Macaroni cheese - hit me with your secrets

[snappycamper]

AIBU to find macaroni cheese really dull?

The family love it but it's so plain... what do you add to yours to gift it a lift? I feel there must be a secret ingredient that I'm missing, mine is never as good as others I've had.

originalflava.com/meals/original-flavas-cheesy-macaroni-cheesepie/

The holy grail.

Like others have said.

I add mustard to the sauce
I add peas normally
And if I can be arsed I top with cheese and sprinkle with paprika and finish it in the oven.

Or I just leave out the pasta and instead do cheesy veg with whatever veg I fancy cut quite small but normally

Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Purple sprouting broccoli
Peas
Onion or leek
Green beans or asparagus
Babycorn
Carrots
Sweetcorn
Sometimes parsnip or soy beans if I have some

Chop up small cover in the cheese sauce and bake for about 1/2 an hour or until everything softens (like the carrots and parsnip)

Or

Ditch all the veg and pasta and slice potatoes and make a gratin with the cheese sauce instead of cream.

Bacon, sliced tomato or cheesy bread crumbs on top.
Americans make it with tons of grated cheese and a creamy cheese instead of bothering with cheese sauce. Tasty.

Sorry I should have said I always use the strongest cheddar I can get!

@RUSU92
For a Velveeta substitute, use Kraft cheese slices and dairylea.

Definitely mustard and use a good strong cheese, add some parmesan. Truffle oil.is nice too

Cherry tomatoes (halved) in the sauce. Approx 3 tonnes of cheese. And my extra special ingredient... Crushed ready salted crisps on the top before a final cook in the oven.
I am a totally terrible cook, but I am yet to find anyone that doesn't find my mac and cheese brilliant.

Add mustard and garlic when you blend the butter and the flour

Add small bits of cooked streaky bacon before you put in a dish

Croutons on top before you put in the oven (made with french bread cut up into cubes and sprinkled with melted butter and toasted)

Oh yes - big tomato slices on top (before the croutons)

Lots of different cheeses. I also use a few spoonfuls of boujois (or whatever it's called the soft garlicky cheese) my DD calls its cheesy mix up sauce and loves it.

A teaspoon of mustard powder and Some minced garlic in the butter when making the roux for the cheese sauce, loads of cheese and crispy bacon On tip.

I'm with the pps who suggest ditching the macaroni altogether in favour of vegetables. You can have some gorgeous creamy mash on the side for that carby hit. Much more interesting to eat than a plate of boring old macaroni. But a hundred times yes to adding more cheese to the sauce than the recipe - any recipe - calls for.

Black pepper always brings anything cheesy and plain up a notch

No white sauce. Just double cream and 3 or 4 different cheeses, like a garlic and herb cheddar, red Leicester, extra mature cheddar. Not got for the arteries or waistline but it's good.
Sliced buffalo tomatoes on top.

Agree with the poster who said to add a teaspoon or 2 of Colman's mustard.

A tablespoon or two of horseradish! It completely transforms the dish.

Add Leeks and bacon and definitely put English mustard in the bechamel!

2 packs aldi cheese sauce, 1 pack grated red leicester to the sauce, then when all mixed in, full pack grated cheese on top, in grill til bubbling, so good (large pack mac).

The cheese sauce gets a good shake of Schwartz (sp?) Garlic Italian Seasoning. And if it’s not a veggie day I’ll chop up some bacon or smoked sausage, toss it in a frying pan for a few minutes and add that.
If you plan to oven bake it, top with breadcrumbs!

Cayenne pepper - brings out the flavour of cheese, and it won’t make it spicy just use a sprinkle. I also use cathedral city extra mature or vintage as they give a really good flavour

And I definitely agree with PP. The more cheese the better! Nice and strong’

I rarely make macaroni cheese but do make cauliflower cheese. I put some Coleman's powder in with the roux and if I have time I put bay leaves peppercorns and onions in the milk and then add the infused milk to the sauce. Then shedloads of cheese and more pepper.

blog.thecrane.com/barbados-macaroni-pie-recipe
Barbadian Mac pie is the way to go!
Completely different.

Stick it in a pie

This is very topical as I went to girlfriends for supper last night (talk about outing if she's on here ) and when she said it was macaroni cheese I did a silent inward moan as I too find it very meh - lovely and cheesy but not something I want a whole plateful of! BUT hers was totally amazing with the addition of stir fried mushrooms, kale and chilli stirred into the sauce (extra cheesy and mustard included) then topped with sliced tomatoes & pano breadcrumbs before going under a hot grill. It was seriously good and the extra veg really stopped it being so stodgy.