Best Baked Macaroni Cheese Casserole Recipes

BAKED MACARONI, CHEESE, AND CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Put water in a large sauce pot, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
• Add macaroni all at once and stir with a fork.
• Return water to a boil and reduce heat to moderately low. Simmer 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Do not overcook. Drain.
• Meanwhile, put butter in a medium-sized saucepan and heat over moderate heat.
• When butter is melted, remove from heat and stir in flour, salt, pepper, and mustard.
• When mixture is smooth, gradually add milk, stirring until no lumps of flour remain.
• Return saucepan to heat and cook over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, until milk mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly.
• Add chopped pimiento and chopped green pepper and reduce heat to low and simmer 1 minute longer.
• Stir 1 1/2 cups of the grated cheddar cheese, the cooked and drained macaroni, and the slivered chicken into the milk mixture.
• Pour into a shallow 2 quart round or oval or round baking dish.
• Sprinkle the rest of the grated cheddar cheese over the top of the macaroni mixture.
• The casserole can be prepared to this point 1 to 2 days before you plan to bake and serve it. You can cover and store in refrigerator until ready to bake.
• Place casserole on center oven rack in oven and bake for 20 minutes (longer if casserole has been chilled), or until macaroni is hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted.
• Remove from oven and arrange tomato wedges on top of casserole and serve.

BAKED BACON MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray 8x8-inch casserole dish with cooking oil.
• Prepare Macaroni & Cheese according to package directions. Stir in cream cheese and Cheddar cheese. Add broccoli. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
• Combine panko and bacon crumbles; sprinkle over the mac & cheese.
• Bake until topping is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE CASSEROLE FROM 1941

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 2.75 quart pyrex baking dish with cooking spray or grease lightly with butter. Set aside
• 2. Cook 1 cup macaroni according to package directions and drain well. Set aside.
• 3. In a heavy saucepan, melt butter being very careful not to scorch. Add flour and stir well. Slowly pour in milk, salt and pepper and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat an add cheese, stirring until cheese is melted.
• 4. Add cooked macaroni and fold into cheese sauce. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Combine crushed crackers and butter and sprinkle over the top.
• 5. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and crumbs are golden.

MACARONI AND CHEESE OVEN-BAKED CASSEROLE (WITH A DASH OF SPICY)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Set aside an 8x11 glass casserole dish (spray with non-stick spray, if desired).
• Cook the pasta according to its instructions and remove from heat 2 minutes PRIOR to it being fully cooked. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water (to halt further cooking of the pasta). Drain the pasta and return to saucepan.
• AS THE PASTA IS COOKING, warm all of the milk and the 2 tbsp butter over medium-low heat.
• In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and ground mustard. After the milk is heated, whisk in 1/2-1 cup of the milk, whisking until combined and no clumps remain. Whisk this mixture back into the milk, reduce heat to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat.
• Layer ingredients in the 8x11 dish: Add 1/2 of the pasta and 1/2 of the sauce, stir. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Mozzarella over the pasta and arrange 1/2 of the sliced cheese over the mozzarella. Repeat the steps once more (DO NOT stir the second layer of pasta and sauce unless you stir very gently, working to avoid disturbing the layer below).
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is a golden color and the milk is bubbling (while not necessary, the dish may be covered for 1/2 of the baking time, if desired).
• The dish will continue to cook when removed from the oven. Letting it cool for 5-10 minutes will insure a delicious (and slightly cooled) meal.

BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• 1. Melt the 1/4 cup of margarine
• 2. Slowly stir in flour, constantly stirring and keeping smooth on low to medium heat
• 3. Gradually add milk little at a time, keeping smooth
• 4. Add cheese cubes and salt & pepper
• 5. Keep stirring until completely melted.
• 6. Melt the 1/2 stick of margarine (more if needed) and add bread pieces and coat them.
• 7. Place plain boiled macaroni in 13-in x 9-in casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• 8. Pour cheese mixture on top of macaroni, stir, and top with bread pieces.
• 9. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.