Quick and Easy Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
This creamy mac and cheese recipe is quick and versatile. You can make it for a special dinner at home or to brighten up your thanksgiving celebrations. We guarantee this one will not disappoint.
The mac and cheese recipe is a global favorite meal. It’s quick and easy, and you can make it without a lot of mess. The delicious, dripping cheese and the soft macaroni mixed in the sauce make it a stand-out dish for any occasion, especially thanksgiving.
Make this thanksgiving mac and cheese recipe your new addition to the year’s special occasion, leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy with just one bite. You can top it off with as much cheese as you want and surprise your guests with a yummy, cheesy, spicy, and filling meal. The cheesy feel just won’t let you go.
What is Mac and Cheese?
Mac and cheese is a classic American dish that consists of elbow pasta and cheddar cheese, covered in a creamy sauce. Some variations of the dish add bacon and chicken to the dish, and it is usually baked in a casserole dish in the oven. It is the most popular comfort food of all time, and is a favorite among kids and adults alike.
What is the Best Macaroni for Mac and Cheese?
You can use any type of macaroni for this easy mac and cheese recipe. There is no best option, and you can customize according to your preference. However, in most cases, the popular elbow macaroni is the best choice for a deliciously simple mac and cheese.
And if you’re not a fan of elbow macaroni, there are other popular options you can use to complete this thanksgiving dinner. Ziti, penne, rigatoni, fusilli, and farfalle are all great options to customize the classic macaroni and cheese recipe.
What is the Best cheese to make creamy mac and cheese
Adding a blend of cheese (cheese of your choice) could be a game changer to a simple mac and cheese recipe. I must recommend a stronger flavored cheese like Parmesan to add an exquisite taste to the recipe.
You can also ago for a sharp cheddar, as it brings out a good flavor of mac and cheese recipe. Along sharp chedder cheese you can also add other strong cheeses like mozzarella, Montery Jack, and Colby Jack for an authentic mac and cheese recipe.
But the main thing to remember is to not hold back on the quantity of cheese. Justify this ingredient in the title by adding lots of cheese. This is what will truly make the recipe stand out.
How to Make Homemade Mac and Cheese?
There is an alternative to store-bought mac and cheese, and this creamy homemade mac and cheese recipe will show you how. Start by boiling the pasta. Let it cook while you make the sauce by mixing butter, flour, salt, and pepper in a pan.
Add in milk and stir to mix all the ingredients.
Grate cheese at home and add it to the sauce.
Once the sauce is done, drain and add the pasta to the sauce.
Add shredded cheese, spicy Cajun seasoning, and parsley at the top. You can use some other dried herbs as well.
Bake the layered mac and cheese in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes and broil until a golden crust forms on the top. Take it out of the oven and add more seasoning. Your creamy mac and cheese recipe is now ready to serve.
FAQs
How to Make Baked Mac and Cheese?
For the baked mac and cheese recipe, boil the pasta slightly less than you would typically do; 4-5 minutes is perfect. This is to avoid making it mushy. Once your pasta is ready, mix butter, flour, and milk to make the sauce. Then add in the cheese. You can use any kind, but cheddar or mozzarella are the most preferred for baking.
Also, instead of buying shredded cheese, buy a block and shred it at home, as freshly shredded cheese melts more evenly. Mix the pasta with the sauce and add half the mixture to the baking dish, sprinkling cheese on top. Then add the rest of the mixture, sprinkle more cheese, and put it in the oven to enjoy this baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
Can i use pre-shredded cheese to make mac and cheese?
Try not to use pre-shredded cheese bought from the store. It comes with a coating and some other granular products, which can lengthen the time it takes to melt the cheese, especially if you are going to use it for baked recipes. It will take more time to shred the cheese yourself, but it will be worth it.
How to prevent mac and cheese frome becoming lumpy?
Keep lightly stirring the mixture after adding the milk to ensure there are no lumps left in the sauce. If stubborn lumps remain, you can even go for whisking the mix to get rid of them.
What can I add to creamy mac and cheese for flavor?
To make this mac and cheese meal more fancier for festivities, you have several options of add-ins, such as shredded chicken or meat, sauteed onions, bell peppers/capsicum, sauces (like hot sauce), dried herbs, and more.
How to Store Cooked Mac and Cheese in the Refrigerator?
It is completely possible to store leftover mac and cheese in the fridge. But you have to do it properly to ensure it stays fresh and retains its original quality. You can store the cooked meal in airtight containers that are a bit shallow from the inside.
The refrigerated meal will last for 3-5 days, depending on how properly you store it. Once you store mac and cheese in the fridge, the pasta becomes dry, and the sauce thickens. Reheat the dish when you want to have it again, and add some milk to thin the consistency of the sauce.
Creamy Mac and Cheese Recipe
This creamy mac and cheese recipe is quick and versatile. You can make it for a special dinner at home or to brighten up your thanksgiving celebrations. We guarantee this one will not disappoint.
Ingredients
To make the sauce and pasta:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp slap ya mama Cajun
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cup pasta water
- ½ block cream cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella
- 1 cup cheddar
- 1 cup Monterey jack
- 1 cup Colby jack
- 16 oz elbow pasta
For seasoning:
- Cheese of choice
- ½ tsp spicy slap ya mama Cajun
- Parsley
Instructions
- To start, bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni in this boiling water according to the instructions given on the box. After the pasta has cooked completely, run it through cold water and set aside. Save the pasta water for later and move on to the next step.
- After the macaroni has been prepared, it is time to prepare the sauce or the cheesy mixture. Start by melting your butter in a pan, keeping the flame on medium intensity. Once the butter has melted, add the seasonings for a spicy taste. Add six garlic cloves crushed into a paste, paprika, Cajun, all-purpose seasoning, salt, pepper, and onion powder.
- Now add flour into the mix and keep stirring. One by one, add in the heavy cream, cream cheese, and pasta water. Keep stirring and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
- After the mixture has cooked for a few minutes, it is time to add the cheese. Go for a mixture of mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey jack, and Colby jack for best results. Shred the cheese and add it into the sauce mixture.
- Ensure that all the cheese has melted before going ahead and adding the pre-cooked elbow macaroni. This is the first layer. Add one more layer of cheese of all kinds - cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey jack, and Colby jack. Then add some more pasta on the top, about 4 oz.
- Once all the layers are in place, it is time for the top layer of cheese. Add shredded cheese, spicy Cajun seasoning, and parsley at the top. You can use some other dried herbs as well.
- Bake the layered mac and cheese in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes and broil until a golden crust forms on the top. Take it out of the oven and add more seasoning. Your creamy mac and cheese recipe is now ready to serve.
Notes
- It is better to boil the macaroni a little less than is recommended on the box, so there is some room for cooking when you mix it with the sauce on the stove. This will ensure that the mac and cheese stays crispy and is not mushy.
- The best way to add cheese is to mix it in batches while stirring the pot to ensure no lumps remain. Keep the heat low for this one to ensure the cheese melts thoroughly and evenly.
- If you want the end meal to be thicker than usual, increase the quantity of the macaroni to achieve the desired result. The more macaroni or pasta there is in the mixture, the thicker the consistency will be.
- Make sure to set aside some pasta water after you have boiled the pasta. This is a great ingredient to bring the consistency of the sauce to the desired level. You can also use it while reheating the mac and cheese to even out the consistency.
- Always add salt to the water you boil your pasta in to ensure the cooked pasta is seasoned properly. This will help bring out the taste of the dish and make your mac and cheese more flavorful.
- If you want your mac and cheese to be more fluid instead of creamy, you can use milk instead of other dairy products like cream and cream cheese. The cream cheese brings out the richness and creaminess of the meal.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 630 kcalTotal Fat: 34gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 777mgCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 27g
