Guest Post by Jennifer Williams - The Ultimate Comfort Food: 3 Creamy, Delicious Macaroni & Cheese Recipes

Hearty macaroni and cheese is an American favorite that families have been enjoying for years. It can be served as a tasty fall dish or something to warm up a cool spring evening. And, it's something you can nearly guarantee everyone will love, whether you're whipping it up for a family dinner or as a potluck dish.

Channel your inner child as you discover our top picks for the creamiest, most delicious macaroni and cheese recipe ever. But before you do that, you might want to consider these top-secret tips to make your macaroni extra special:

• For a tangy taste, drain the pasta and add a cup of porter or beer to the noodles. Let them soak for a few minutes before combining it with cheese.
  
  
• Add a dash of cinnamon to the cheese sauce. The mixture of different flavors will make for a nice surprise.
  
  
• Add a bit of Dijon or English mustard into the cheese mixture for extra “oomph.”
  
  
• For a bit of spice, add a diced up jalapeno pepper or pepper jack cheese to the mixture.

And now for a few delicious mac & cheese creations:

What's better than one type of cheese? Two kinds of cheese, of course! Delicious cheeses and milk combine in this dish to make a creamy sauce that's sure to knock your socks off. 

6 servings

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. seasoned dry bread crumbs
¼ cup flour
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups fat-free milk
¼ lb. (4 oz.) cheese spread
1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded fat-free cheddar cheese, divided
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Remove half of butter; mix with bread crumbs. Set aside.

Stir flour and salt into remaining butter in saucepan; cook and stir 1 min. Gradually stir in milk until well blended; cook and stir until thickened. Add cheese spread and 1-1/2 cups cheddar; cook until melted, stirring frequently. Stir in macaroni.

Spoon into 1-1/2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cheddar cheese and buttered crumbs.

Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

Refrigerate any leftovers.


Old-Fashioned Macaroni & Cheese

Make this the mac & cheese your kids will remember for years. You can go from prep to baked in less than an hour – and, this casserole-like dish is great for leftovers as well so you can enjoy it for days. 

6 servings

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. flour
½ tsp. salt
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 pkg. (7 oz.) elbow macaroni (1-3/4 cups), cooked, drained

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Add flour and salt; mix well. Cook 2 minutes or until bubbly. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended. Cook on medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. Add 1-1/2 cups of the cheese; cook until melted, stirring constantly. Add macaroni; mix lightly.

Spoon into 1-1/2-quart casserole; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.

Bake 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbling.

Refrigerate any leftovers.


Divine Mac & Cheese

Make this divine mac & cheese in less than 30 minutes. If you're feeling brave, add some fresh veggies like broccoli or red peppers, or your favorite meat like tender chicken.

12 servings

1 pkg. (14 oz.) macaroni & cheese dinner
½ cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, cubed (1/2 inch)
¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
½ cup milk
¼ tsp. black pepper

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Prepare dinner as directed on package. Meanwhile, combine cubed and shredded cheeses; set aside. Beat egg, milk and pepper with wire whisk until well blended.

Spoon half of the prepared dinner into greased 2-qt. casserole dish; cover with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Drizzle evenly with egg mixture.

Bake 15 min. or until center is set and heated through.

Refrigerate any leftovers.