What Cheese Do I Use For Mac And Cheese
The only key here is to use cheese that melt really easily. You can change up the flavor profile quite easily by using any combination of: Parmesan, Cheddar, Pepperjack, Gouda, Fontina, Gruyere, Goat Cheese, or Brie. I always find its best to use 2-3 different kinds of cheese to really give it a great deep flavor.
Making Instant Pot Mac And Cheese Ahead Of Time
Some recipes are great, and even better, when made ahead but mac and cheese just isnt one of them.
As the pasta sits, it absorbs more and more of the sauce, making the mac and cheese dry, and the noodles mushy.
In my opinion, this is a recipe that just tastes the best when made right before you eat it.
Creamy Macaroni And Cheese With Bacon And Peas
The Chunky Chef03/19/2015
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Okay guys, let me guess one of your kids favorite meals probably chicken nuggets, and Id guess macaroni and cheese too. Am I right? Thought so lol. My kids LOVE mac and cheese. Of all forms, all flavors, even the Kraft easy mac that you microwave. They go nuts. So over the years Ive made several varieties of homemade mac and cheese, to try to get them to please for the love of all things holy, eat something I cooked for you!!.
This macaroni and cheese dish isnt just for the kids it has some grown up flavors, and its a little bit healthier. Although, as youre eating it, you wont be able to taste that its healthier all youll taste is a deliciously creamy sauce and some amazing flavors. Want to know the secret?
Yep, almond milk! Do you guys drink this stuff? Its actually pretty good and its really good for you
You can choose any pasta shape that you like for this macaroni and cheese classic elbows, some penne, rotini, anything! I love the curly and fun shape of cavatappi Part of the unique flavors of this dish comes from the cheeses used the white cheese you see there is gruyere. It. Is. Amazing! Its rich, nutty, and delicious. I paired it with a sharp cheddar.
I chose to garnish mine simply with just a few extra crumbles of bacon, but it would also be delicious with some fresh chopped chives or just some minced parsley.
I hope you all try this one
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Super Creamy Mac And Cheese
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Super Creamy Mac and Cheese is insanely rich and delicious. One taste and you will be hooked. Whether eaten as a side or a main dish, this is a recipe you will want to make over and over. Three types of cheese give Super Creamy Mac and Cheese a whole lot of cheese flavor.
We have sharp cheddar , wonderfully melty Monterey Jack, and last but not least Velveeta.
Im not a huge fan of Velveeta but theres no question it gives mac and cheese a wonderfully creamy texture.
Wonderfully cheesy and totally indulgent.
Life should have more mac and cheese.
Creamy Mac And Cheese Recipe
FINALLY!! A homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe that my children eat ! The ultra creamy sauce is so easy to whip up and you can use a variety of pasta macaroni, shells, spiral you name it!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
This makes a big batch but it does reheat well and stays creamy. Read our tips below on how to reheat leftover mac and cheese so it stays creamy.
Getting the cheese sauce right is no easy feat. Ive tried so many different combinations of cheeses sharp, fancy cheeses, mustards, nutmeg, etc. but this is the recipe that my children eat happily. The flavors of this homemade macaroni and cheese are very mellow and the texture is spot on. This recipe was adapted from the Sept 2016 issue of the Food Network Magazine .
Read Also: Simple Baked Mac N Cheese
What Makes This The Best
Nothing beats a mornay sauce-based creamy macaroni and cheese. Nothing.It makes a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas as well as a comforting meal any time of year.
When I want macaroni and cheese, I want to taste the cheese.
I want it to be deeply flavorful and gooey and creamy and perfect.
This recipe is an updated version of the macaroni and cheese recipe I made one Thanksgiving. The only difference is that I upped the cheese-to-noodle goo ratio so it wouldnt dry out, and I left off the crushed Goldfish topping.
Ill give you the ingredients for the topping though, in case youre feeling Goldfishy.
Three types of shredding cheese plus cream cheese and sour cream all whisked into a luxurious white sauce equals one luscious, rich mornay sauce.
What Kind Of Cheese Is The Best
You can use any cheese or combination of cheese that you like as long as they melt nicely. Yes, you can even use some Velveeta, because lets face it:
No other cheese has a melting game quite as smooth and creamy as Velveeta.
But since were starting with a roux and then stirring in cheese, your sauce should stay nice and creamy with regular grating cheese as well.
Here are some contenders for excellent cheeses for macaroni and cheese:
For my taste, the predominant cheese should be
- Sharp or extra sharp cheddar: No two ways about it, you pour cheese sauce all over pasta, and what you get is a very fatty dish. The sharpness will help cut through some of that fattiness to keep it from feeling too heavy.
After that, here are some other cheese choices that will work nicely and melt beautifully into your cheesy sauce:
- Fontina
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My Favorite Cheeses For Macaroni And Cheese
Depending on your mood, the cheese you use in macaroni and cheese can vary. Cheddar, fontina, gruyere, parmesan, and pecorino are all excellent options, but the combination of cheeses I go back to over and over again is a hearty amount of extra sharp white cheddar and a smaller, but potent amount of pecorino-romano cheese. The cheddar turns creamy and smooth and the pecorino adds a pop of salty cheese flavor to the sauce.
Okay, now this is where I get on my soapbox for a second. No matter which cheese you use for this, if you can, grate the cheese yourself. A previously shredded bagged cheese just doesnt melt the same way as hand grated cheese. I wish that wasnt true, but for now, to make the best mac and cheese, its best to shred the cheese yourself.
How To Make Baked Mac And Cheese
Add butter to skillet, as soon as butter melts whisk in flour. Continue whisking until flour is fully mixed with butter. Then cook for about a minute to get rid of the flour taste.
Slowly add evaporated milk a little at the time, followed by the half and half you do not want the mixture to form any lumps. Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly.
Add seasonings, onion and garlic powder, creole seasoning and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer and let it simmer gently for about 2 minutes. Stir in the cheeses , and continue stirring until everythings melted and evenly combined and, smooth. Salt & pepper, to taste.
Then add the pasta to the pot, stir to evenly incorporate.
Transfer the pasta mixture into acast iron skillet or into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish top with remaining cheese.
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What Pasta Shape Is Best
For my mac and cheese, I like to choose pasta shapes that are short and sturdy and really hold onto the sauce.Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash
I much prefer short shapes with plenty of texture to hold onto the rich sauce. Some of my favorites are:
Many of these shapes have choices between regular smooth pasta and rigate, meaning it has ridges.
Always choose a ridged pasta or at least a pasta shape extruded through brass dies because they will hold onto sauce better.
Creamy Baked Mac N Cheese Recipe Video
Watch us make the recipe!
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook the pasta
Make the cheese sauce
Bake and serve
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Variations Of Mac And Cheese
- Bacon if you love bacon, feel free to add some crispy, crumbled bacon to the topping, or even inside the mac and cheese as well!
- Stovetop if youd prefer not to bake this mac and cheese, you dont have to! Make sure you boil your pasta until al dente , and youll only need about 3 3 1/2 cups of cheese total. No need to layer the pasta and cheese, just add all the cheese to the sauce, then combine with the pasta.
- Different Toppings Im a huge fan of the cheese layer on top, since it gets nice and crispy, but we also love tossing 1 cup of panko with 2 Tbsp of melted butter and using that as a topping. 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers with 2 Tbsp of butter work amazingly well too!
- Different Baking Times the recipe calls for a lower baking temperature and time, but most of the time I find myself adjusting that based on my familys tastes. I like to bake this mac and cheese at 350 F degrees for 30 minutes, then broil for 2-3 minutes to get that glorious cheesy crust.
How To Make It
Im going to walk you through how I make mac and cheese in my own kitchen. If you want to watch me do it, theres a quick recipe video above that shows each step.
Step 1, Warm milk in a saucepan or in the microwave. Warm milk helps to make the whole sauce making process go a bit quicker and according to Julia Child, warm milk prevents a lumpy cheese sauce.
Step 2, Make a roux with butter and flour. Basically a roux is a cooked paste made with butter and flour. When milk is added later in the recipe, its this butter-flour paste that helps the cheese sauce to thicken.
Step 3, Whisk in the milk and thicken the sauce. When the roux is a golden color and smells nutty , I whisk in the warm milk. As the milk heats up with the roux, it thickens and turns silky smooth.
Step 4, Adds spices and the cheese. When the milk is a silky thickened sauce, I whisk in a few spices and the shredded cheese. When the cheese has melted into the sauce, I always taste and check for seasoning. Its likely that some salt needs to be added.
Step 5, Stir in slightly undercooked pasta, add to a baking dish, and bake. As I mentioned above, I undercook my pasta by 2 minutes, drain, and then rinse it of excess starches. This makes sure that my sauce stays creamy while it bakes in the oven. The macaroni and cheese bakes for about 30 minutes.
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Homemade Macaroni And Cheese: What Kind Of Cheese Should I Use
I honestly use different cheese combinations almost every time I make this mac and cheese recipe but the one I always come back to is sharp cheddar and Gruyere. If you cant find Gruyere, Jarlsberg Swiss cheese is the best substitute. Other cheese that work: mozzarella, jack cheese or pepper jack for a little zip, American and Velveeta as well for a creamier cheese sauce. This baked mac and cheese uses 6 cups of cheese so just
To add even more flavor to my homemade mac and cheese, I add Parmesan to the Panko topping so good!
Make It A Party With A Mac And Cheese Bar
I recently served the same set up for a holiday party and it was a total success. Here are few mac and cheese bar topping ideas for you to try or come up with a few of your own. Word to the wise: If youre serving the shrimp, double the amount! It was everyones fave.
- Chopped ham
- Cooked lobster chunks or crab
- Chopped bacon or pancetta
- Peas, carrots, or sweet corn
- Sun-dried or diced tomato
- Sautéed spinach or kale with garlic
- Garlicky buttered breadcrumbs
- Chopped scallions or braised onions
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Chopped herbs such as thyme or sage
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Did You Enjoy This Recipe Here Are Some More You Might Like:
Thank you so much for following along here, friends! Want to see more? Be sure to follow and tag me with your photo if you end up making a recipe! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the here! I always love to see your re-creations! If you do make a recipe, it would make my whole day if you were to rate and comment so I can get your feedback! Lots of love! Haylie
Creamy Baked Mac And Cheese
The Chunky Chef09/30/2019
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This baked mac and cheese is a family favorite recipe, loved by both children and adults. It uses a combination of cheeses, layered in the dish as well as melted into a rich and creamy cheese sauce, for the ultimate in cheesy deliciousness! Perfect for a comforting dinner or as a holiday side dish!
Looking for other comfort food dishes? Check out my Homemade Sloppy Joes, Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Crockpot Meatloaf, and Homestyle No-Boil Mashed Potatoes!
BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
Baked mac and cheese. Its nearly the universal comfort food, and there are SO many variations! In fact, I almost didnt post this recipe, as there are SOOOO many mac and cheese recipes available, and most people already have their favorite way of making it.
Of course, theres no right way or wrong way, so Im here sharing the way I like to make my mac and cheese .
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How To Make Momma’s Creamy Baked Macaroni And Cheese
- 1Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cook macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender but not mushy,about 8-10 minutes. Drain well and pour into a large mixing bowl.
- 2Melt on low the Velvetta Cheese and ¾ cup milk until melted . Pour Melted Cheese Sauce over Pasta and Stir. Add in butter,¾ cups milk,eggs,1 cup shredded cheeses,salt and pepper.
- 3Mix well and transfer to a 2 quart baking dish. Pour the remaining cheese on top. Bake until top crust is golden brown and casserole is bubbling . Serve hot
- Last Step: Don’t forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don’t forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
Why Youll Love This Dish:
As you all know, Spring cookouts are upon us! I really wanted to up my game for my side dishes this year. So, in addition to this mac and cheese being delicious creamy, I had to add some golden crunchy breadcrumbs on top!
Real talk: why does it seem like adding breadcrumbs and baking things always makes them better? I guess there is no harm in adding more carbs to anything. Hehe.
With the crust on top, it makes this Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese so spectacular. You have pockets of creamy cheese sauce waiting to be exposed underneath this buttery golden glowing crust that provides the most delectable bite!
You could truly just eat the creamy mac and cheese by itself BUT.why not bake it up with those delicious breadcrumbs?! It makes it crunchy, soft, gooey, delicious! Your whole family will love it, Im sure! So, lets get started!
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How To Make Creamy Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Step 1
Boil the elbows macaroni until al dente. You want the pasta to be slightly undercooked because it will continue to cook in the oven.
Step 2
In a large pot, make a roux by melting the butter and then adding the flour. Whisk your butter and flour together until the mixture is smooth, creamy looking, and light brown. Stir or whisk continuously for one full minute.
Step3
Add in the half & half and heavy whipping cream and continue to whisk, over medium-high heat. I prefer whisking because you want to make sure that your flour doesnt settle at the bottom and that it is fully cooked into the mixture. Also, add in the seasonings at this point. After about 5 minutes the mixture should thicken and start to bubble. Once it begins to bubble, turn the heat down to low.
Step 4
Fold in the cheese blend. I do not recommend using pre-shredded cheese for this recipe because the cheese doesnt melt as evenly as freshly grated cheese. For my mac and cheese, I use smoked gouda, cheddar, Colby Jack, and a small slice of Velveeta cheese. You can use your favorites but I do recommend the smoked gouda! Add in the sour cream and mix everything together until its smooth and creamy.
Step 5
Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix well. Pour the macaroni and cheese into a deep casserole dish and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 30-35 minutes. If you are baking yours in a cast iron, I suggest baking at 350° and keeping an eye on it while it bakes.