Best 6 Saucy Mac Cheese Recipes

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Saucy mac cheese is a beloved comfort food that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences. Whether you like it cheesy, creamy, or saucy, there is a recipe out there for everyone. In this article, we will explore some of the best recipes for saucy mac cheese, so that you can find the perfect one to satisfy your cravings.

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

BAKED ONE POT MAC AND CHEESE



Baked One Pot Mac and Cheese image

If you like your Mac and Cheese with plenty of creamy, cheesy sauce, then this is the recipe for you. Added bonus: all made in one pot and not a drop of cream!

Provided by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Categories     Baked     One Pot     Pasta

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tbsp unsalted butter
6 tbsp flour
3 cups of milk ((full or low fat - I used low fat))
2 cups of water
1 tsp salt ((Note 1))
Black pepper
1/2 lb / 250g dried macaroni ((elbow pasta) (Note 2))
2 cups (150g / 5oz) grated tasty or cheddar cheese (or any sharp, flavoured cheese that melts well)
1 cup (75g / 2.5 oz) grated provolone dolce cheese (or mozzarella or other mild flavoured good melting cheese) (Note 3)
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs ((or ordinary breadcrumbs))
1/4 cup parmesan cheese (, grated)
1/2 tbsp fresh parsley (, finely chopped (optional))

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
  • Melt the butter in a deep fry pan or skillet (Note 4) over medium heat. (Note 5)
  • Add the flour and stir until combined so a thick paste forms ("roux"). Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
  • Add half the milk and use a whisk to dissolve the roux into the milk. It will thicken quickly, then add the remaining milk. Whisk in small circles, rotating around the pan, to dissolve all the roux into the milk.
  • Add the water, salt and 5 grinds of pepper, then turn the heat up to medium high. Whisk leisurely so the bottom doesn't stick to the pan. When the white sauce starts to steam and thickens such that you can see it coating the edges of the pan (around 2 to 3 minutes), add the macaroni.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and stir gently with a wooden spoon to mix the macaroni through and ensure the bottom doesn't stick. Cook it for 1 minute. Be sure not to cook it for longer than this after adding the macaroni - this really impacts the "sauciness" of the dish and ensuring the macaroni isn't overcooked.
  • Cover the fry pan (Note 6), then transfer it immediately to the oven on the middle shelf.
  • Bake for 12 minutes, then remove from the oven. It will seem like there is too much sauce but it reduces and thickens in the next steps. The pasta should be just cooked (al dente). It will continue cooking from the residual heat.
  • Turn the oven off and turn the grill/broiler on high.
  • Stir through the cheese, just enough to disperse it through the macaroni. As you stir, this will melt the cheese and thicken the sauce. Don't stir too much because otherwise the sauce will thicken too much due to the evaporation.
  • Sprinkle over the panko and parmesan cheese, then place under the grill/broiler for a few minutes to brown.
  • Remove from the grill/broiler and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 308 g, Calories 180 kcal, Carbohydrate 47.2 g, Protein 22 g, Fat 22.4 g, SaturatedFat 13.9 g, Cholesterol 65 mg, Sodium 842 mg, Fiber 1.8 g, Sugar 8 g

SAUCY MAC & CHEESE



Saucy Mac & Cheese image

I love the curly noodles in this creamy recipe. Cavatappi (aka cellentani pasta) has a corkscrew shape, but any type of spiral noodle will work. This dish is fun to make and looks so pretty topped with extra cheese and crunchy, golden panko. I like to add ground pepper to my serving. -Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups cavatappi or spiral pasta
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups 2% milk
3/4 pound Velveeta, cubed
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until golden brown. Remove to a small bowl and set aside. , In the same skillet, melt remaining butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat. Stir in Velveeta until melted. , Drain pasta; add to cheese mixture. Cook and stir until heated through, 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 661 calories, Fat 36g fat (21g saturated fat), Cholesterol 121mg cholesterol, Sodium 1267mg sodium, Carbohydrate 58g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 27g protein.

SPICY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Spicy Macaroni and Cheese image

Provided by Sunny Anderson

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

2 cups elbow pasta, cooked until almost al dente
8 ounces Cheddar, 1/2 cubed, 1/2 shredded
8 ounces Colby cheese, cubed
8 ounces Monterey pepper jack cheese, cubed
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup finely grated onions
4 slices bread
1 tablespoon butter
Special equipment: 2-quart baking dish

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the pasta with the cheese cubes and pour into the baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dry mustard, nutmeg. Add the sour cream, egg, heavy cream, half-and-half and onions. Pour over the pasta and cover with the shredded Cheddar. Bake uncovered until the top is just beginning to brown, about 35 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cut the bread into crouton-size squares. In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, add the bread cubes and toast until golden. Sprinkle the bread cubes on top of the macaroni and cheese and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more.

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

SAUCY MACARONI AND CHEESE



Saucy Macaroni and Cheese image

My Ma always made this homemade mac-n-cheese when I was growing up. A bit more nutritious for you then the boxed type. A real comfort food! I love the flavor. I always double this recipe because we love the leftovers! Hope you do too! Try different shapes of pasta for fun!

Provided by Anissa

Categories     Cheese

Time 1h

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter or 4 tablespoons margarine
4 tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups milk (I like using whole milk)
1/2 lb extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain.
  • Make a sauce of the butter, flour, seasonings and milk.
  • Stir the cheese into the hot sauce.
  • Mix in the macaroni.
  • Turn into a buttered 1 1/2 qt.
  • glass casserole--about 7 1/2-inches across and 2 1/2-inches deep.
  • Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until a bit browned on top.
  • Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 441.6, Fat 23.9, SaturatedFat 14.8, Cholesterol 71.4, Sodium 333.6, Carbohydrate 38.5, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 1, Protein 18

MAC AND CHEESE SAUCE



Mac and Cheese Sauce image

Take mac and cheese to the next level with this ultra-cheesy Mac and Cheese Sauce. Cheddar and Parmesan are the dynamic duo in this Mac and Cheese Sauce.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 20m

Yield 12 servings, 1/4 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 6

3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups milk
2 cups KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

Steps:

  • Melt butter in medium saucepan on low heat. Add flour; whisk until blended. Cook 2 min. or until hot and bubbly, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in milk until blended.
  • Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer on medium-low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened, stirring frequently.
  • Add remaining ingredients; cook and stir 2 min. or until cheddar is completely melted and sauce is well blended.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 140, Fat 10 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 190 mg, Carbohydrate 4 g, Fiber 0.7379 g, Sugar 2 g, Protein 7 g

Tips:

  • Use a good quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar for a classic flavor, or try a combination of cheeses for a more complex flavor.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente: You don't want the macaroni to be too soft, or it will become mushy when you bake it. Cook it al dente, so that it still has a little bit of a bite to it.
  • Make a creamy sauce: The sauce is what makes mac and cheese so delicious. Use a combination of milk, cream, and butter to create a rich and creamy sauce that coats the macaroni perfectly.
  • Season the sauce well: Don't be afraid to season the sauce with plenty of salt and pepper. You can also add other spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika, to taste.
  • Top with a crispy breadcrumb topping: A crispy breadcrumb topping adds a nice contrast to the creamy mac and cheese. Simply mix together breadcrumbs, butter, and Parmesan cheese, and then sprinkle it on top of the mac and cheese before baking.

Conclusion:

Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking. Whether you like it simple or loaded with toppings, there's a mac and cheese recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're looking for a delicious and satisfying meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!

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