Texas Baked Mac And Cheese Recipes

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on to boil. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Coat an 8-inch-square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
• Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika in a small bowl. Place spinach in a fine-mesh strainer and press out excess moisture.
• Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup milk and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar until melted. Stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Cook pasta for 4 minutes, or until not quite tender. (It will continue to cook during baking.) Drain and add to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the spinach on top. Top with the remaining pasta; sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.
• Bake the casserole until bubbly and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator, if necessary, then bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
• Tip: To make fresh breadcrumbs, trim crusts from whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. One slice of bread makes about 1/2 cup fresh crumbs. For dry breadcrumbs, spread the fresh crumbs on a baking sheet and bake at 250degreesF until crispy, about 15 minutes. One slice of fresh bread makes about 1/3 cup dry crumbs. Or use prepared coarse dry breadcrumbs. We like Ian's brand labeled "Panko breadcrumbs." Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets.
• Nutrition:
• Per serving: 576 calories; 22 g fat (11 g sat, 2 g mono); 69 mg cholesterol; 63 g carbohydrates; 37 g protein; 9 g fiber; 917 mg sodium; 403 mg potassium.

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.

TEXAS BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (convection mode is best if you have it).
• Heat a large pot over medium heat with 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Add the shallot and garlic and cook, stirring, until just tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add the butter, salt, and pepper and melt.
• Add the uncooked pasta, the milk, and the water and bring slowly to a boil (I keep mine over medium heat). Cook, stirring often, untilt he pasta is tender and most of the liquid has absorbed, about 12 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in only 2 cups of the shredded cheese, sour cream, the green chiles, nutmeg, and the paprika. Taste and add more salt if desired.
• Transfer the mac and cheese to a casserole dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
• In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Toss until well combined, then sprinkle evenly over the mac and cheese.
• Transfer to oven and bake (uncovered) until the cheese and panko are golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes, being careful not to burn.
• Remove from oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro (if using), serve and enjoy!

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE

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.

BAKED MAC AND CHEESE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions and set aside.
• In a saucepan, heat 1/2 cup butter until melted.
• Slowly whisk in flour until blended, and then slowly add in the milk.
• Bring mixture to a boil and continue stirring until it starts to thicken.
• Add in cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
• Add cooked macaroni to the sauce and stir until completely combined.
• Pour mixture into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
• Melt the remaining 1/4 cup butter and mix it with the bread crumbs, then sprinkle it over the macaroni mixture.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through.