There Are Two Different Methods I Use To Reheat Mac And Cheese: The Microwave And The Oven Using The Stovetop Can Cause The Cheese Sauce Mixture To Stick And Burn To The Bottom Of The Pan
The fastest method is using the microwave. Just scoop your desired portion into a microwave safe dish and microwave in 1 minute increments until hot. Stirring between each minute of heating. If desired, add a tablespoon of milk or teaspoon of butter and mix to help revive the creamy gooey textures.
The second method is to bake. Add your desired portion into an oven-safe dish. I like to add a dollop of butter to make sure that it doesnt dry out. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
More Mac And Cheese Recipes
If you love mac and cheese as much as I do, here are a few more recipes you must try! They are so easy and full of gooey, cheesy flavor. Pair them with garlic bread for a knockout meal!
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How Many Servings Does This Make
This recipe yields about 8 servings per pan. Let that come with a disclaimer though. This is such a rich, cheesy, indulgent recipe that you may be able to get more servings out of one pan depending on how you serve it. If this is the main course for dinner then 6 to 8 servings is the standard. If making this as a side dish you can stretch that to 12 servings per pan.
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Baked Macaroni And Cheese With Velveeta
Ready for the most amazing baked Velveeta mac and cheese? Once you have completed the steps above, continue the following steps:
Do You Need To Bake Mac And Cheese
Creamy mac and cheese recipes that start with a roux-based sauce , do not need to be baked before serving. A creamy stovetop mac and cheese recipe is designed to go straight from the pot to the plate no oven necessary. You could also serve this mac and cheese without baking it will just be really saucy. By contrast, Southern-style mac and cheese recipes must be baked in order to cook the egg and help the dish set.
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What Else Can Be Added
Homemade mac and cheese recipe uses basic ingredients to let the comforting cream sauce shine through. However, here are some some flavor enhancers that may be added to baked macaroni and cheese. Use any or all of the spices in the sauce!
- Add 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- Try 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for a hint of garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder adds another layer of flavor
- Add few dashes of hot sauce
- Stir in additional shredded cheese to the Velveeta cheese sauce, such as cheddar, Colby jack, or sharp cheddar
- Stirring in 1/2 cup sour cream after the cheese melts adds a bit of tang and extra creaminess
Baked Loaded Velveeta Mac And Cheese Recipe
“Our version of loaded Velveeta mac and cheese is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Homemade Velveeta cheese sauce with tender mac is what mac and cheese dreams are made of and when you can turn this into a hearty meal that your whole family gobbles up, even better. Its a real crowd pleaser.If you love a quick and delicious comfort food easy meal, then this recipe is for you. This creamy, cheesy recipe is sure to satisfy your family’s cravings for some classic comfort food. Not only does it come together in about 30 minutes, but the addition of ham, and veggies makes it a balanced meal. Easy-to-make recipe requires minimal prep time so you can get it on the table faster.”
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Creamy Easy Baked Mac And Cheese
Ooey, gooey and oh-so-cheesy! This creamy, easy baked mac and cheese is the best mac and cheese recipe that youâll ever taste. A made-from-scratch sauce with two different types of cheese creates the smoothest, richest, creamiest casserole. Kids and adults devour this old-fashioned, homemade side dish, which pairs nicely with everything from Thanksgiving turkey to Christmas ham, fried chicken, meatloaf, and pork chops.
How To Make Homemade Mac And Cheese With Velveeta
1. Cook the pasta. You want it to be firm and al dente and not too soft and mushy. Boil it for no longer than 6 minutes and drain well.
2. Make the roux and the sauce. Whisk together the flour and butter until pasty. Gradually whisk in the milk and in just a few minutes, the mixture will turn into a thick sauce. Add the Velveeta cubes and stir until melted.
3. Assemble the casserole. Toss the cooked noodles in the sauce and transfer the mixture into a casserole. Top with shredded cheese and crushed Ritz.
4. Bake. Just 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or just until the topping turns golden brown.
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Youre Going To Love This
Super creamy and gooey this indulgent mac and cheese dish is filled with cheesy goodness
Buttery bread crumbs seasoned panko adds a crispy, crunchy topping
No-boil mac and cheese this time saver keeps the pasta from getting mushy
No flour no roux to fuss with!
One pan oven macaroni and cheese this easy dinner recipe is truly a dump-and-bake
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Notes On Creamy Baked Macaroni And Cheese
- The original recipe for this macaroni and cheese recipe comes from Patti Labelle. She is a beast in the kitchen so no surprise that its so good. Elgin did make modifications by doubling the cheese and substituting whipping cream for half& half.
- I modified the recipe as well by creating a crunchy topping, increasing the heat by 25 degrees. I also subbed colbyjack/monterey cheese for just monterey. Feel free to leave the panko topping off if you choose but I feel its a must in a baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
- This recipe has 5 types of cheese. Yes, 5 different kinds of cheese. The amount of cheese will scare you at first but believe me, its necessary and makes this dish delicious.
- Is this recipe healthy? Probably notbut who cares becauseCHEEEEEEEESE.
- Id recommend keeping the cheeses the same as statedeven the Velveeta. The beauty of this is that all the cheese melts and tastes perfect. There is a science to melting cheese.
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Crockpot Velveeta Mac And Cheese
Velveeta Shells And Cheese Add
Baked Velveeta mac and cheese tastes wonderful as is, but there are plenty of add-in options. Check out these tasty ideas:
- Veggies: Add 2 to 3 cups cooked or sautéed veggies to round out the meal. Try broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms.
- Bacon: Anything is better with bacon, right? Crumble a few strips crispy bacon over your mac and cheese before serving.
- Chicken: Add sliced baked or seared chicken breasts .
- Tuna: To make tuna mac and cheese, drain 2 cans of tuna and stir in when you add the pasta.
- Cheeseburger: Add 1 lb seasoned, browned beef and 1/3 cup ketchup or tomato paste .
- Pumpkin: Give Velveeta mac n cheese a fall makeover by stirring 1/2 can of pumpkin puree into the pasta.
- Jalapeños: Add a handful of fresh or pickled jalapeños and 1-2 teaspoons salsa seasoning mix.
- Gluten-free: To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free.
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Reasons To Love Velveeta Mac N Cheese
- Cheesy deliciousness: Velveeta creates the most wonderful cheese sauce! Its the very definition of comfort food!
- Easy to make: Mac and cheese with Velveeta is a easy recipe and comes together in minutes.
- Simple ingredients: 8 pantry staples are all you need to whip up this Velveeta mac n cheese recipe.
- Nostalgic: Velveeta shells and cheese is such a nostalgic dish. It has all those delicious flavors you know and love from your childhood, but better.
- Makeahead: Mac and cheese using Velveeta can be made ahead of time and baked right before serving. A great way to free up time on busy holidays.
- Versatile: By adding extra ingredients and seasoning, you can put your own spin on this easy recipe.
Why Use Velveeta For Mac And Cheese
Yes! Velveeta, a processed cheese product similar to American cheese, is an excellent option for mac and cheese. It creates a super silky and creamy texture that is smoother than any other cheese.
Velveeta melts incredibly well without separating or clumping. Mac and cheese benefits greatly from the superb meltability because Velveeta holds the sauce together and doesnt clump or split.
When other high-fat cheeses are heated, they can separate into clumps of protein in pools of liquid fat. Not so Velveeta! It contains emulsifiers that ensure smooth melting and help to retain this smoothness.
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Add The Pasta And Sauce To A Dish
After the cheese has melted, add the cooked pasta to the sauce and stir until all the noodles are well-coated.
Then, add the mixture to a greased 3-quart baking dish. Top with more cheese
Then, bake! I like to broil for a few minutes at the end of the cooking time to give it a little color and extra crisp around the edges.
Making The Perfect Roux
The fundamentals of making a roux are fairly straightforward:
Sounds very simple. And it is, but there are a few things to take note of that will improve your roux.
Measure out equal amounts of butter and flour by weight
Butter is obviously a lot denser and heavier than flour, so if you measure by volume , youll end up with more butter than you need. Also, measuring flour in cups can vary dramatically depending on whether youve scooped it up with the cup, or dropped it into the cup.
Use clarified butter
Most butter is somewhere between 15% and 20% water. But we dont want water mixing with our flour until its coated with fat. The best solution to this is to use clarified butter, but if you dont have any , let your butter simmer gently for a few minutes and most of the water will boil off. Make sure you dont burn it though.
Stir continuously
Stir continuously while the roux is coming together to ensure all of the starch molecules get coated with fat.
A whisk is the ideal tool for making your roux. If youre cooking in a non-stick pot, then a silicone whisk is the way to go, otherwise a steel whisk will do the job.
Cook off the raw flour taste
Dont overcook your roux
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Macaroni And Cheese Ingredients
If youve ever wondered how to make homemade mac and cheese, here you go!
- Pasta: First, you pick your pasta. Elbow macaroni is a the classic choice, of course, but shells, penne, or rotini are delicious too.
- Cheese sauce: You make your cheese sauce by first making a roux cooking flour, seasonings, and butter together. Then, drizzle in the milk. The flour thickens the milk into a glorious béchamel sauce a classic French sauce made from butter, flour, and milk. And theeennnnn remove from heat and add the cheese. Some people like to top their baked mac and cheese with breadcrumbs, but for this recipe, I love how it forms a brown and bubbling top in the oven without bread crumbs. Feel free to add if you prefer! Make it your own!
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The Combination Approach From Stove To Oven
A slightly more common approach than making the whole dish in the oven is a combination of the stovetop and the oven-baked methods.
Six authors prepare their cheese sauce on the stovetop, mostly based on the method I described above . They then combine their sauce with their cooked pasta and bake it in the oven. Most of these recipes include extra cheese and/or breadcrumbs on top to create a golden crispy finish.
The one different recipe in this group is from Coop Can Cook, which relies on the starch of the pasta instead of a roux . Coops mac and cheese recipe is another one worth exploring if youre hoping to avoid flour or making a roux.
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Best Ingredients To Use
Velveeta. Yep, its in here. That same great creamy cheese is combined with sharp cheddar to give that depth of cheesy flavor youve been looking for.
Evaporated milk. Its from the original recipe and I kept it here. Again, flavor is everything.
Italian Bread Crumbs. This ones a new addition, but if you love that crumbly topping on baked mac and cheese then youre going to love how Italian bread crumbs create a crispy buttery bite.
How To Make Baked Mac And Cheese With Velveeta
Start by preheating the oven and greasing a casserole dish with cooking spray. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and boil the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions, then drain the noodles through a colander. Heat a large nonstick skillet, then add the butter and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the flour over the butter.
Whisk the flour into the butter to create a roux. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly. Keep whisking until it reaches a smooth consistency.
Whisk in the onion powder, garlic powder, and ground black pepper. Simmer while whisking to thicken the sauce. Add in the cubes of Velveeta.
Stir until the Velveeta cubes have melted into the sauce. Add the cooked macaroni noodles to the skillet.
Gently stir to evenly coat the elbow macaroni in the Velveeta mac and cheese sauce.
Transfer the noodles and sauce to the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Bake until the cheese has melted, then broil until the cheese is bubbling and starting to turn golden brown at the edges. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
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Tips For The Best Baked Mac And Cheese
- Keep the pasta firm and al dente by undercooking it for 1-2 minutes. Keep in mind that the noodles will continue to cook in the oven, so if theyre already soft, to begin with, imagine what theyll be like after they bake.
- If youve accidentally overcooked the noodles, run them under cold water to stop the cooking process. You can also toss them in butter to keep them from absorbing more liquid during baking.
- While I often use pre-shredded cheese when cooking, I recommend against it when it comes to mac and cheese. Youll want the cheese to be as melted as possible, and because it contains an anti-caking agent, pre-shredded cheese just wont do. Just get a block of cheddar and shred it yourself! Its easy, and also a lot cheaper.
- If the sauce is too thick, add milk, 1/4 cup at a time, and stir. Repeat until your desired thickness is achieved.
- Keep tasting the sauce as you go along. Season it with salt and pepper, if needed.
- If youve accidentally overcooked the pasta, coat them with butter to prevent them from absorbing more liquid and cooking further.
- Dont forget to grease the casserole to keep the noodles from sticking.
Mac And Cheese Variations
Add your own personal twist to mac and cheese to make the dish your own!
- While its in the name of the dish itself, you dont need to limit the pasta to elbow macaroni. Feel free to use other small-shelled pasta such as fusilli, ziti, penne, rigatoni, etc.
- You can also use large elbow macaroni so that all that cheesy goodness permeates inside the shells.
- If you want a cheesier sauce, just add more cheese to it. It can be any kind of melted cheese. It doesnt have to be just Velveeta. Im talking cheddar, Swiss, gouda, cream cheese, you name it.
- Whether youre not a fan of Ritz or just dont have the crackers on hand, you can replace it with crushed French onions or croutons. Basically, anything crunchy works!
- Make your mac and cheese more substantial and flavorful with ham, bacon, mushrooms, and onions.
- Spice it up with red chili flakes, sriracha, jalapenos, or hot sauce.
- Make the topping extra crunchy and mouthwatering with bacon crumbles.
- Pressed for time? Thats totally fine! Just skip the oven and enjoy the mac and cheese right after tossing the noodles and cheddar cheese in the sauce.
- Want a fall-themed mac and cheese? Stir in 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree to give the sauce an autumnal flavor.
- Add ground beef, minced onions, and tomato paste to make cheeseburger mac and cheese. Thats 2 comfort foods in one!
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