Feel-good memories and second helpings are guaranteed when you try out any of these tempting twists on mac and cheese.
Double Mac and Cheese
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The best part of mac and cheese is the cheese, of course! This recipe kicks it up a notch.
Ingredients:
16 oz. elbow macaroni
3 cups cottage cheese
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. white pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup 2% milk
4 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
Topping:
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook macaroni until just tender, according to package directions.
2. In a food processor, process cottage cheese until smooth. Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Gradually add half-and-half and milk, bring to a boil and simmer until thickened.
4. Transfer macaroni to a large bowl, and add Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and white sauce. Toss to coat and transfer to a greased 13x9" baking dish. Combine bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over top of macaroni. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
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Activities for Kids Near YouPimento Mac and Cheese
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Our star attraction meets a Southern favorite sandwich spread in this irresistible variation.
Ingredients:
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, halved
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
3 tbsp. butter at room temperature
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3/4 cup mild Peppadew peppers in brine, drained
1 tbsp. brine, reserved from peppers
1/4 tsp. ancho chile powder
1 1/4 cups extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup whole milk Mozzarella cheese, grated
8 oz. shell-shaped pasta
Directions:
1. Bring 1/2 cup water, diced bell pepper, and 1 1/2 garlic cloves to a boil. Cover and reduce heat, cooking until the pepper is soft, about 15 minutes.
2. Toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and rub 1 tablespoon of the butter into the crumbs. Mix in 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.
3. Transfer the bell pepper mixture to a food processor. Add Peppadews and brine, ancho chile powder, Cheddar cheese and the remainder of the butter, garlic cloves, and Parmesan cheese. Blend until smooth and add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook pasta until just tender, according to package directions. Stir sauce mixture and Mozzarella cheese into the pasta and transfer into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle with crumb mixure and bake until bubbling, about 25 minutes.
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Activities for Kids Near YouRanch Mac and Cheese
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Kids love ranch dressing, so you can't go wrong with this savory twist.
Ingredients:
16 oz. elbow macaroni
1 cup 2% milk
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 packet dry ranch salad dressing mix
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. garlic pepper blend
1 tsp. lemon-pepper seasoning
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 cup Colby cheese, shredded
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup Saltine crackers, crushed
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions:
1. Cook macaroni until just tender, according to package directions.
2. In a Dutch oven, combine milk, butter, ranch dressing mix and seasonings. Heat through, add Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses and stir until melted. Stir in sour cream.
3. Add cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce. Sprinkle with crushed crackers and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve warm from the stovetop.
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Activities for Kids Near YouGreen Macaroni and Cheese
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No food color is required for this colorful recipe, a great way to sneak in extra veggies and have a little fun with dinner.
Ingredients:
1 lb. elbow macaroni
3 cups whole milk
1 cup packed fresh spinach
3 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
4 cups white Cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups broccoli florets, chopped
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook macaroni until just tender, according to package directions. Reserve half a cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Place milk and spinach in a blender, blending on high until smooth.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add flour, whisking over low-medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking occasionally for about 4 minutes until sauce thickens.
4. Add pasta water and cheese to white sauce, whisking together until incorporated. Stir in pasta, broccoli, and peas. Transfer to a greased 13x9" baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.
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Activities for Kids Near YouBacon Mac and Cheese
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Add bacon to just about anything, and it becomes that much more awesome. This recipe is no exception!
Ingredients:
Extra virgin olive oil
6 slices bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
3 tbsp. butter
1 onion, diced
Salt to taste
1/2 cup flour
1 qt. whole milk
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
Hot sauce to taste (such as Tabasco)
1 lb. shell, elbow or corkscrew-shaped pasta
2 cups Cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups Fontina cheese, grated
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Directions:
1. Cook pasta until just tender, according to package directions.
2. Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with a thin layer of olive oil and add bacon. Cook over medium heat until brown and crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towel, reserving bacon fat in pan.
3. Add butter and onion to the pan with the bacon fat, season with salt, and cook until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook for about 3 more minutes. Whisk in milk, mustard, another pinch of salt and hot sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 6 minutes.
4. Add all cheeses to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Stir in pasta and bacon and serve warm from the stovetop.
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Activities for Kids Near YouBuffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
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Everyone loves Buffalo wings, but who would have thought to add them to mac and cheese? Turns out, they're a match made in heaven.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups shell, elbow or corkscrew-shaped pasta
3/4 cup store-bought rotisserie chicken, diced
1/4 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 cup whole or 2% milk
2 tbsp. corn starch
4 oz. cream cheese
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
Green onions, crumbled blue cheese, and chopped cilantro for topping
1/3 cup hot wing sauce plus additional for serving, if desired
Directions:
1. Cook macaroni until just tender, according to package directions.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Melt butter in a sauce pan, add garlic and onion and saute until softened. In a small bowl, mix a couple of tablespoons of milk with cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Add to onion and garlic mixture. Add remaining milk and whisk. Add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powders, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, whisking until bubbly.
4. Add cream cheese and one cup of Cheddar cheese to sauce. Add pasta and stir to combine.
5. Transfer pasta into a greased baking dish and top with remaining Cheddar cheese. Toss the wing sauce and chicken together and scatter on top of pasta. Bake for 30 minutes. Top with green onions, blue cheese, cilantro, and more wing sauce, if desired.
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Activities for Kids Near YouGreen Chile Mac and Cheese
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If you like Mexican food, you'll love this mac and cheese spiced with green chiles and Pepper Jack.
Ingredients:
1 cup large elbow macaroni
1 cup Mexican cheese blend, shredded
1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
1 4 oz. can diced green chiles, drained
4 tbsp. butter
2 1/2 tbsp. flour
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 tsp. garlic powder Chopped cilantro, for garnish
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Cook macaroni until just tender, according to package directions.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp. of butter. Whisk in flour and stir gently for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is golden. Gradually add milk, whisking until smooth.
3. Add cheeses to sauce in batches, stirring until melted. Stir in chiles, and then macaroni.
4. Pour mac and cheese into a greased baking dish. In a skillet, melt remaining 2 tbsp butter, and add bread crumbs and garlic powder. Stir to combine and sprinkle over the mac and cheese. Bake until toasted, about 8 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.
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