Best Cheesy Mac Cheese Recipes

CHEESY MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, cream, half-and-half, sour cream, egg, mustard, cayenne, salt, pepper and nutmeg until smooth., Drain pasta. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Stir in cubed cheeses. Top with cream mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly and golden brown, 30-40 minutes.

SUPER CREAMY AND CHEESY MAC AND CHEESE

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.

CHEESY HAM AND CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE (MOCK MAC AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender yet firm to the bite, 2 to 6 minutes.
• While cauliflower steams, heat milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Mix softened butter and flour together until it forms a ball. Melt flour ball into heated milk; lower heat and stir constantly until thickened. Add Cheddar cheese, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper; heat until cheese is completely melted.
• Combine cauliflower, ham, and cheese sauce in a large bowl. Gently mix together. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Top with french-fried onions and bake for 10 minutes more. Let sit for 5 minutes or more before serving.

EASY CHEESY MAC AND CHEESE (WITH OPTIONAL CRUNCHY TOPPING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• 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, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Transfer cooked macaroni to a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Add 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, Alfredo sauce, and mustard; mix thoroughly until macaroni is evenly coated. Mix in remaining 2 cups cheese and drained tomatoes and green chiles. Top with bread crumbs.
• Bake until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

CHEESY BROCCOLI-BACON MAC AND CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Prepare Dinner in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli to the Macaroni cooking water for the last 2 min. Meanwhile, cook bacon and yellow onions in large skillet on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until bacon is crisp.
• Add bacon mixture to prepared Dinner along with the egg; mix well. Spoon into 36 mini muffin pan cups sprayed with cooking spray, adding about 2 Tbsp. to each. Top with fried onions and shredded cheese.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 min. before transferring to plate to serve.

CHEESY SKILLET TACO MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Brown meat in large nonstick skillet; drain.
• Stir in Macaroni and water; cover. Cook on medium heat 5 to 7 min. or until macaroni is tender.
• Add Cheese Sauce Mix, taco seasoning mix, salsa and corn; mix well. Simmer on low heat 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

SUPER CHEESY BAKED VELVEETA MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. In saucepan, melt 2 Tbsp of butter. Add flour, combine well. Add milk and cheese, cooking over low-medium heat. Stir constantly, until cheese is fully melted and sauce is slightly thickened. Add salt and pepper and stir.
• 2. Place cooked macaroni into a large baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over the noodles.
• 3. In small saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp butter. Remove from heat. Pour in crushed saltine crackers and stir to cover crackers with butter.
• 4. Sprinkle buttered crackers evenly over the top of the macaroni.
• 5. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly and cracker crumbs are slightly browned.

MOM'S CHEESY CASSEROLE (BAKED MAC AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to directions; set aside.
• In a large bowl, add can of soup to a can of milk slowly to get the very last of the soup out of the can.
• Add cheddar and black pepper, stir well.
• Stir in macaroni and pour into casserole dish. If desired, leftover ground beef, sausage, or ham can be added at this time.
• Top with bread crumbs mixed with butter.
• Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

BEEFY EXTRA-CHEESY MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare Dinners as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; drain. Add onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic and seasonings; cook 3 min. or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Spoon Dinners into large bowl. Add shredded cheeses and meat mixture; mix lightly. Top with avocados.

CHEESY ONE PAN MAC AND CHEESE FROM BARILLA®

Steps:

• POUR whole box of pasta into a large skillet (approximately 12 inches in diameter).
• POUR 3 cups of cold water into the pan, ensuring that the water covers the pasta.
• Turn the burner to high, then set your timer for 10 minutes (optional: add a bit of salt to taste).
• COOK on high, stirring occasionally, until almost all of the liquid has evaporated.
• ADD dry mustard and cream and bring to a simmer then, REMOVE the skillet from heat and gently FOLD in the sharp cheddar, Parmigiano and parsley.
• Serve immediately.

CHEESY BAKED MAC N CHEESE

Steps:

• In a big pot, melt the butter.
• Slowly whisk in the flour until the mixture is combined and smooth.
• Add in salt, pepper, minced garlic, and worcestershire sauce - whisk until incorporated.
• Gradually whisk in half & half and milk.
• Continue to whisk and cook for another 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
• Gradually add in the sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.
• Gradually add in extra sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.
• Continue to stir and cook for an additional 5 minutes until mixture thickens.
• Remove from heat.
• Mix together the cheese sauce with the already cooked pasta in a 13x9 casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with more grated cheese.
• Bake in the oven at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.

EXTRA CHEESY MEX MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix in the breadcrumbs until coated, then the chile powder and thyme; season with salt. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Rub 1 tablespoon butter in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook as the label directs, until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the flour and stir for 1 minute; do not brown. Add the milk in a slow, steady stream, whisking until smooth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking, until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Whisk in 1 cup each mozzarella, cheddar and manchego. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the pasta and remove from the heat. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• Mix the remaining 1 cup each mozzarella, cheddar and manchego in a medium bowl. Sprinkle over the pasta. Top with the breadcrumb mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is golden, about 12 more minutes. Serve immediately.

SUPER CREAMY, CHEESY MAC N' CHEESE

Steps:

• In a big pot, melt the stick of butter.
• Slowly whisk in the flour until the mixture is combined and smooth.
• Continue to whisk and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add in salt, pepper and minced garlic - whisk until incorporated.
• Gradually whisk in light cream and milk.
• Continue to whisk and cook for another 8-10 minutes until mixture thickens.
• Add in the sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.
• Add in extra sharp cheddar cheese, stir until combined.
• Add in velveeta, stir until combined.
• Remove from heat.
• Mix together the cheese sauce with the already cooked pasta (boil water, takes about 10-12 minutes).
• Transfer to a 13x9 casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with shaved parmesan cheese.
• Bake in the oven at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes.

CHEESY CHEEZ-IT MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter in saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until mixture is smooth. Increase heat to medium; gradually whisk in 2 cups milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Stir in cheese, stirring until cheese is melted. Remove pan from heat.
• Stir pasta, and ground black pepper into cheese mixture; spoon into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Spread crushed Cheez-it crackers on top.
• Bake uncovered at 375°F for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

CHEESY RANCH SHELLS - MY FAV HOMEMADE MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling water, cook the shells to desired doneness; drain, transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
• In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, saute the onion in the butter for about 5 minutes, or until tender.
• Stir in the flour, salt, pepper and mustard powder.
• Gradually add the milk and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
• Add the ranch dressing and 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese; stir until the cheese melts.
• Combine the cheese sauce with the cooked shells.
• Place in a greased 1 1/2 quart casserole and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese begins to turn golden brown.

CHEESY MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Boil pasta in salted water for 20-25 minutes or until done. Drain. Combine milk, Velveeta,both shredded cheeses in saucepan. Cook on low heat until all the cheese has melted. Add to noodles and stir. Combine bread crumbs, parm, and parsley together then sprinkle on top.

JANETTE'S CHEESY VEGGIE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Spray a 2 quart baking dish with vegetable cooking spray, set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni until just tender, about 8 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and return to the pot.
• Meanwhile, heat the wine in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers, squash, onions, and garlic, and 2 teaspoons of salt, and cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes, adding a little water if more liquid is needed. Drain the vegetables in a large colander set over a bowl. Add the vegetables to the pasta and set the juices from the vegetables aside.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and mustard and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk and the juices from the vegetables. Add the thyme and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
• Beat the ricotta until smooth and slowly beat in the white sauce. Toss with the macaroni mixture. Transfer to the 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top and lightly spray them with the vegetable cooking spray. Bake until top is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

SUPER CHEESY CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare Dinner in large saucepan as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 2 min.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir chicken in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 to 6 min. or until done.
• Add Dinner mixture to chicken in skillet; stir. Top with shredded cheese; cover. Cook on low heat 2 min. or until cheese is melted.

CHEESY TACO MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare Dinner in large saucepan as directed on pkg.
• Add remaining ingredients; mix well.
• Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

CHEESY ELBOW MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni, drain.
• In saucepan melt butter, stir in flour, salt pepper and add milk and cook, while stirring until thickened and bubbly.
• Stir in 1 cup cheese until melted.
• Combine macaroni and sauce in buttered casserole. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in 350 oven for 30 mins.
• Can sprinkle with a little paprika to aid in browning some.