Best 7 Mac N Cheese Recipes

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Macaroni and cheese, also known as mac n cheese, is a classic dish enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether you prefer a creamy, cheesy sauce or a crispy, baked crust, there's a recipe out there to suit your taste. This article will provide you with the best mac n cheese recipes, from classic stovetop versions to quick and easy microwave meals. With a variety of ingredients and cooking methods, you're sure to find the perfect recipe to satisfy your mac n cheese cravings.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

MAC AND CHEESE



Mac and Cheese image

Raise the volume with Ina Garten's creamy Mac and Cheese recipe, made with Gruy�re, fresh tomatoes and nutmeg for warmth, from Food Network's Barefoot Contessa.

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories     side-dish

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
  • Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
  • Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

MACARONI AND CHEESE



Macaroni and Cheese image

Try Ree Drummond's creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food Network.

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Time 55m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 cups dried macaroni
1 whole egg
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
2 heaping teaspoons dry mustard (more if desired)
1 pound sharp Cheddar, grated (not pre-grated cheese), plus more for baking
Salt
Seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional spices: cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme
1 pound thick-cut peppered bacon
3 yellow onions, halved and sliced
3 tablespoons butter
8 ounces gorgonzola
Cooked sliders and/or macaroni and cheese, for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Cook the macaroni until still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, beat the egg. In a large pot, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, whisking constantly. Don't let it burn. Pour in the milk, add the mustard and whisk until smooth. Cook until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Whisk together until smooth. Pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in the cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and the pepper. Add any additional spices if desired. Taste the sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! DO NOT UNDERSALT.
  • Pour in the drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (while it's still very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly and golden on top, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and cut into bite-size pieces.
  • In a separate pan, cook the onions in the butter over a low heat until caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Use a fork to crumble the gorgonzola.
  • Put the bacon, caramelized onions and crumbled gorgonzola into separate bowls. Serve as delicious toppings for both sliders and macaroni cheese.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE



Homemade Mac and Cheese image

This is a nice rich mac and cheese. Serve with a salad for a great meatless dinner. Hope you enjoy it.

Provided by Judy

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

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
  • In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
  • Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.7 g, Cholesterol 141.6 mg, Fat 48.7 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 37.7 g, SaturatedFat 29.9 g, Sodium 879.3 mg, Sugar 10.7 g

EASY ONE-POT MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY



Easy One-pot Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: whole milk, elbow macaroni, butter, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, fresh parsley

Provided by Matthew Johnson

Categories     Sides

Time 20m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

5 cups whole milk
1 box elbow macaroni
½ cup butter
2 cups cheddar cheese
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
fresh parsley, to serve

Steps:

  • In a large pot on medium-high heat, gently heat the milk to a simmer.
  • Add in the elbow macaroni. Cook until the pasta is tender.
  • Once the noodles are cooked, turn off the heat. Add in the butter, cheddar, salt, and pepper. Fold these ingredients with the pasta until the cheese and butter melt into the milk to create a thick sauce.
  • Sprinkle with parsley and serve!
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 758 calories, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 37 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 32 grams, Sugar 12 grams

MAC 'N' CHEESE FOR A BUNCH



Mac 'n' Cheese for a Bunch image

You'll satisfy many taste buds with this rich and comforting dish from Dixie Terry from Goreville, Illinois. Tender macaroni is covered in a creamy, homemade cheese sauce, and then topped with golden bread crumbs. A true crowd pleaser!

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h5m

Yield 36 servings (1 cup each).

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 packages (two 16 ounces, one 7 ounces) elbow macaroni
1-1/4 cups butter, divided
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
3 quarts milk
3 pounds sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1-1/2 cups dry bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions until almost tender., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a large stock pot, melt 1 cup butter. Stir in flour and salt until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. Reduce heat. Add cheese, stirring until melted. Drain macaroni; stir into sauce., Transfer to 3 greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casseroles. , Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 35-40 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395 calories, Fat 23g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 68mg cholesterol, Sodium 510mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 17g protein.

MACARONI AND CHEESE



Macaroni and Cheese image

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

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
6 slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
4 1/2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 18 ounces)
2 cups grated Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces) or 1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 5 ounces)
1 pound elbow macaroni

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.

MEATY MAC 'N' CHEESE



Meaty Mac 'n' Cheese image

My husband is disabled and requires constant care. This doesn't leave me a lot of time to cook, so I came up with this tasty way to beef up a box of macaroni and cheese. The hearty mixture gets extra flavor from corn, ripe olives and zippy salsa. -Charlotte Kremer, Pahrump, Nevada

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Yield 4-6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 package (7-1/4 ounces) macaroni and cheese
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups salsa
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
3 tablespoons diced pimientos
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped tomato

Steps:

  • Set aside cheese sauce mix from macaroni and cheese; cook macaroni according to package directions. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the salsa, corn, olives and pimientos; cook until heated through. , Drain macaroni; add to beef mixture with contents of cheese sauce mix. Cook and stir until blended and heated through. Sprinkle with cheese and tomato.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 291 calories, Fat 10g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 42mg cholesterol, Sodium 716mg sodium, Carbohydrate 29g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 20g protein.

Tips:

  • Use a high-quality cheese. This will make all the difference in the taste of your mac and cheese.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
  • Make a roux. This will help to thicken the cheese sauce and make it smooth and creamy.
  • Add milk or cream gradually. This will help to prevent the cheese sauce from curdling.
  • Season the cheese sauce to taste. You may want to add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or onion powder.
  • Top the mac and cheese with breadcrumbs or grated Parmesan cheese before baking. This will give it a golden brown crust.
  • Let the mac and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to meld.

Conclusion:

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Whether you like it simple or cheesy, baked or stovetop, there is a mac and cheese recipe out there for everyone. 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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