#Top rated macaroni and cheese recipe for mac#
#Top rated macaroni and cheese recipe cracked#

We like to mix a handful of panko bread crumbs in with the cheese before spreading it on top of the mac. Add bread crumbs to the topping for extra texture.Broccoli, diced tomatoes, caramelized onion, roasted garlic, spinach, and kale all taste great in this mac and cheese! Dial up the spice by increasing cayenne pepper and paprika here, or add diced jalapeГ±o to the sauce for even more kick (you can use our jalapeГ±o popper mac and cheese recipe as a guide!) You can also swap shredded pepper jack cheese for some or all of the cheddar.Stir fully cooked chicken, chorizo, andouille sausage, or diced ham into the cheese sauce along with the cooked pasta, or top this mac with some crispy bacon pieces! This mac and cheese recipe is very forgiving: Mix it up with whatever you have on hand! Some of our favorite swaps: Top with the rest of the cheese and bake! Riffs and Substitutions Turn off the heat and stir in most of the cheddar cheese (save a handful of cheese for topping!)Дrain the pasta, toss it with the sauce, and transfer it to a baking dish. Bring it to a simmer and let it thicken a bit, then whisk in your spices. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce! Whisk your flour and butter together to form a roux, then slowly whisk in the milk.

#Top rated macaroni and cheese recipe cracked#

A few spices: mustard powder, cayenne pepper, and paprika (plus salt and plenty of fresh cracked black pepper!)Д¬ook the pasta in very salty water until itвЂ™s a few minutes less than al dente (it will continue cooking in the oven!).

We always recommend shredding your own cheese for sauces: Store-bought shredded cheeses are often coated with preservatives that keep them from melting smoothly. Any kind is fine! We typically use 1% or 2% but this recipe also works with skim milk.

Unsalted butter and flour, which youвЂ™ll use to form the roux that thickens our sauce.

#Top rated macaroni and cheese recipe for mac#

Your favorite pasta (we used elbow macaroni, but check out Mac and Cheese 101 for a comparison of the best pasta shapes for mac and cheese!)).The sauce is cheesy, creamy, and with just a hint of spice (if youвЂ™re looking for a more in-your-face spicy mac, try our jalapeГ±o popper mac and cheese!) Our mac and cheese ingredients WeвЂ™re baking this mac and cheese for a casserole style dish, but itвЂ™s also great straight from the stovetop if you want a no bake version. Serve it as a side dish (itвЂ™s easy to make ahead вЂ“ perfect for potlucks or holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving!) or add some veggies and protein to make it a full meal. This quick recipe is our go-to when weвЂ™re craving a bit of comfort food. One thing that should be in every home cookвЂ™s back pocket: a really, really good homemade mac and cheese.