Feast your senses on the ultimate comfort food experience! Discover the secrets to creating a decadent baked mac and cheese that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. In this culinary journey, we will embark on a quest to find the perfect balance of creamy cheese sauce, tender pasta, and a crispy golden-brown crust. From ingredient selection to cooking techniques, we will uncover the nuances that elevate this classic dish into a masterpiece. Get ready to indulge in a symphony of flavors and textures that will make your taste buds dance with joy.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
DECADENT BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This is a rendition of a macaroni and cheese dish a local restaurant makes. It's so rich and decadent I only make it once per year. It's not a "dieter's friend". You can use any pasta shape you like.
Provided by thedailygourmet
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cream, half-and-half, and garlic salt. Add Gruyere cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Oaxaca cheese. Stir into cream until melted. Drain pasta and add to the sauce; stir to coat.
- Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray and pour in pasta mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 299.7 calories, Carbohydrate 15.1 g, Cholesterol 69.3 mg, Fat 20.6 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 14.2 g, SaturatedFat 12.5 g, Sodium 402 mg, Sugar 0.9 g
SOUTHERN BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
This rich and decadent baked pasta is a Southern Black staple for holidays and special occasions. Steering away from the standard stovetop mac, this version includes three kinds of cheese and bakes up like a casserole with a crispy, golden top. The addition of eggs makes it similar to a cheesy, savory custard. Warning: This is not diet food!
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 1h35m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until 3 minutes less than fully cooked. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled; drain well. Add the cooked pasta back to the pot.
- Put the eggs, heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, ground mustard, nutmeg and a big pinch of salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Pour over the cooked pasta and stir to combine.
- Toss together the Cheddar, mozzarella and Gouda in a large bowl. Add the cheeses to the pot and stir to evenly combine. Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Bake until the center of the mac and cheese is set and the top is golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes before serving.
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Kardea Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
- Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
- Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
A friend of mine sent this recipe to me when I got my first apartment, because she knows how much I hate cooking! It's really easy -- even I can make it -- and tastes great. I'm not sure where she found the recipe, but it included the note 'Good source of protein, vitamin A, B group vitamins, calcium.'
Provided by Meredith
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Yield 3
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
- In a large pot of salted water, lightly boil the macaroni for about 5 minutes until half-cooked.
- Whisk the egg and milk together in a large cup. Add butter and cheese to the egg and milk. Stir well.
- Place the lightly cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese liquid over the macaroni, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stir well. Press the mixture evenly around the baking dish.
- Bake uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 968.1 calories, Carbohydrate 92.6 g, Cholesterol 194.2 mg, Fat 45.4 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 45.6 g, SaturatedFat 27.6 g, Sodium 736 mg, Sugar 11.2 g
DECADENT SEAFOOD BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Comfort Food and a Journey for the senses is what I thought of naming this. My baked seafood Mac-N-Cheese takes the standard recipe to another level of flavor. A joy to make and even better to eat. Creamy, rich and delicious! You'll feel like your dining at a fancy restaurant on the beach in your own home when you eat it, believe me... Enjoy! :-)
Provided by Mystic Eye Art
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.
- Remove the crusts from 8-10 slices of fresh white bread (or french bread) and tear apart. Place the torn pieces into a large plastic ziplock bag. Melt 6 Tbsp of Butter in a small saucepan and pour half of the melted butter over the bread. Seal the bag and toss the bread until well coated. Set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 6 cups of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt.
- While the water comes to a boil, take the remaining melted butter and brush with a pastry brush into a 3 Quart baking dish (or a disposable aluminium turkey roasting pan - for easy cleanup and transport). (Also, if you don't have a pastry brush, you can use a paper towel dipped in the butter to coat the pan). Set aside.
- In another large pot on medium heat, melt 6 Tbsp butter and, once melted, add 1/2 cup all purpose flour. Whisk together to make a rue. Slowly pour in the warm milk and whisk constantly until all the milk is added and the sauce thickens and begins to bubble. Remove from heat.
- Add the olive oil to the boiling water and stir in the pasta. Follow cooking instructions on the package for cook time or until the pasta is al-dente (firm, but not hard). Pour the pasta into a colander and rinse with cold running water and allow to drain.
- Add 1/2 tsp Sea Salt, White Pepper, Nutmeg, Tarragon, Cayenne Pepper, Gruyere, Cheddar and Pecorino cheeses to the sauce mixture and stir until the cheese melts.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta and cheese sauce and pour into the buttered baking dish. Combine lobster, sea scallops and cooked bacon. Sprinkle the bread pieces over the top and place in the oven.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cheese bubbles.
DECADENT MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Decadent Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Lalaloo
Categories Cheese
Time 1h5m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally until it is almost tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the milk, 1/4 cup melted butter, the cayenne pepper, and a teaspoon of salt.
- Put half the macaroni into a buttered 2-quart casserole and top with half the cheddar cheese. Repeat. Pour the milk mixture over the macaroni and cheese.
- In a small bowl, mix the bread crumbs with the paprika, the remaining butter, and the Parmesan. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the macaroni and bake until brown and bubbly, 40 to 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 341.4, Fat 20.9, SaturatedFat 12.5, Cholesterol 94.3, Sodium 355.6, Carbohydrate 24.4, Fiber 1.1, Sugar 1.1, Protein 14.2
Tips:
- Use a good quality cheese: This will make all the difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese. A sharp cheddar is a classic choice, but you can also use a combination of cheeses, such as Gruyère, Parmesan, or Fontina.
- Don't overcook the pasta: Al dente pasta is best for baked mac and cheese. If you overcook it, it will become mushy and lose its texture.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. This will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or watery.
- Season the cheese sauce: Don't be afraid to add some salt, pepper, and other spices to the cheese sauce. This will help to enhance the flavor.
- Use a variety of toppings: You can top your baked mac and cheese with anything you like, such as breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or crumbled bacon.
Conclusion:
Baked mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious baked mac and cheese that your family and friends will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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