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Throw in some shredded chicken or diced ham, add veggies like steamed broccoli or frozen peas, and you've got a delicious and satisfying meal in one pan.
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Assemble it in advance and keep it in the fridge for a couple of days! You can also serve the mac and cheese as a main course for dinner. This homemade mac and cheese is an ideal side dish that you can prep ahead for special holidays like Thanksgiving or for large family suppers.
Crunchy topping for mac and cheese how to#
How to Make a Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe Easy Salt, dry mustard, black pepper, and nutmeg: for extra flavor.Use extra sharp cheddar or other types of flavorful cheese, if you like. Sharp cheddar cheese: gives the dish its sharp, rich, cheesy flavor.
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Velveeta cheese: for a smooth, creamy mouthfeel in the cheese sauce.Worcestershire sauce: a touch of umami flavor that gives the dish depth.Do not substitute with skim milk or other lower-fat alternatives, since the flavor and texture of the sauce will not be as good. Milk (whole or 2%) and half-and-half: to make the sauce creamy and rich.Butter: the base of the roux that thickens the bechamel sauce.Elbow macaroni pasta: the "mac" that gives the dish its name! You can use other short pasta shapes such as rotini, penne, or medium shells, if you like.As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post. This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you'll need for a pan of our favorite baked mac and cheese. The options are endless, so pick your favorites! Try Gruyere, Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack, gouda, smoked gouda, Swiss, or mozzarella.
Crunchy topping for mac and cheese free#
If you like a combination of other cheeses, you can feel free to replace some of the cheddar (or even some of the Velveeta) with other good melting cheeses. I've found that an equal ratio of cheddar cheese and Velveeta cheese yields the best of both worlds - a smooth, creamy mac and cheese with plenty of rich, sharp cheddar flavor. The Best Cheeses for Baked Mac and CheeseĪs I mentioned above, the secret to creamy baked mac and cheese is Velveeta cheese! This American cheese just melts smoother than other cheeses and gives the sauce that creamy mouthfeel that we're all looking for. If you like a crispier crust on top, you can pop it under the broiler for a few minutes at the end. This short baking time is important because it's just long enough to melt the cheese on top and get the noodles hot inside, but it's not so long that it dries out the pasta and sauce. This casserole goes in the oven at a low temperature (325☏) for just 15 minutes. Blasphemy?! Maybe! But trust me here: Velveeta (or "American cheese") melts smoothly into the sauce giving the mac and cheese a rich, creamy texture that you just can't quite replicate with other types of cheese. It looks like a lot of sauce, but you need that amount in order to keep the dish creamy in the oven. We'll make plenty of cheese sauce to coat the noodles. We're not skimping on cheese, milk, or cream in this dish. Since that's not what we're going for here, you'll need to leave out the eggs. The eggs help to "set" the casserole, giving it a firm, dry texture. Unlike the Southern-style mac and cheese, this creamy version does not include eggs. I'm sharing a handful of tips to help keep your easy baked mac and cheese creamy, smooth, and saucy. If you're looking for the ultimate creamy, easy baked mac and cheese recipe, then you've come to the right place! How to Keep Mac and Cheese Creamy This recipe, by contrast, uses a roux to make a creamy béchamel that coats the noodles in sauce. If you prefer that style dish, try my favorite Southern Baked Mac and Cheese recipe. The eggs set up to create a firm casserole that you can slice into squares to serve. In the South, baked mac and cheese is typically just a simple combination of pasta, eggs, butter, milk, and cheese. There are as many different baked macaroni and cheese recipes as there are home cooks.