy ranch and mac and cheese marks a delectable union, resulting in a dish that tantalizes taste buds and satisfies cravings. This article embarks on a delicious journey to unearth the most extraordinary creamy ranch mac and cheese recipes, catering to diverse preferences and culinary skills. From classic stovetop renditions to innovative baked versions, explore a world of rich and comforting dishes that elevate the classic mac and cheese experience.
Let's cook with our recipes!
RANCH MAC & CHEESE
I came up with the recipe for this creamy and satisfying macaroni and cheese, which has a special twist. My husband requests it often - it's hearty enough to serve as a main dish. -Michelle Rotunno, Independence, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the milk, butter, dressing mix and seasonings; heat through. Stir in Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses until melted. Stir in sour cream., Drain macaroni; stir into cheese sauce with the saltines. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 488 calories, Fat 23g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 66mg cholesterol, Sodium 1357mg sodium, Carbohydrate 52g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 18g protein.
RANCH MAC 'N CHEESE - CREAMY
Hidden Valley® Ranch Seasoning adds a new dimension of flavor to this simple mac 'n cheese that's perfect for the whole family.
Provided by Hidden Valley Ranch
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Hidden Valley®
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to foam. Whisk in the flour until smooth and cook, whisking, for about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the milk and Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Seasoning Mix and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Fold in the cheese and stir until melted. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 583.3 calories, Carbohydrate 65.1 g, Cholesterol 72.1 mg, Fat 25.9 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 24 g, SaturatedFat 15.5 g, Sodium 296.2 mg, Sugar 8.3 g
RANCH MAC AND CHEESE BALLS
Super cheesy mac 'n' cheese gets a boost from ranch seasoning, and then gets even better: It's deep-fried into crunchy and creamy golden-brown bites.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories appetizer
Time 2h25m
Yield 16 balls
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Put the milk and macaroni in a small saucepan and bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping. Simmer until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Monterrey Jack, mozzarella, cream cheese, butter, 1 packet of the ranch seasoning (8 teaspoons) and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Transfer the mixture to a shallow bowl and cool to room temperature to stiffen up.
- Meanwhile, put the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into 3 separate shallow dishes and season each with salt and pepper.
- Using a 1-ounce ice cream scoop or 2 tablespoons, scoop out balls of the cooled macaroni mixture and put them on a baking sheet. Roll each ball in your hand until smooth, then dredge in the flour, dip in the eggs to coat and roll in the breadcrumbs until completely covered. Put the balls back on the baking sheet and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour.
- Pour enough oil into a large heavy pot to come 2 inches up the side and attach a deep-frying thermometer to the pot. Heat the oil over medium heat to 360 degrees F.
- Working in batches, fry the balls until golden brown on the outside and heated through inside, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, lift the balls from the oil and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Stir together the mayonnaise, buttermilk and remaining packet ranch seasoning in a small bowl until smooth. Transfer the mac 'n' cheese balls to a serving platter, drizzle with some of the dressing and serve with the remaining dressing on the side for dipping.
CREAMY RANCH MAC AND CHEESE
I came up with the recipe for this creamy and comforting macaroni and cheese with a ranch-flavored twist. My husband requests it often. -Michelle Rotunno, Independence, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, combine the milk, butter, dressing mix and seasonings; heat through. Stir in Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses until melted. Stir in sour cream., Drain macaroni; stir into cheese sauce with the Saltines. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 433 calories, Fat 17g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 49mg cholesterol, Sodium 766mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 19g protein.
ONE-POT RANCH MAC AND CHEESE
Forget about boiling up a big pot of salted water. In this ultra-creamy recipe, the pasta cooks directly in the milk, creating a rich thick base for the sauce. Three kinds of cheese, plus fresh chives and dill give it the familiar fresh tang of our favorite ranch dressing.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the milk and macaroni in a large saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the macaroni from clumping. Continue to boil, stirring frequently, until the macaroni is tender and the milk has thickened to the consistency of heavy cream, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the Monterey Jack cheese, mozzarella, cream cheese, sour cream, butter, cayenne and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and stir until smooth, thick and creamy. Fold in the dill and chives. Serve hot. (The dish will thicken as it cools; thin it out with a little hot water if desired.)
RANCH MAC 'N CHEESE
This mac 'n cheese gets a lift from the ordinary with Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing and grated Asiago cheese.
Provided by Hidden Valley Ranch
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Hidden Valley®
Time 30m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse and drain.
- In a medium bowl, whisk evaporated milk, dressing and eggs together until smooth. Fold in the cheese. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Spoon pasta mixture into an oiled 1 1/2-quart casserole. In a bowl, combine bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of pasta. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the top is nicely browned and heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 701.2 calories, Carbohydrate 51.7 g, Cholesterol 140.5 mg, Fat 43.1 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 27.1 g, SaturatedFat 17.4 g, Sodium 1119.7 mg, Sugar 6.2 g
RANCH MAC AND CHEESE
Throw together a tasty dish in barely any time at all with our Ranch Mac and Cheese recipe. Two everyday ingredients and 15 minutes are all you need to make Ranch Mac and Cheese. Make sure the little ones are happy with some easy-to-make Ranch Mac and Cheese.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Home
Time 15m
Yield 3 servings
Number Of Ingredients 2
Steps:
- Prepare Dinner as directed on package.
- Spoon into serving bowl.
- Drizzle with dressing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 420, Fat 22 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, TransFat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 800 mg, Carbohydrate 48 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 7 g, Protein 9 g
RANCH MAC & CHEESE
Variation of a recipe I found in Taste of Home Feb 2010. This is a easy stove top recipe that takes just a few minutes to cook.
Provided by invictus
Categories Cheese
Time 25m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain.
- In that same saucepan melt butter. Add the dressing mix and whisk until combined. Add in the milk and heat through. Stir in the cheeses until melted. Stir in sour cream.
- Add macaroni back into cheese sauce and heat through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 378, Fat 15.1, SaturatedFat 9.1, Cholesterol 38.4, Sodium 142.2, Carbohydrate 47.2, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 1.2, Protein 12.8
Tips:
- Use a quality cheese. The better the cheese, the better the mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or try a combination of cheeses for a more complex flavor.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will be mushy and ruin the texture of the mac and cheese.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the sauce. It helps to create a smooth and creamy sauce that coats the macaroni perfectly.
- Use milk or cream. Milk is the traditional liquid used in mac and cheese, but you can also use cream for a richer flavor. If you are using cream, be sure to reduce the amount of butter in the roux.
- Season the sauce. Salt and pepper are the basic seasonings for mac and cheese, but you can also add other spices and herbs to taste. Some popular additions include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Stir in the cheese. Once the sauce is thickened, stir in the cheese until it is melted and smooth. Be careful not to overcook the cheese, or it will become rubbery.
- Serve immediately. Mac and cheese is best served immediately after it is made. If you need to make it ahead of time, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, reheat it in the oven or microwave until it is heated through.
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 loaded with extras, there is a recipe out there that is sure to please you. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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