New Incredible Ways to Eat Mac and Cheese

By Southern Living Editors
April 24, 2017
Credit: via yellowblissroad.com
Everyone loves macaroni and cheese. Creamy, cheesy, crowd-pleasing comfort food in a bowl. But Southerners have a different relationship with mac and cheese. We’ll whip it up for weeknight dinners, pack it up for the weekend tailgates, and serve it as a side on the holidays. Every. Single. Holiday. From Easter Sunday lunch to Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll find this mouthwatering dish on our tables. Over the years, we’ve tried so many versions, and we’ve loved them all. We experimented with different cheeses, from cheddar, monteray jack, gruyere, and pimiento. We’ve tried mixing it up with all sorts of creative add-ins: sweet peas and prosciutto, ham and broccoli, cooked shrimp, chicken, and even spicy sausage. Despite all of the unique and colorful upgrades, we always fall back on the classic. A basic, made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese dish that we count on for ordinary weeknights as well as holiday spectaculars.We will, however, always give a macaroni dish a shot at winning us over. (Who turns down any dish that has "mac and cheese" in the ingredient list?) Which is exactly what we’ve rounded up here. How many ways can we enjoy this delicious noodle-y dish? Take a look.
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The Only Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe You'll Need

No need to buy the boxed stuff anymore—this will become your new go-to for busy weeknights. Our oh-so-easy macaroni-and-cheese recipe takes just 20 minutes to make, and it will please the even pickiest eaters in your home. You'll love sitting down at the end of the day with a comforting bowl of homemade mac and cheese. If you love this mac-and-cheese recipe, you’ll want to try these other riffs on the dish. We’re all about quick-fix weeknight suppers to feed the whole family, and these oven-baked pasta recipes and one-dish dinners are hard to beat.

You’re just a few simple steps away from enjoying this rich, creamy dish. First, combine 4 qts. of water and ¼ cup of salt in a Dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, microwave 1 qt. of milk on HIGH for three minutes. In a cast-iron skillet, melt 6 Tbsp. of butter. Add 6 Tbsp. of flour, and stir to combine. Gradually add the hot milk to the skillet, slowly whisking to combine. Once the pasta water is boiling, you’re ready to add 1 lb. of cavatappi pasta. We like to use these corkscrew noodles when making macaroni and cheese. Cook the noodles to the desired degree on doneness. Drain the pasta, and set it aside. Add 8 oz. of Monterey Jack cheese to the milk mixture in the cast-iron skillet. Throw in another 8 oz. of extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, and whisk to combine. Add 1 ½ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. pepper, and 1 tsp. hot sauce to the cheese mixture. Stir until the sauce is thoroughly combined. Add the cooked noodles to the cheese mixture, and stir until all noodles are coated. In a separate bowl, combine 1 ½ cups of panko and 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. Spread the mixture on top of the macaroni and cheese. Place the cast-iron skillet in the oven, and broil it for 1-2 minutes, or until the top of the macaroni and cheese is crisp and golden brown. Serve and enjoy this simple yet delicious pasta dish.

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Pizza

Credit: via thegunnysack.com

Get the recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Pizza at The Gunny Sack.

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Pie Topped with Bacon

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Get the recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Pie with Bacon Lattice at Buzzfeed.

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Baked Potatoes

Credit: via themerrythought.com

Get the recipe and more ideas on topping your baked potato at The Merrythought.

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Waffles

Credit: via seriouseats.com

Get the recipe for Macaroni and Cheese Waffles at Serious Eats.

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Panini

Credit: via damndelicious.net

Get the recipe for Pancetta Mac and Cheese Panini at Damn Delicious.

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Taco-Style

Credit: via yellowblissroad.com

Learn how to make the One Pan Taco Macaroni and Cheese at Yellow Bliss Road.

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Hot Dogs

Credit: via tasteandtellblog.com

Get the recipe for Mac and Cheese Dogs at Taste and Tell.

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Ravioli

Credit: via thefoodinmybeard.com

Learn how to stuff your ravioli with mac and cheese at The Food in my Beard.

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French Fries

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Get the recipe for French Dip Mac ‘N Cheese Smothered French Fries at Dixie Chick Cooks.

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Pancakes

Credit: via rachaelraymag.com

See how to top your pancakes with macaroni and cheese from Rachael Ray.

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Nachos

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Get this recipe for Macho Mac and Cheese Nachos at Vegan Yack Attack.

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Italian-Style

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Get the recipe for this Italian inspired Caprese Mac and Cheese at Simply Delicious Food.

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Mexican-Style

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Get the recipe for Mexican Macaroni and Cheese at Gimme Some Oven.

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BBQ-Style

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Combine two Southern classics with BBQ Chicken Mac & Cheese. Get the recipe at Host the Toast.

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Fried Bites

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Take your mac and cheese to the fryer. Try the recipe for Fried Mac and Cheese Balls from The Fork Bite.

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Quesadillas

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Get the recipe for these Macaroni and Cheese Quesadillas at the Bakeaholic Mama.

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Stuffed Peppers

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Get the recipe for these Mini Italian Meatball Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers at Half Baked Harvest.

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Breakfast

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Enjoy your mac and cheese in the morning with this Breakfast Mac and Cheese with Bacon, Eggs, and Hash Browns from Sweet-Remedy.

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Stuffed Shells

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Double up the macaroni flavor with these Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Shells from Bite Me More.

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Pretzel Bites

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Get the recipe for Macaroni Cheese Pretzel Bites with Bacon from Foodness Gracious.

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Grilled Cheese

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Get the recipe for Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwiches from Kirbie’s Cravings.

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Dip

Credit: via cookthestory.com

Get the recipe for this Macaroni & Cheese Dip at Cook the Story.

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Soup

Credit: via spicysouthernkitchen.com

Get warm and cozy with this Mac and Cheese Soup recipe from Spicy Southern Kitchen.

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Jalapeño Popper

Credit: via lifeasastrawberry.com

Spice things up with Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese from Life as a Strawberry.

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Chili

Credit: via damndelicious.net

Get the recipe for One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese from Damn Delicious.

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By Southern Living Editors