Best mac and cheese recipes, please?

[ali23]

Mine is just always a little on the bland side!
Thanks

Add a tin of chopped tomatoes it is yummy.

I think it was an MNER who I got the tip from and it really is lovely.

Mmmm i'm def making mac&cheese for lunch now.

I just make a roux with butter and flour, plenty of salt and pepper, add milk til there's enough sauce and then add in the cheese.

would love to hear some more interesting recipes though

especially ones with hidden veggies for the fussy DD!

Really - tin tomatoes with mac n cheese? That is interesting! Might have to try it!

I add mustard powder to mine (with the flour) and also often add chopped fried bacon/mushrooms/onions or even cooked peas. But lately the DCs just like it v v plain and hook out any extras!!

I have heard it is lovely baked in the oven, but that sounds like a faff to me.

This is the mac and cheese recipe that my mum, her mum, her aunt, my sis, cousins....everybody uses lol. It's fab but probably more of a pasta bake than mac and cheese in it's purest form.

Macaroni Cheese

Ingredients:
225g Macaroni (or penne or whatever) Pasta
275g Red Leicester cheese, grated/finely chopped
6 Rashers streaky bacon, chopped
½ Onion, chopped
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 level tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp vinegar
1 ½ Pint water
Pinch of pepper

Method:
1.Put macaroni, onion, tomatoes & bacon in water.

1. Add vinegar, mustard & pepper. Bring to boil, simmer until nearly all the water is gone.

3.Remove from heat, add grated cheese (reserve some for topping) and mix in. 4.Put mixture in large dish, sprinkle rest of cheese on top. 5.Put in oven on 200°C for 30/40 mins until top is golden brown and bubbly.

God, I'm hungry!

For a classic macaroni cheese:
Always add a little mustard to the cheese sauce (preferably English, but Dijon will do) and make the sauce as cheesy as possible using mature/extra mature cheddar.
Top with grated cheese, sliced tomato and a very light dusting of cayenne pepper.

Variations:
Add chopped cooked bacon/bacon and leeks/ham/cauliflower/broccoli or any vegetables you have/fancy.
Put a layer of chopped tomatoes - tinned or fresh on the bottom then cover with the cheesy sauce
Substitute a little cider for some of the milk in the sauce (not too much as it then curdles).

I always put peas in mine.

Although, a similar recipe (a flavourite of mine)...

Put a thin layer of tomato pesto on the base of a perspex dish,

Layer on veggies (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, onions... and some al dente pasta)

Pour over your cheese sauce (which I put a bit of mustard in when cooking).

Sprinkle top with fresh breadcrumbs mixed with grated cheese (about 50:50)

Bake in the oven and the pesto bubbles up through the veg and is is really really yummy.

Thank you. These sound fab and way more exciting than my own version.

penona, if you don't bake in the oven, how DO YOU make it??

Bake it. Just pour it into an ovenproof dish, top with grated cheddar and bake or grill until crispy and bubbling. Somehow makes it more tasty.

I made mac n cheese tonight. But these all sound WAY nicer! I just boil some macaroni while making a cheese sauce, then put the pasta into the cheese sauce. I don't then go on and bake it - 'tis already cooked!

Although perhaps the baking is the secret...

I have loads left for tomorrow, so going to try baking it with a tin of tomatoes. The pesto one sounds great too...

I make a roux, add tons of extra mature cheddar and a spoonful of mustard, then add a chopped onion fried in a bit of butter, mix all together bung under grill with halved cherry tomatoes on top. Yum!

You're all missing the vital ingredient: Nutmeg! Just add to cheese sauce once cooked and it just adds that extra something to the flavour.

Also I add grilled bacon and chopped mushrooms, makes it a bit more substantial and interesting.