Best 5 Thanksgiving Mac And Cheese Recipes

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Bring warmth and comfort to your Thanksgiving gathering with a delectable dish that combines the classic flavors of macaroni and cheese with a touch of seasonal flair. This hearty and creamy dish is sure to be a hit among family and friends, offering a perfect balance of rich cheesy goodness and autumnal spices. Whether you prefer a traditional macaroni and cheese recipe with a twist or a more modern take on this classic dish, you're sure to find the perfect recipe here to make your Thanksgiving feast truly memorable.

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

THANKSGIVING MAC AND CHEESE



Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese image

This Thanksgiving mac and cheese recipe from chef Erick Williams is silky and creamy throughout, with (almost) no crispy bits. Serve it as a side dish!

Provided by Erick Williams

Categories     Macaroni and Cheese     Dinner     Pasta     Milk/Cream     Garlic     Paprika     Pepper     Cheddar     Cream Cheese     Thanksgiving     Chicago     Vegetarian     Quick & Easy     Summer     Fall     Winter     Tree Nut Free     Side

Yield 6-8 side servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more
2 lb. extra-sharp cheddar, coarsely grated
4 oz. full-fat cream cheese
1 lb. elbow macaroni

Steps:

  • Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 400°. Bring evaporated milk and whole milk to a bare simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, pepper, and 1 tsp. salt. Working in batches, whisk in three fourths of the cheddar, then all of the cream cheese.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil (it should have a little less salt than seawater). Cook macaroni, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 4 minutes. Drain in a colander.
  • Add macaroni to cheese sauce in pan and mix until well coated. Evenly spread out half of macaroni mixture in a 13x9" baking dish. Sprinkle half of remaining cheddar evenly over. Layer remaining macaroni mixture on top and sprinkle with remaining cheddar. Bake until all of the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

THE ULTIMATE THANKSGIVING MAC AND CHEESE



The Ultimate Thanksgiving Mac and Cheese image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 50m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 cups quartered Brussels sprouts
2 cups diced butternut squash, about 1/2-inch cubes
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound cavatappi or other corkscrew pasta
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
2 cups prepared stuffing
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups milk, plus more if needed for thinning
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cups grated yellow Cheddar
1 cup grated Gruyere

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Combine the Brussels sprouts and squash in a large bowl. Add the olive oil and garlic powder, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Spread the vegetables out on a baking sheet and roast until tender and brown and crispy around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a small saucepan. Spread the prepared stuffing out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle over the melted butter and toss to coat. Roast until crispy, 6 to 8 minutes.
  • Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk. Raise the heat to medium and cook until thickened and simmering, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in the mustard, then whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere 1 cup at a time, continuing to whisk until all the cheese is melted and well incorporated. If the cheese sauce is too thick, just add a little more milk to thin. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir in the pasta, butternut squash and Brussels sprouts. Transfer to a baking dish or large serving bowl and top with the toasted stuffing. Serve immediately.

MAC AND CHEESE



Mac and Cheese image

Provided by Ayesha Curry

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
3 cups shredded aged or extra-sharp Cheddar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground mustard
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 large egg
4 ounces pancetta, finely diced (about 1 cup)
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine the Cheddar, butter cubes, sugar, ground mustard and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, a minute or so less than the recommended cooking time on the package. Drain well. While still hot, dump the macaroni into the Cheddar-butter mixture and toss to mix well.
  • Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring the milk to a bare simmer over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg briefly to break it up. Temper the egg by drizzling 1/2 cup of the warm milk in while whisking until incorporated. (This will prevent the egg from scrambling.) Mix the tempered egg and the remaining warm milk into the macaroni and stir well until everything is evenly coated.
  • Pour the contents of the bowl into the prepared baking pan, spreading the macaroni and sauce evenly.
  • In a medium bowl, toss together the pancetta, Parmesan, panko and parsley, and sprinkle over the top of the macaroni. (This will create a yummy crust.)
  • Bake until golden brown and bubbling on top, and the pancetta is crispy, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm.

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.

THANKSGIVING LEFTOVER MAC AND CHEESE



Thanksgiving Leftover Mac and Cheese image

I had some leftover turkey and veggies and ran out of gravy and ideas, so I decided to turn my leftovers into the ultimate comfort food. I'm not an "exact science" cook, so please adjust according to your preferences! Also, good mac and cheese is all about the roux.

Provided by Julie Bray

Time 50m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 20

½ (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter, divided
½ large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup leftover shredded turkey
1 pinch dried parsley, or to taste
1 pinch dried sage, or to taste
1 pinch dried rosemary, or to taste
1 pinch ground thyme, or to taste
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chicken broth, or as needed
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon milk, or more as needed
½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons shredded Gouda cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs

Steps:

  • 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 pasta, then rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add carrots and celery; saute until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add leftover turkey and cook until warm and flavors are incorporated, about 1 minute. Season with parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add broth if mixture seems dry. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Melt remaining butter in a large saucepan over medium (or slightly higher) heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture becomes paste-like and light golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in milk (about 1 to 2 tablespoons); keep stirring to make sure flour is blended and there are no lumps. Cook until roux is brown and very fragrant. Add Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gouda, and Parmesan cheeses; cook until sauce thickens and the cheese melts. Slowly add enough milk so the roux/cheese mix is creamy; just add it in small increments so it's not too juicy.
  • Add macaroni to the cheese sauce and mix to combine. Add the turkey mixture. Mix well and transfer to a baking dish. Top with bread crumbs.
  • Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
  • Place mac and cheese under the broiler until browned, 5 to 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 359.9 calories, Carbohydrate 36.8 g, Cholesterol 56.8 mg, Fat 15.5 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 302.4 mg, Sugar 3.4 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Freshly grated cheese, real butter, and creamy milk will make a big difference.
  • Cook the macaroni al dente so that it still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked macaroni will become mushy and ruin the texture of the dish.
  • Make a roux with butter and flour to thicken the sauce. This will help to prevent the sauce from becoming watery and thin.
  • Add your favorite spices and herbs to the sauce for extra flavor. Some good options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
  • Stir in the cheese slowly and gradually until it is melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat the cheese, or it will become tough and rubbery.
  • Top the macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or crushed crackers for a crispy topping.
  • Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will help to ensure that the dish is cooked through.
  • Let the macaroni and cheese cool for a few minutes before serving. This will help to prevent the cheese from sticking to the pan.

Conclusion:

Thanksgiving macaroni and cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a holiday meal. It is creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. With a few simple tips, you can make a macaroni and cheese that will be the hit of the party. So next time you are looking for a side dish that is sure to please everyone, give this recipe a try.

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