Golden Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Boil the pasta until al dente and drain well so that you don't have excess cooking water which will dilute the flavor. While the pasta is cooking, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, and add the onion, cooking until translucent. Add the flour a little at a time to make a roux. Do this gradually because some batches of flour absorb more than others and you may not need as much. Incorporate enough of the chicken broth a little at a time to form a smooth sauce. Simmer for a least 10 minutes to allow the flour to "cook out." Add the heavy cream and Cheddar, then season with salt and white pepper, to taste. Then fold in as much pasta as you need to acquire the right consistency for macaroni and cheese. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with crushed crackers. Heat in oven for a few minutes to toast the crackers. Garnish with the reserved whole crackers and serve.

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions and drain well. Set aside.
• Place milk, flour, and onion salt in a quart jar. Cover tightly and shake vigorously for 1 minute.
• Stir together flour mixture, 3 1/2 cups cheese, and macaroni.
• Pour macaroni mixture into a lightly greased 13x9" baking dish or two 11" oval baking dishes. Stir in chopped, cooked ham (as much as you desire) before baking.
• Sprinkle evenly with breadcrumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese. Drizzle evenly with melted butter.
• Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
• Sprinkle with chopped, cooked bacon before serving (as much as desired).

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain well. Set aside.
• Place milk, flour, and onion salt in quart jar;cover tightly, and shake vigorously 1 minute.
• Stir together flour mixture, 3 1/2 cups cheese and macaroni.
• Pour macaroni mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish or 2 11 inch oval baking dishes. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and remaining cheese, drizzle evenly with melted butter.
• Bake at 350F for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.