How to make a nice mac n cheese?

[SunshineIsComing]

I can make a simple white sauce mixed with grated cheese but it just never has the wow factor.

Anyone have a good but simple mac n cheese recipe?

Thank you

Add 1/2 teaspoon of English mustard and lots of mature cheese!

I add a dash of nutmeg and a slug of white wine to cheese sauce.

Fry a little bacon and add it to the mix at the end, then make the white sauce in the bacon pan to pick up the crunchy bits.
Or add white wine for a delicious fonduey flavour.
Adding a bit of gruyere to the cheddar is good too.

I’m a fan. I have three go-to versions which I alternate.

1- Fay Ripleys Green Mac and Cheese. I use peas or leeks or asparagus. It all still works and the kids love it
thislittlepiggylovesfood.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/mac-cheese.html?m=1

2 - Delia souffléd version
www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/pasta/souffled-macaroni-cheese

3 - the usual - but I always add a good hunk of blue cheese and top with sliced tomatoes and breadcrumbs

Nigella has an incredible sweet potato mac and cheese recipe. It's rich, totally decadent and one of the best tasting dishes I've ever eaten!

I always stir in a good dollop of Philadelphia or Tesco soft cheese.

This is a good stove-top recipe (as opposed to baked). I don't add the nutmeg. Allrecipes has a good one as well.

The Best Stove-top Mac and Cheese

Serves: 4-6 servings
Ingredients

8 oz elbow pasta
4 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp flour
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature and cubed
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
2-2½ cups milk, divided
¼ tsp each: garlic powder, ground nutmeg, onion powder, paprika
¼ tsp chili powder (optional)
½ tsp black pepper
salt, to taste

This is how I do my Classic Mac n Cheese My kids really like it and I hope you can try this.
Kosher salt
8 ounces fusilli or other short pasta
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk, heated
1 bay leaf
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
2 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
1 tablespoon English mustard

I put in three eggs, separate the eggs and whip the egg whites (adding the yolks separately) to give it a fluffy texture.

Definitely mustard.

White wine and garlic powder/salt.

I open a box of Kraft Dinner. Job done.

But it is a chemically enhanced nightmare of a meal. That said, you know that going in, and mostly, it’s people who grew up on it who remain fans. I fucking love it, me. Toxic yellow colours and all.

Delia Smith does a lovely Mac n cheese recipe.

www.sargento.com/recipes/classic-cheese/bacon-and-jalapeno-mac-cheese

I do this one. Goes down well.

My mums recipe
Cook macaroni
Dice an onion and fry till soft
Chop bacon and fry till cooked
Mix onion and bacon into cooked macaroni in a big oven dish
Make white sauce. Add mustard made with colmons mustard powder. Stir in grated red Leicester cheese. Turns the sauce a lovely golden colour. Mix with the pasta. On tbe top add more grated cheese, slices of tomato and breadcrumbs. Bake for as long as it takes for the top to go all crunchy.
Sooooo nice!

I make a standard cheese sauce but then add breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan and fried off bacon pieces. Just layer the mix on top and place in oven until browned. It's delicious and crunchy then.

Yes, add a generous teaspoon mustard powder to your flour when you make your roux for the sauce..it enhances the cheese flavour..use way more cheese that you imagine in your sauce (I do mean loads)..add a touch of cayenne pepper to the sauce..sprinkle top of mac cheese with generous cheese (and some parmesan if you have it), sprinkle top with salt and pepper too..brown under the grill till golden and bubbling..a large dash of cream to the cheese sauce ups the ante too.

always use literally a block of cheese even if the recipe calls for a smaller wedge.

Green Chillis added to mac and cheese is one of my faves, along with chorizo and of course, loads od breadcrumbs on the top!
Oh and of course mustard added to the cheese sauce...

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8834/bestever-macaroni-cheese

Best recipe I've ever found for macaroni cheese. Really good with broccoli or a green salad.

Onion powder, garlic powder and dash of paprika in the sauce

When did it turn from being called macaroni cheese into mac ‘n’ cheese? I’ve only ever heard it called that on Friends but perhaps I’m out of touch!

It's American Flowery

Valentine Warner's Alpine macaroni cheese. It has white wine, mustard and gruyére (I think), with crispy onions scattered on top and apple sauce on the side. I know the apple sauce thing sounds weird, but I promise it's delicious! A far cry from packet 'mac & cheese', certainly.