Are you craving a satisfying and creamy macaroni and cheese dish? This classic comfort food can be easily made at home with a few simple ingredients. If you're looking for the best recipe to create an extra creamy and indulgent macaroni and cheese, you'll want to keep reading. With the right combination of cheeses, creamy sauces, and flavorful mix-ins, you can elevate this dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. From the gooey, melted cheese to the perfectly cooked pasta, every bite of this recipe promises to be a delightful experience. Get ready to satisfy your cravings with the creamiest, most satisfying macaroni and cheese you've ever tasted!
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is my absolute very favorite macaroni and cheese recipe and I have a large collection of m/c recipes. Adapted from Southern Living. I don't make this very often because I could literally eat the whole thing and lick the dish clean.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Cheese
Time 1h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a big skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
- Whisk the flour in gradually until the mixture is smooth.
- Cook and whisk continually for 2 minutes.
- Add in salt, pepper, cayenne, and garlic; stir to combine.
- Gradually whisk in half-and-half and milk.
- Cook and whisk continually for 8-10 minutes or until mixture is thickened.
- Add in half of the sharp cheddar cheese; stir.
- Add in all of the extra-sharp cheddar cheese; stir until smooth.
- Take skillet off stove burner.
- Mix together the cooked macaroni and cheese mixture; transfer to a greased 13x9 inch casserole dish.
- Sprinkle with the remaining sharp cheddar cheese.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 20 minutes (may need to bake longer for a crispy top).
VERY CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Very Creamy Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by MizzNezz
Categories Cheese
Time 35m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Sauté onions in oil until tender.
- Add macaroni, cheddar cheese, and parsley.
- Mix milk, cottage cheese, salt and pepper until smooth; mix well.
- Add to macaroni mixture, mix well.
- Pour into a greased 2 qt casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 25 minutes.
CREAMIEST MAC AND CHEESE
Boxed or frozen mac and cheese dishes don't even begin to compare to this comforting, from-scratch version that's easy, affordable, and ultra-creamy! Cheddar and cream cheese add a sharp and slightly tangy flavor to the rich sauce which coats perfectly cooked pasta. It's a great base recipe that can be tweaked to your taste by switching up the cheeses or adding some cooked veggies. Serve as a meatless main course with a green salad or as a side dish with roasted or grilled meats.
Provided by NicoleMcmom
Categories Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Time 1h15m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add macaroni and 2 ½ teaspoons salt and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Shred Cheddar cheese by hand or in a food processor; set aside.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Whisk in mustard powder, then 3 ½ cups milk. Whisk occasionally until mixture comes to a simmer, then let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add cream cheese and cook, stirring often, until thick, creamy, and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1 ½ teaspoon salt, pepper, and cayenne.
- Stir in 2 cups shredded Cheddar. Turn off the heat and let cheese melt. Stir in cooked macaroni. Add up to ¼ cup milk if you feel like the mixture is too thick.
- Layer ½ of the pasta mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 ½ cups Cheddar. Spread remaining pasta mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining Cheddar.
- Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 504.5 calories, Carbohydrate 41.4 g, Cholesterol 83.2 mg, Fat 28.2 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 20.9 g, SaturatedFat 17.4 g, Sodium 1157.4 mg
EXTRA RICH-AND-CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 35m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
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.
CREAMY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE
This baked mac and cheese - perfect for a large crowd or as a side dish - is super simple to make. The cream cheese gives it richness and a little tang.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 50m
Yield Serves 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Set an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it is al dente, about 6 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 3/4 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
- Heat the half-and-half and cayenne in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just comes to a simmer. Continue simmering until the half-and-half is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the macaroni and the reserved pasta water to the saucepan and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will suck up a lot of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if needed. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Toss the bread crumbs with the butter and a sprinkle of salt in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese. Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are lightly browned and crispy, about 10 minutes.
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
EASY CREAMY MAC 'N CHEESE
Our recipe for Easy Creamy Mac 'N Cheese has only 5 ingredients and is on the table in less than 30 minutes. What's not to love about that?! Whether you serve it on the side or as a main dish, it's comfort food that the whole family will love.
Provided by Country Crock®
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Country Crock®
Time 20m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Cook pasta in large pot according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, whisk milk, Country Crock® Spread, and flour in large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted; remove from heat. Drain pasta and fold into the sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.3 calories, Carbohydrate 33.1 g, Cholesterol 34.5 mg, Fat 11.2 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 14.2 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 202.7 mg, Sugar 4 g
SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
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
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
CREAMY MACARONI 'N' CHEESE
"I prepare this cheesy recipe when I'm craving 'comfort food' but trying to eat a little lighter," advises Dawn Royer of Albany, Oregon. "The hint of mustard adds zip to this creamy side dish-and it makes a pleasing meatless entree, too."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 35m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, cover and microwave onion on high for 1 minute or until tender; drain. Add the macaroni, cheddar cheese and parsley; set aside., In a blender, combine the milk, cottage cheese, mustard, salt and pepper; cover and process until smooth. Stir into macaroni mixture., Pour into a 1-1/2-qt. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 229 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 491mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
SUPER CREAMY AND CHEESY MAC AND CHEESE
Make and share this Super Creamy and Cheesy Mac and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by little_spoon
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 10m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook the macaroni and set aside.
- In a pot, melt the butter and mix in salt and pepper.
- Slowly add in the flour, stirring continuously.
- Gradually add the milk and stir the mixture until smooth.
- Add the cheese on a low heat and melt into the mixture.
- Once the mixture is at your desired consistency, mix in the drained macaroni.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 291.5, Fat 15.3, SaturatedFat 9.4, Cholesterol 41.9, Sodium 355.1, Carbohydrate 27, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 0.7, Protein 11.3
CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
Serve this creamy macaroni and cheese recipe, adapted from "Martha Stewart's Cooking School," as an easy and hearty meal-a perfect family dish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat oven and boil pasta: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add salt generously and cook pasta 2 to 3 minutes less than manufacturer's instructions (the outside should be cooked but the inside underdone. Transfer to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.
- Meanwhile, make bread crumbs: Tear bread into large pieces and pulse a few times in a food processor to form very large crumbs. Transfer to a bowl, and add melted butter. Toss evenly to coat.
- Prepare baking dishes: Butter eight 6-ounce shallow baking dishes or one 1 1/2-quart baking dish.
- Make cheese sauce: Melt butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat, add onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until bubbling but not browning, about 45 seconds. Add milk and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer, stirring with a wooden spoon (scrape across the bottom and around edge of pot to prevent scorching), until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add fontina, 2/3 cup grated Gruyere, 1 2/3 cups grated cheddar, and 1/2 cup Parmigianno-Reggiano, stirring until completely melted and sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper, add cayenne and nutmeg, and stir to combine.
- Assemble and add cheese topping: Add pasta to sauce and stir to thoroughly combine. Pour into prepared baking dishes and sprinkle evenly with the reserved cheeses, followed by the bread crumbs. If using, top with roasted tomato slices and thyme.
- Bake: Place dishes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until bubbling and cheese is golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.
CREAMY WEEKNIGHT MACARONI AND CHEESE
Just as quick as the boxed variety, this creamy macaroni and cheese skirts the traditional butter and flour roux with assistance from cream cheese. While the cream cheese adds an important lusciousness, it doesn't do the macaroni and cheese any favors when it comes to its flavor, so it's important to use the sharpest, tangiest Cheddar you can get your hands on. For perfectly coated noodles, make sure to cook the pasta in the sauce for a minute or two.
Provided by Alison Roman
Categories dinner, lunch, quick, weekday, pastas, main course
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water until just barely al dente; drain.
- Meanwhile, bring milk up to a simmer in a large pot. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Reduce heat to low, add cream cheese, and whisk until it's completely blended and no lumps remain. Add Cheddar cheese and butter, whisking until everything is completely melted. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper.
- Add cooked pasta and stir to coat. Continue to cook over medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened and is coating each piece of pasta nicely, 2 to 3 minutes; sauce will continue to thicken as it cools. Season again with more salt and pepper before serving.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 1114, UnsaturatedFat 19 grams, Carbohydrate 95 grams, Fat 63 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 43 grams, SaturatedFat 35 grams, Sodium 905 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams, TransFat 1 gram
MILD AND CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
A nice, mild mac 'n cheese, no sharp flavors here. Very creamy with the addition of baked tomato slices on top.
Provided by JoAnn
Categories Grains
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook macaroni and drain.
- Melt butter in pan.
- Remove from heat and stir in salt, pepper and flour until smooth, making a light roux.
- Gradually stir in milk.
- Return to heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Reduce heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese.
- Add macaroni.
- Pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole.
- Arrange tomato slices on top, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
MAKEOVER CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE
With its creamy consistency and two different cheeses, this entree captures the essence of comfort food. But here's the kicker: it's been slimmed down for you so you can enjoy it without over indulging. -Darcie Zerniak, Ontario, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 7 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Reduce heat; stir in the sour cream, process cheese, Parmesan, mustard and pepper until smooth. , Drain macaroni; stir in cheddar cheese. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Add cream sauce and mix well. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with chives if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 394 calories, Fat 18g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 61mg cholesterol, Sodium 842mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 23g protein.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese: The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in the flavor of your macaroni and cheese. Use a sharp cheddar cheese for a classic flavor, or experiment with different types of cheeses, such as Gruyère, Gouda, or Parmesan, to create your own unique dish.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken sauces. It will help to give your macaroni and cheese a creamy, smooth texture.
- Cook the macaroni al dente: Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian. It refers to the texture of pasta that is cooked just until it is tender, but still has a slight bite to it. This will help to prevent the macaroni from becoming mushy in the macaroni and cheese.
- Add milk and cheese gradually: When you are adding the milk and cheese to the macaroni, do it gradually and stir constantly. This will help to prevent the cheese from clumping and will give you a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Season to taste: Once you have added all of the ingredients, taste the macaroni and cheese and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that is loved by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients, making it a great option for any occasion. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy meal or a special dish to serve at a party, macaroni and cheese is sure to please everyone.
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