Best 9 Rich N Cheesy Macaroni Recipes

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Macaroni and cheese, or mac 'n' cheese as it is affectionately known, is a quintessential comfort food that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. This classic dish is made with elbow macaroni pasta, a creamy cheese sauce, and is often topped with a layer of crispy breadcrumbs. While there are many variations of mac 'n' cheese, the combination of rich, gooey cheese and tender pasta is always the star of the show. We're sharing our favorite recipe for a rich and cheesy macaroni and cheese that is sure to please everyone at your table.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

EXTRA RICH-AND-CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Extra Rich-and-Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 35m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Kosher salt
8 ounces shell pasta
1 cup evaporated milk
2 large eggs
2 cups grated havarti cheese (about 6 ounces)
1 1/2 cups grated Colby jack cheese (about 4 ounces)
Pinch of grated nutmeg
1/4 cup sour cream

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
  • Combine the evaporated milk, eggs, havarti, Colby jack, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Add the pasta and sour cream to the sauce; toss to coat, then let sit 5 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly. Add the reserved cooking water to loosen, if desired.

RICH 'N' CHEESY MACARONI



Rich 'n' Cheesy Macaroni image

This delicious dish puts a new twist on traditional macaroni and cheese. The three different cheese flavors blend wonderfully. Plus, it's easy to prepare-I plan to make it often when husband Ken and I start traveling.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

2-1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups whole milk
8 ounces process cheese (Velveeta), cubed
1-1/3 cups 4% cottage cheese
2/3 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Place in a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Stir in the flour, salt and sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Reduce heat; stir in American cheese until melted. Stir in cottage cheese and sour cream. Pour over macaroni. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Melt remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs; sprinkle over top. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 508 calories, Fat 31g fat (20g saturated fat), Cholesterol 101mg cholesterol, Sodium 1109mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 23g protein.

RICH AND CHEESY MACARONI



Rich and Cheesy Macaroni image

This is the best homemade Mac and cheese recipe I've ever made.It's creamy and cheesy and very comforting :) I got the recipe out of a magazine a few years back.

Provided by LoveToBake67

Categories     Cheese

Time 45m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter or 6 tablespoons margarine, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups 2% low-fat milk or 2 cups nonfat milk
8 ounces process American cheese, cubed
1 1/3 cups small curd cottage cheese
2/3 cup regular sour cream (I have used regular or light with great results) or 2/3 cup light sour cream (I have used regular or light with great results)
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (whatever you prefer) or 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (whatever you prefer)
1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken, browned ground beef or 1 1/2 cups other cooked meat

Steps:

  • Cook Macaroni according to package directions, drain.
  • Place in a greased 2 1/2 quart baking dish.
  • In a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter.
  • stirr in flour, salt and sugar until smooth.
  • Gradually stir in milk, bring to a boil ; cook for 2 minutes until thickened.,.
  • Reduce heat; stir in American cheese until melted. Stir in cottage cheese and sour cream.
  • Pour over macaroni.
  • At this point you can add cooked chicken, ground beef or leave it plain.
  • Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and toss with bread crumbs; sprinkle over top.
  • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 787.1, Fat 46.4, SaturatedFat 27.2, Cholesterol 150.5, Sodium 1629.9, Carbohydrate 50.5, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 11.5, Protein 41.1

RICH 'N' CHEESY MACARONI



Rich 'n' Cheesy Macaroni image

The flavors of three different cheeses blend nicely and put a tasty twist on traditional macaroni and cheese. This came from Taste Of Home Simple & Delicious. I have not tried this, just posting for easy finding.

Provided by internetnut

Categories     Toddler Friendly

Time 45m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups milk
8 ounces process American cheese, cubed
1 1/3 cups small curd cottage cheese
2/3 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups soft breadcrumbs

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Place in a greased 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
  • In saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Stir in flour, salt and sugar until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
  • Reduce heat; stir in american cheese until melted. Stir in cottage cheese and sour cream. Pour over macaroni. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Melt remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs; sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 742.1, Fat 44.6, SaturatedFat 26.9, Cholesterol 127.5, Sodium 1629.7, Carbohydrate 52.5, Fiber 1.8, Sugar 7.6, Protein 32.8

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.

BEST EVER MACARONI CHEESE RECIPE



Best ever macaroni cheese recipe image

This perfect baked macaroni cheese recipe comes with a creamy cheese sauce, a hint of mustard and uses leftover French stick for its crunchy topping

Provided by Jennifer Joyce

Categories     Dinner

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 9

50g baguette, cut into small chunks
2 tbsp butter, plus 1 tbsp melted
350g spiral or other short pasta
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tsp English mustard powder
3 tbsp plain flour
500ml whole milk
250g vegetarian mature cheddar, grated
50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), grated

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Spread the baguette chunks over a baking sheet, drizzle with the melted butter and season. Bake for 6 mins until crisp, then set aside.
  • Boil the pasta for 2 mins less than stated on the pack, then drain. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the garlic and English mustard powder, cook for 1 min, then stir in the plain flour.
  • Cook for 1 min more, then gradually whisk in the milk until you have a lump-free sauce. Simmer for 5 mins, whisking all the time until thickened. Take off the heat, then stir in the cheddar and half the parmesan.
  • Stir the pasta and some seasoning into the cheesy sauce. Tip into a large ovenproof dish, or four individual dishes.
  • Scatter over the bread and the remaining parmesan, then bake for 20 mins until crisp and golden. Can be frozen before baking - defrost thoroughly before cooking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 860 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 25 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 88 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 9 grams sugar, Protein 38 grams protein, Sodium 1.9 milligram of sodium

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.

GINNY'S CHEEZY MACARONI



Ginny's Cheezy Macaroni image

So easy even a husband can do it!

Provided by Karl Castonguay

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

Time 1h10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 tablespoons margarine
2 ½ cups macaroni
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (8 ounce) package Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 cups milk

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Place margarine in 9x13 inch baking dish and put in oven to melt. When margarine is completely melted, pour in macaroni, salt and pepper. Stir until macaroni is coated with butter. Sprinkle cheese over macaroni and then pour milk over all. Do not stir and do not cover dish.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes. Do not stir while baking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 459.4 calories, Carbohydrate 43 g, Cholesterol 52.2 mg, Fat 21.1 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 23.6 g, SaturatedFat 10.9 g, Sodium 753.8 mg, Sugar 7.9 g

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Creamy Macaroni and Cheese image

Macaroni and cheese is perfect supper food. It's a kids' favorite, and adults like it too. My recipe is simple and almost as quick as the boxed variety.

Provided by USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson

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

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tablespoon salt
1 pound elbow, shell or other bite-size shaped pasta
2 (12 fluid ounce) cans evaporated milk
1 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
⅓ cup flour
1 ½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Bring 2 quarts of water to boil in large soup kettle. Add salt and pasta. Using package directions as a guide, cook until al dente. Drain. To prevent sticking, drain and immediately pour onto a large lipped baking sheet and let cool while preparing sauce.
  • Meanwhile, microwave the milk and chicken broth in a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup or bowl until hot and steamy (not boiling). Melt butter in the empty pasta pot; whisk in flour, then hot milk mixture. Continue to whisk until thick and bubbly, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in mustard, Parmesan and pepper. Turn off heat, stir in cheddar until melted.
  • Add drained pasta (and optional flavoring ingredients, see notes) to sauce, and stir until everything is well combined over low heat. Stir to heat through, and thin with a little water if the sauce is too thick. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 529.1 calories, Carbohydrate 47.1 g, Cholesterol 82.3 mg, Fat 26.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 25.1 g, SaturatedFat 16.1 g, Sodium 1202.9 mg, Sugar 8.5 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients. This means using a good quality pasta, cheese, and milk. The better the ingredients, the better the macaroni and cheese will taste.
  • Cook the pasta al dente. This means cooking it until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and not hold its shape well in the macaroni and cheese.
  • Use a variety of cheeses. A combination of cheeses will give the macaroni and cheese a more complex flavor. Some good options include cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Gruyère.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different seasonings. A little bit of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or cayenne pepper can add a lot of flavor to macaroni and cheese.
  • Serve macaroni and cheese immediately. It is best enjoyed when it is hot and gooey.

Conclusion:

Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is easy to make and can be customized to your own liking. With a few simple tips, you can make the best macaroni and cheese that you have ever tasted. So next time you are looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give macaroni and cheese a try.

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