Best 7 Just Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

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Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are many different ways to prepare it. Whether you prefer a creamy, cheesy sauce or a crunchy, baked topping, there is a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for you. In this article, we will explore some of the best macaroni and cheese recipes, from classic stovetop versions to baked dishes with a variety of toppings. We will also provide tips on how to make the perfect macaroni and cheese, so you can enjoy this delicious dish at home. So, get ready to indulge in a cheesy, gooey, and satisfying meal with our collection of the best macaroni and cheese recipes.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Simple Macaroni and Cheese image

A very quick and easy fix to a tasty side-dish. Fancy, designer mac and cheese often costs forty or fifty dollars to prepare when you have so many exotic and expensive cheeses, but they aren't always the best tasting. This recipe is cheap and tasty.

Provided by g0dluvsugly

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (8 ounce) box elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • 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.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
  • Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 630.2 calories, Carbohydrate 55 g, Cholesterol 99.6 mg, Fat 33.6 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 26.5 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 777 mg, Sugar 7.6 g

CHEF JOHN'S MACARONI AND CHEESE



Chef John's Macaroni and Cheese image

This easy-to-make old-school macaroni and cheese has a perfectly crispy crust.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon white pepper
3 cups milk
1 pinch ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 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 the pasta is cooked through but still slightly firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
  • Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to foam and bubble, stir in the flour; cook on medium heat until flour just begins to turn pale yellow, 3 to 4 minutes. Add thyme, cayenne pepper, and white pepper; cook and stir another minute, then whisk in 1 cup of milk until smooth. Pour in remaining milk and whisk again. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
  • Stir in nutmeg, Worcestershire sauce, and salt; simmer on medium-low heat until thickened, about 8 minutes, whisking often. Turn heat off, then add 2 1/4 cups of Cheddar cheese; stir until melted and combined. Add Dijon mustard.
  • Transfer the macaroni into a casserole dish, then pour in the cheese sauce; stir to thoroughly combine sauce with pasta. Mix panko bread crumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl, and sprinkle crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs and Cheddar cheese topping are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 694.8 calories, Carbohydrate 72.8 g, Cholesterol 94.5 mg, Fat 32.3 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 29.4 g, SaturatedFat 19.9 g, Sodium 928.4 mg, Sugar 8.1 g

ULTIMATE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese image

This is America's favorite comfort food--tender macaroni, rich and cheesy sauce and a crisp crumb topping.

Provided by McCormick Spice

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     McCormick®

Time 1h

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons McCormick® Mustard, Ground
1 ½ teaspoons McCormick® Black Pepper, Coarse Grind
1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
6 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon McCormick® Paprika

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package for al dente pasta. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
  • Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook 3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add macaroni; toss gently to coat. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix panko and paprika; sprinkle evenly over top.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Cholesterol 64.9 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 19.2 g, SaturatedFat 13.5 g, Sodium 550 mg, Sugar 4.1 g

JOAN'S MACARONI AND CHEESE



Joan's Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Food Network

Time 55m

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 pound pasta (elbow macaroni, fusilli, or any shape desired)
2 ounces butter
3 3/4 cups whole milk
6 ounces ricotta or small curd cottage cheese
3 ounces cream cheese
12 ounces Monterey jack, shredded
12 ounces Gouda, shredded, plus 8 ounces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cook pasta in large pot of boiling, salted water until just tender. Drain well. Add butter, milk, ricotta, cream cheese, Monterey jack, and 12 ounces of the Gouda to the warm pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Gently mix everything together, leaving some chunks of cheese visible. Pour the mixture into 9 by 11-inch baking pan. Top with the remaining 8 ounces of gouda. Bake until beautifully golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve hot or room temperature.

JUST MACARONI AND CHEESE



Just Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this Just Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by L DJ3309

Categories     Cheese

Time 45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups half-and-half, hot
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 dash nutmeg
1 1/2 cups diced cheddar cheese
8 ounces macaroni, cooked and rinsed
1/2 cup fine fresh breadcrumb
1 tablespoon melted butter

Steps:

  • In 2 quart sauce pan melt butter add flour cook stirring til starts to look like cornmeal.
  • Add hot half& half, add seasonings, stirring quickly with whisk.
  • Add cheese stirring til cheese melts.
  • Mix with macaroni in 2qt. casserole.
  • Toss bread crumbs with melted butter, sprinkle over top.
  • Bake 350F for 30 minutes.

OLD-FASHIONED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Old-Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese image

Bring back the taste of days gone by with this ooey-gooey mac-and-cheese classic. A little ground mustard and hot pepper sauce give it just the right spice. -James Backman, Centralia, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Side Dishes

Time 1h

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

3-1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (about 12 ounces)
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Few dashes hot pepper sauce
3-1/2 cups whole milk
5 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni in boiling water until almost tender; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt, mustard, pepper and pepper sauce until smooth. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbly. Stir in the macaroni, milk and 4 cups cheese. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts :

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

This is the ultimate creamy mac and cheese recipe. It's saucy, thick and very rich, with a wonderful cheddar flavor. Once you taste it, you'll be hooked. -Cindy Hartley, Chesapeake, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 55m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 to 2 cups 2% milk
1 cup sour cream
8 ounces cubed Velveeta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add 1-1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in sour cream, Velveeta, Parmesan cheese, salt, mustard and pepper until smooth and cheese is melted. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. , Drain macaroni; toss with cheddar cheese. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Stir in cream sauce. , Bake, uncovered, 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 46g fat (30g saturated fat), Cholesterol 143mg cholesterol, Sodium 1141mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 25g protein.

Tips:

  • Always use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until al dente.
  • Use a roux (a mixture of melted butter and flour) to thicken the cheese sauce. This will prevent it from being too runny.
  • Season the cheese sauce to taste with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  • Use a variety of cheeses in the cheese sauce for a more complex flavor.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or grated Parmesan cheese before baking for a golden crust.
  • Experiment with different toppings, such as crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, or chopped broccoli.

Conclusion:

With so many variations to choose from, there's sure to be a macaroni and cheese recipe that everyone will enjoy. Whether you like your mac and cheese simple or loaded with toppings, baked or stovetop, this classic dish is sure to satisfy. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these macaroni and cheese recipes a try.

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