Are you looking for a delectable and comforting meal that will satisfy your taste buds and warm your soul? Look no further than the classic macaroni and cheese, a timeless dish that has captivated hearts and stomachs for generations. This iconic dish, often associated with the name "Mels", embodies the essence of culinary nostalgia and home-style cooking. With its rich, cheesy sauce, perfectly cooked macaroni, and a crispy, golden-brown crust, Mels classic macaroni and cheese transcends the boundaries of ordinary and becomes an extraordinary culinary experience. In this article, we embark on a culinary journey to discover the best recipe for this timeless classic, ensuring that every bite is a symphony of flavors and textures, leaving you craving for more.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is the classic baked Mac and Cheese of my childhood. You can add sun-dried tomatoes if you wish, or sometimes I substitute minced garlic for the salt and pepper to give it added zing! It can make Saturday Night more fun!
Provided by Cordi Tierno
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h10m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Place a quarter of the macaroni in the bottom, followed by an even layer of one-quarter of the cheese slices. Dot with butter and season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering three times. Pour evaporated milk evenly over the top of all.
- Bake, uncovered, for one hour, or until top is golden brown.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 701.3 calories, Carbohydrate 64.9 g, Cholesterol 102.8 mg, Fat 33.5 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 34 g, SaturatedFat 20.4 g, Sodium 552.2 mg, Sugar 7.8 g
CLASSIC MAC AND CHEESE
Nothing is better than homemade classic mac and cheese, the ultimate comfort food!
Provided by T-fal
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 45m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- Melt the butter in the bottom of an oven-proof fry pan. Add the flour and stir over heat until just beginning to brown - don't let it get too brown. Take it off the heat and stir in about 1 cup of milk until the butter and flour mixture is fully incorporated. Put it back on the heat and simmer until just beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the milk; stir to fully incorporate.
- Add all of the cheeses and stir to melt. Once melted, add the cooked macaroni. Stir to mix.
- Cover the top of the mac and cheese with panko crumbs and place the pan in the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until it is bubbling and the bread crumbs are slightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 537.7 calories, Carbohydrate 54.8 g, Cholesterol 75.5 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 23.6 g, SaturatedFat 15.5 g, Sodium 517.5 mg, Sugar 5.7 g
MEL'S SOUTHERN MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, salt and pepper, creole seasoning, ritz cracker
Provided by Melissa Millikin
Categories Dinner
Time 30m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°C.
- Boil the macaroni as directed. Drain and set aside.
- Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasonings in a separate bowl. Then, mix in cheeses and once combined, add pasta.
- Spray an 8x8 or 9x13 baking dish and pour in pasta mixture. Add crushed Ritz crackers on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 629 calories, Carbohydrate 36 grams, Fat 44 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 21 grams, Sugar 3 grams
CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
Think Stouffer's without the freezer. While it can be enjoyed straight from the pot, this macaroni and cheese has a slightly looser sauce than the stovetop variety to allow for thickening in the oven. Bread crumbs, while optional, make it truly spectacular.
Provided by Alison Roman
Categories dinner, lunch, casseroles, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
- Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
- Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
- Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1076, UnsaturatedFat 24 grams, Carbohydrate 85 grams, Fat 61 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 46 grams, SaturatedFat 31 grams, Sodium 1027 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram
LISA'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
I use three kinds of cheese to make this rich, baked macaroni and cheese. My husband considers it a special treat, and my six-year old son especially likes the 'stringy cheese'! The shape of the baking pan will affect the outcome. I like lots of 'crunchy stuff,' so prefer a long, shallow pan. A deeper, narrower pan will yield more of the soft 'insides.'
Provided by Lisa Price
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
- In a large bowl, combine macaroni, Swiss, mozzarella and Cheddar and stir until cheeses melt. Stir in milk. Season to taste with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and parsley. Spoon into prepared dish, and dot with margarine.
- Bake in preheated oven 50 to 60 minutes, or until top is crunchy.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 859.5 calories, Carbohydrate 91.8 g, Cholesterol 93.7 mg, Fat 34.2 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 44 g, SaturatedFat 18.7 g, Sodium 563.2 mg, Sugar 3.4 g
GRANDMOTHER'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is my grandmother's macaroni and cheese. It is best when cooked in a clay baking dish at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 1 hour.
Provided by LAURA67
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a 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.
- Stir macaroni, Cheddar cheese, milk, egg, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour into a baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven until brown and thickened, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 calories, Carbohydrate 22.4 g, Cholesterol 94.2 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 344.2 mg, Sugar 3 g
CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE FROM FINE COOKING
This is best assembled ahead. Pasta will soak up sauce. Sprinkle on crumbs just before baking. A wonderful version of a classic dish.
Provided by KathyP53
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 1h
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees and butter 9x13" baking dish.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions just until tender and drain well.
- Melt 12 tablespoons of butter in a heavy-based medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, onion, bay leaf, thyme, and peppercorns; reduce heat to medium low and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, to make a roux. Slowly whisk the milk into rux until smooth and blended. Raise heat to medium-high; whisk constantly until mixture boils. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Lower heat and continue simmering for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Strain sauce into a large bowl, removing the onion, herbs, and peppercorns. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cheddar cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. Toss pasta with cheese sauce and pour mixture into baking dish.
- Melt last 2 tablespoons butter and toss with breadcrumbs. Spread the buttered curmbs over casserole. Bake until sizzling and lightly browned, about 40 minutes. Cover with foil is browns too quickly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1205.8, Fat 72.7, SaturatedFat 44.8, Cholesterol 208.2, Sodium 947.7, Carbohydrate 89.6, Fiber 3.9, Sugar 13.4, Protein 48.1
MEL'S CLASSIC MACARONI & CHEESE RECIPE
Provided by bvyce
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 2. Make a roux over medium heat by melting the butter and whisking in the flour. When well mixed, cook roux for 5 minutes, being careful not to brown it. 3. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the diced ham. Cook until golden brown. Remove h am and set aside. 4. In same pot, add onions and garlic and cook covered until onions are translucent. 5. Add half of the roux and stir well. Add the milk and cream. Whisk the mixture until lumps disappear. 6. Add bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. 7. Simmer for 10 minutes. If the mixture does not start to thicken, add a bit more roux. Mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. 8. When mixture is thick, it is ready. 9. While you're waiting; prepare the macaroni al dente. 10. In a large mixing bowl, combine the macaroni, ham, cheese and the cream sauce. Mix well. 11. Pour mixture into large baking dish. Remove bay leaves. Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs, then drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil. 12. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese for the best flavor. A combination of sharp cheddar and Parmesan is a classic choice.
- Cook the macaroni al dente so that it still has a slight bite to it.
- Make a roux with butter and flour to thicken the cheese sauce. This will help prevent it from becoming thin and watery.
- Add milk or cream to the cheese sauce gradually, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Season the cheese sauce with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
- Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers before baking. This will give it a golden brown crust.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help it to set and firm up.
- Serve the macaroni and cheese with a side salad or roasted vegetables.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple dish to make, but there are many ways to customize it to your liking. Whether you like it cheesy, creamy, or crunchy, there is a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for you. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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