Easy Cheesy Mac And Cheese With Optional Crunchy Topping Food

BAKED, CRUNCHY-TOPPING, MAC N CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Grease a 3-quart shallow baking dish.
• Bring a pot of salted water (Who wants bland pasta?) to boil for the macaroni.
• The yummy topping: Melt 2 T unsalted butter
• In a bowl stir melted butter together with crushed Ritz and 1 cup cheddar until well combined. This can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• The yummy sauce: In a 5-quart heavy saucepan melt 3 T butter over med low heat.
• Stir in flour and red pepper flakes.
• Stir about 3 minutes and whisk in milk.
• Bring sauce to a boil, whisking constantly.
• Simmer, whisking occasionally, for about 3 minutes or so.
• Stir in the cream, the 4 cups of cheddar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
• Remove pan from heat and cover surface of sauce with wax paper.
• Cook macaroni in boiling water, al dente. (per package instructions)
• Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
• Drain macaroni.
• Return the macaroni to the pot (off the burner) and mix together the macaroni, reserved cooking water, and the sauce. (The sauce does stick a bit to the wax paper when removed)
• Transfer macaroni mixture to baking dish.
• Sprinkle topping evenly over the macaroni and bake on middle rack for 20 to 25 minutes, or until light golden brown and bubbling.

EASY CHEESY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Melt butter in large saucepan. When melted, whisk in the flour until incorporated and cook for 30 seconds or so until thickened.
• Slowly pour in cream and milk while whisking. Cook until thickened on low heat, whisking frequently. Usually 3-4 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and stir in the cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Once all the cheese has melted, add macaroni and stir well. Adjust salt and pepper per taste.
• Enjoy!

EASY CHEESY MAC AND CHEESE (WITH OPTIONAL CRUNCHY TOPPING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Transfer cooked macaroni to a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Add 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, Alfredo sauce, and mustard; mix thoroughly until macaroni is evenly coated. Mix in remaining 2 cups cheese and drained tomatoes and green chiles. Top with bread crumbs.
• Bake until bubbly and cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.

CHEESY MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the flour, cream, half-and-half, sour cream, egg, mustard, cayenne, salt, pepper and nutmeg until smooth., Drain pasta. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Stir in cubed cheeses. Top with cream mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly and golden brown, 30-40 minutes.

SUPER CREAMY AND CHEESY MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni and set aside.
• In a pot, melt the butter and mix in salt and pepper.
• Slowly add in the flour, stirring continuously.
• Gradually add the milk and stir the mixture until smooth.
• Add the cheese on a low heat and melt into the mixture.
• Once the mixture is at your desired consistency, mix in the drained macaroni.