Winter is full of comfort foods, and perhaps no food can ease our cold weather pains better than macaroni and cheese, one of the most famous side dishes of all time. If you want something hearty and traditional because it’s raining or snowing, a bowl of warm macaroni and cheese will serve the purpose, but boxed pasta and grated cheese probably won’t.
Fortunately, making this gooey pasta dish from scratch isn’t hard; you just need the perfect recipe. The best macaroni and cheese recipes vary by taste, but we’ve listed five homemade versions that are sure to please. Check out some flexible ideas for your next comfort food-based dinner and get ready to fall in love with this childhood favorite all over again.
Perfectly Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Running your spoon through the crispy cheese shell and into the soft, melty center of a bowl of macaroni and cheese is a delightful experience, and if you consider yourself a traditionalist, a baked version of a classic is an excellent choice. If this sounds right, you’ll want to try the damn delicious oven-baked macaroni and cheese recipe. First, make the batter, which is a creamy sauce made from flour and butter, then add spices, light milk, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese to give it a richer flavor.
This recipe also suggests dividing the pasta and cheese mixture into different portions and sprinkling more shredded cheese on top to form a bubbly crust before baking. These cast iron bowls will make baking in your kitchen a breeze. Durable and rustic, these little metal baking dishes hold just the right amount of macaroni and cheese for a delicious dinner – but we wouldn’t blame you if you took two.
The Best Southern-Style Dishes Macaroni and Cheese
Traditional macaroni and cheese may be extravagant, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or just want to try a new twist on an old favorite, consider this Southern casserole-style recipe from the Fresh New York Times.
So, how does it differ from the South? Southern macaroni and cheese meals are usually egg-battered, which means the sauce is made by whisking eggs and milk. What you end up with is a solid, creamy dish that retains its shape but is also full of rich cheddar cheese flavor.
You’ll need some sturdy baking dishes to handle the macaroni and cheese, as it needs repeated baking in the oven to turn into the smooth and hearty dish it is. This deep and sturdy Emery Henry Casserole dish comes in a variety of colors, making it ideal for serving at the dinner table or transporting to a party. It also has enough height so you won’t have any difficulty stacking the several layers of cheese and pasta needed for the recipe.
The Best Electric Skillet Macaroni and Cheese
You definitely don’t want to stand at the stove stirring and simmering hard for days, but you still want the taste of hearty, home made. This is the ideal time to make a pot of macaroni and cheese that will stick to your ribs. This recipe, courtesy of The Chunky Chef, is also a great alternative to macaroni and cheese, with all sorts of additions that can be baked in the oven when you’re not in the mood for mac and cheese.
You may be thinking, “Cook macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker?” But this cooking method – and the resulting dishes – are simple, reliable and delicious. Simply add a few reliable ingredients to the crockpot, such as macaroni, butter, heavy cream, chicken broth and spices, and let them cook until all the liquid is absorbed. Then add the shredded cheese and cream cheese, the secret ingredients that give this dish its ultimate creaminess. If your guests ask for a second serving (or even three!) , don’t be surprised.
The Best Macaroni and Cheese
How is this “give me some oven” stovetop recipe different from the store-bought boxed version? The answer may surprise you, but it has nothing to do with cheese. Sure, using freshly grated cheese enhances each dish, but parmesan and cheddar are not the only additions to the dish’s flavor. When you look at the garlic powder and mustard powder – the fact that this is a one-pot dish and cleaning is not a problem – you’ll notice that this ordinary macaroni and cheese recipe is not so ordinary.
First you make the flour batter, then add almost everything – pasta, seasoning, milk and water – and let them boil together. Once the pasta is tender, add the cheese and mix well. Dinner is ready in less than 15 minutes. If you want something savory, you can quickly cook some bacon as a topping. After all, you can use the time saved by a high-quality stockpot to make some tasty toppings or sides to go with this easy recipe.
Vegan and gluten-free macaroni and cheese are the best.
With this recipe from The Minimalist Baker, steering clear of vampires and avoiding gluten while sticking to a vegan diet has never tasted better or been easier. It’s a perfect pasta dish with a whole head of roasted garlic to top it off. The other important ingredients are gluten-free macaroni, almond milk and nutritional yeast, an unmistakable cheesy flavor that a vegan must have. While it is commonly believed that extra steps and ingredients are required to create vegan classics, in this case, that is far from the truth. Only ten ingredients are needed, several of which you may already have on hand.
Short on time while preparing this dish? Use this handy garlic roaster to cut down on prep time while still getting that trademark roasted garlic flavor in your mac. You’ll never want to eat garlic-free macaroni again after tasting this recipe. It’s safe to say that even the non-vegans at the dinner table will enjoy this.