Best All American Cheesy Macaroni Recipes

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BEST-EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE



Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese image

In the South, mac 'n cheese is like everyone's favorite aunt-and this best-ever recipe beats out the rest.

Provided by Southern Living Test Kitchen

Categories     Casserole

Time 1h10m

Yield Serves 10

Number Of Ingredients 14

16 ounces uncooked large elbow macaroni, large shells, or cavatappi pasta
6 tablespoons salted butter
⅓ cup grated yellow onion
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups milk
1 ¾ cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided
4 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded, (about 1 cup), plus 4 oz. diced (about 1 cup), divided

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare pasta according to package directions for al dente.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium. Add next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until golden, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until slightly thickened, 5 minutes. Stir in Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 cup each of shredded Cheddar cheeses until melted. (Reserve remaining 1/4 cup each of shredded cheeses.) Stir in pasta and diced cheeses; pour into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
  • Bake on a rimmed baking sheet in preheated oven until bubbly and golden, 30 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle with reserved shredded cheeses; broil 6 inches from heat until cheeses are melted and golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly on a wire rack, about 15 minutes.

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

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE



Homemade Mac and Cheese image

This is a nice rich mac and cheese. Serve with a salad for a great meatless dinner. Hope you enjoy it.

Provided by Judy

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

Time 50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
  • In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
  • Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
  • Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.2 calories, Carbohydrate 66.7 g, Cholesterol 141.6 mg, Fat 48.7 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 37.7 g, SaturatedFat 29.9 g, Sodium 879.3 mg, Sugar 10.7 g

ULTIMATE MACARONI AND CHEESE



Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese image

This is America's favorite comfort food--tender macaroni, rich and cheesy sauce and a crisp crumb topping.

Provided by McCormick Spice

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     McCormick®

Time 1h

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons McCormick® Mustard, Ground
1 ½ teaspoons McCormick® Black Pepper, Coarse Grind
1 teaspoon McCormick® Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
6 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon McCormick® Paprika

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package for al dente pasta. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
  • Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook 3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add macaroni; toss gently to coat. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix panko and paprika; sprinkle evenly over top.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 413.1 calories, Carbohydrate 36.4 g, Cholesterol 64.9 mg, Fat 22.2 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 19.2 g, SaturatedFat 13.5 g, Sodium 550 mg, Sugar 4.1 g

OLD-FASHIONED MACARONI AND CHEESE



Old-Fashioned Macaroni and Cheese image

Bring back the taste of days gone by with this ooey-gooey mac-and-cheese classic. A little ground mustard and hot pepper sauce give it just the right spice. -James Backman, Centralia, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner     Side Dishes

Time 1h

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

3-1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (about 12 ounces)
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Few dashes hot pepper sauce
3-1/2 cups whole milk
5 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Steps:

  • Cook macaroni in boiling water until almost tender; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt, mustard, pepper and pepper sauce until smooth. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbly. Stir in the macaroni, milk and 4 cups cheese. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts :

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.

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All American Cheesy Macaroni Recipes: A Comfort Food Classic

Mac and cheese, also known as macaroni and cheese, is a classic dish that has been a household favorite for generations. This creamy and cheesy dish has been transformed by generations to become an All American cheesy macaroni recipe that is enjoyed by adults and children alike. It is easy to prepare, versatile, and has the power to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort. In this article, we will explore the history, ingredients, and variations that make All American cheesy macaroni recipes a timeless classic.

History of Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese can be traced back to ancient Rome, where a dish known as “de lasanis” was prepared using a similar method. It was also mentioned in 14th-century Italian cookbooks, but it was not until the 20th century that it became a household favorite in the United States. The dish’s popularity soared during the Great Depression, as it was an affordable and filling meal. During WWII, American soldiers were provided with mac and cheese as part of their rations, further popularizing the dish as a comfort food.

Ingredients in All American Cheesy Macaroni Recipes

The basic ingredients of All American cheesy macaroni recipes include elbow macaroni, cheese, and milk. Some recipes call for additional ingredients like butter, flour, and breadcrumbs to add texture and flavor. The quality and quantity of cheese used can also vary, ranging from mild cheddar to sharp. Popular cheeses used in All American cheesy macaroni recipes include American, Colby, and Monterey Jack. Many recipes also add spices like paprika, garlic, and mustard to enhance the flavor profile of the dish.

Variations of All American Cheesy Macaroni Recipes

Over the years, All American cheesy macaroni recipes have evolved to incorporate various flavors and ingredients to cater to modern tastes. Here are a few popular variations:

1. Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked mac and cheese is a popular variation that involves baking the dish in the oven after it has been prepared on the stovetop. This creates a crispy crust on top and a creamy, cheesy layer underneath. Variations of baked mac and cheese can include the use of bread crumbs, bacon, or green onions to add texture and flavor.

2. Buffalo Mac and Cheese

Buffalo mac and cheese is an All American cheesy macaroni recipe that incorporates spicy buffalo sauce and tender pieces of cooked chicken. This variation is perfect for those who love a little heat in their meals.

3. Lobster Mac and Cheese

Lobster mac and cheese is a luxurious variation that combines succulent chunks of fresh lobster with creamy mac and cheese. This dish is perfect for special occasions or when you want to indulge in something decadent.

4. Mac and Cheese Balls

Mac and cheese balls are a fun and creative variation of All American cheesy macaroni recipes that involve molding mac and cheese into small balls, coating them in breadcrumbs, and deep-frying them. This variation is perfect for parties or as a delicious appetizer.

Conclusion

All American cheesy macaroni recipes have been a comforting and delicious dish for generations. They are easy to prepare, versatile, and can be customized to cater to various tastes and flavors. Whether you prefer baked mac and cheese or lobster mac and cheese, there is no denying that this classic dish is here to stay.

Macaroni is a favorite dish of many people, and one that has been around for centuries. It originated in Italy and found its way to America, where it became a staple in households across the country. Macaroni and cheese specifically is an all-time favorite in America, especially when it is loaded with a variety of cheeses. This article will provide valuable tips when making all American cheesy macaroni recipes.

Choose the right macaroni

One of the essential aspects of making an all American cheesy macaroni recipe is to select the right type of macaroni. Generally, elbow macaroni is the preferred type of pasta for macaroni and cheese. However, other shapes, such as penne or fusilli, can also work. It is best to choose a pasta shape that has nooks and crannies to hold onto the cheese sauce. When boiling the macaroni, ensure it is sufficiently cooked to prevent it from being too hard or too mushy. The perfect point of doneness is when the pasta is al dente.

Select a variety of cheeses

The cheese is the star of the show when it comes to all American cheesy macaroni recipes. Rather than using just one type of cheese, a combination of cheeses is preferred to enhance the flavor and texture of the dish. For instance, cheddar cheese is the go-to for many people, but it can be teamed up with other types of cheese such as parmesan, mozzarella, gouda, or pepper jack. A combination of cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream can also provide an incredibly creamy texture.

Add seasonings and spices

Macaroni and cheese can be dull if it lacks seasoning or spices. Therefore, it is essential to add spices such as paprika, garlic powder, nutmeg, cayenne pepper or cumin to the cheese sauce. Herbs like thyme or parsley can also add more depth of flavor to the recipe.

Use the right technique to melt the cheese

For the cheese to melt correctly and coat the macaroni, it is essential to use the right technique. Heat the cheese sauce on low heat to prevent the cheese from curdling. Add the cheese slowly and stir until it is wholly melted. Alternatively, grate the cheese instead of using chopped or sliced cheese, as it melts more uniformly.

Consider the type of milk

The type of milk you use is essential when making all American cheesy macaroni recipes. While whole milk is creamy, it may not be the best option for some people. People who are lactose intolerant can use lactose-free milk, and those who want to keep the calories low can use fat-free milk. However, skimmed milk may not provide the same level of creaminess, which can be achieved with whole milk.

Add-ins

All American cheesy macaroni recipes can be customized with various add-ins to create new and exciting flavors. One can add bacon bits, ham, sautéed mushrooms, broccoli, or chicken to the macaroni and cheese. The add-ins can elevate the flavor of the dish and make it a complete meal.

Breadcrumb Topping

Another tip for making all American cheesy macaroni recipes is to add breadcrumbs or crumbled crackers on top before baking. It will create a crunchy texture and add an extra flavor layer to the dish.

Cooking Method

While stovetop mac and cheese are a quick-and-easy dinner solution for most people, some prefer to bake their macaroni and cheese instead. Baking the macaroni and cheese gives it a crispy golden crust, which is difficult to achieve when cooking on a stovetop. However, baking may dry out the mac and cheese or make it overcooked. Therefore, the macaroni and cheese should be baked for a precise amount of time and at a specific temperature to ensure it does not dry out.

Conclusion

All American cheesy macaroni recipes are a delicious and straightforward meal. It is essential to follow the above tips and techniques to create a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful dish. Whether it is baked, stovetop, or customized with various add-ins, a well-prepared macaroni and cheese dish can bring ultimate comfort to anyone's palate. So, go ahead, experiment with cheeses and techniques, and find the perfect recipe that satisfies your cravings for the ultimate American comfort food.

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