Our Favorite Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

OUR FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle of oven. Butter the baking dish.
• Make the topping:
• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat butter and oil until butter foam subsides. Add panko and garlic; cook, stirring, until crumbs are golden brown, 4-6 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl, stir in Parmesan and salt, and set aside.
• Prepare the macaroni and sauce:
• Set a large, covered pot of salted water over high heat to boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente (avoid overcooking). Drain macaroni and set aside.
• In a large wide pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle flour over butter, whisking to incorporate and make a roux. Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until roux is light golden, about 4 minutes. Gradually pour in milk and cream, whisking constantly to incorporate and make a béchamel sauce. Raise heat to medium-high and bring sauce to a low boil, whisking constantly. Reduce to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and cook until béchamel sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes more.
• Add 2 tsp. salt, pepper, and mustard powder. Add the cheeses in three batches, whisking until each addition is completely melted before adding more. Remove from heat.
• Add the drained macaroni to the pot with the cheese sauce and stir well to coat. Transfer macaroni mixture to the buttered baking dish and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 18-22 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

MOM'S FAVORITE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in milk, salt, mustard and pepper; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• To the milk mixture add the Cheddar and American cheeses; stir until cheese melts. Combine macaroni and cheese sauce in a 2 quart baking dish; mix well.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

FAMILY-FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Cook and drain macaroni as directed on package.
• While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constanly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
• Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce.
• Pour into ungreased 2-quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

OUR FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 with rack in the middle of oven.
• Butter the baking dish.
• Make the topping: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat butter and oil until butter foam subsides. Add panko and garlic and cook stirring, until crumbs are golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl, stir in Parmesan and salt and set aside.
• Prepare the macaroni and sauce: Set a large, covered pot of salted water over high heat to boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente (avoid overcooking). Drain macaroni and set aside.
• In a large wide pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle flour over butter, whisking to incorporate and make a roux.
• Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until roux is light golden, about 4 minutes. Gradually pour in milk and cream, whisking constantly to incorporate and make a bechamel sauce.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring sauce to a low boil, whisking constantly. Reduce to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and cook until bechamel sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes more.
• Add 2 tsp salt, pepper, and mustard powder. Add the cheeses in three batches, whisking until each addition is completely melted before adding more. Remove from heat.
• Add the drained macaroni to the pot with the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer macaroni mixture to the buttered baking dish and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 18 to 22 minutes.
• Let cool 15 minutes before serving.

FAMILY-FAVORITE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook elbow macaroni as directed on package.
• While macaroni is cooking, melt butter in a 3 quart saucepan over low heat.
• Stir in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in milk.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
• Boil and stir for 1 minute.
• Stir in cheese.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted.
• Drain macaroni when done. Gently stir macaroni into cheese sauce and pour into ungreased 2 quart baking dish.
• Mix together bread crumbs and parmesan cheese; sprinkle over macaroni and cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes or until bubbly.