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My definition of a perfect bowl of macaroni and cheese includes corkscrew-shaped pasta, rich cheese sauce (probably mixed with Swiss, cheddar and Gruyere), a pinch of nutmeg and black pepper, and crispy Breaded butter noodles. Best, I will eat it as is, but I don’t like adding pork or lobster.

There are many favorites about macaroni and cheese, but one of the biggest benefits is that it is fully customizable. You can change the shape of the pasta (for example, use medium-sized shells instead of elbow macaroni), change the shape of the cheese, or add more if it feels as spicy as diced jalapeno, chopped black pepper or dry mustard Heat.

According to experience, macaroni and cheese can be partly prepared in advance, if you want to make a batch for the weekend dinner, this will save time. "The sauce can be made and cooled for later use. We recommend that you use your cheese sauce within a week. The sauce itself will not freeze well, but mixing the sauce with the pasta and freezing it will help preserve the cheese Said Clare Malfitano, the chef of Murray's Cheese Bar.

When reheating is required, Malfitano has some tricks to ensure that the macaroni and cheese do not dry out. "Add a little extra cheese, mornay sauce, cream or milk. Then reheat it in the oven or on the stove, depending on how long you can wait," said Malfitano

Next, find the most cheese, cream, and comprehensive classic macaroni and cheese recipes.

Our best macaroni and cheese recipes

1. Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese

Leave it to the queen of all cooking (and gardening, crafting, and decoration) to provide a perfect bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese recipes. Martha’s trick is to use two different cheeses in the Beckham sauce-sharp white cheddar cheese and Gruyere cheese, and mix them with breadcrumbs as a crunchy ingredient.

2. The creamiest grilled macaroni and cheese

There are several ways to make this better-than-average baked macaroni and cheese recipe. The first is that the pasta is undercooked, so it is slightly chewy; once you add the hot cream cheese sauce, the pasta will absorb the heat and continue cooking. The second is to use more cheese sauce than you think you need to prevent the cooked macaroni from drying out. Third, the combination of oven baking and grilling will produce bubbling hot pasta with a crispy and crunchy surface.

3. Stovetop macaroni and cheese with garlic powder and white pepper

Food editor Emma Laperruque promised to make macaroni and cheese recipes that are as simple as the boxed version, but taste better.

4. Melissa Clark's stovetop macaroni and cheese

If you prefer a bowl of macaroni and cheese without toasted breadcrumbs, this ooey-gooey recipe is your best choice.

5. Baking pan macaroni and cheese

On the other hand, if your favorite part of eating homemade macaroni and cheese is to eat all the crunchy parts on it, then the "Why don't I think so" recipe Hesser from Food52 founder Amanda means a thin layer Thin cheese noodles, all these noodles become very crispy when baked on a tray.

6. Greens Mac'n' Cheese by Jamie Oliver

Want to know how to let your child (or maybe the inner child) eat their vegetables? Add roasted leeks, broccoli, baby spinach, and fresh thyme to cheese sauce and use it in kitchen-approved macaroni and cheese recipe testing.

7. Instant macaroni and cheese

One of the best uses of this multi-function cooker is macaroni and cheese. "It was completed in about 20 minutes, very tacky, and most importantly, it does not take up any valuable oven space," wrote recipe developer Ella Quittner.

8. My favorite vegetarian macaroni and cheese

To make the most vegan cheese sauce, put soaked raw cashew nuts, canellini beans, lemon juice, chili powder, turmeric, miso, nutritional yeast and chili in a food processor and stir until it is super smooth.

9. Tikka Masala macaroni and cheese from Preeti Mistry

Inspired by the taste of chicken tikka masala and the creamy taste of butter chicken, this warm tomato macaroni and cheese is something I want for a big bowl on the coldest day of the year.

Not all macaroni and cheese need to be made with Beckham sauce. For this recipe, all you need is starchy pasta water, a little bit of melted butter, and a piece of meltable, lovely cheese.

Swiss Raclette cheese and high-quality truffle oil give this exquisite macaroni and cheese a rich, luxurious flavor.

12. Pancake macaroni and cheese with pumpkin and brown butter

The former Food52 wrote: "Nothing is more comfortable or easier to achieve than pan macaroni and cheese. It is very creamy and crunchy without any extra parts. When pumpkin and brown butter are added to the party, it is unstoppable. ." Staff Ella Quintna.

13. Fall Mac and Cheese with Butternut Squash and Bacon

When the shelves of a grocery store or farmer’s market are filled with seasonal produce, you may feel guilty for craving something simple and timeless like macaroni and cheese. This recipe sets the best of both worlds, allowing you to make the most of the best butternut squash in autumn.

Just use ¼ cup of white miso paste to create a delicious and satisfying umami in this macaroni and cheese.

15. President Reagan's favorite macaroni and cheese

Politics aside, Reagan might have an idea of ​​this macaroni and cheese recipe. It uses only three cups of grated cheddar cheese (rather than the trio of Gouda, Gruyere, or very fashionable things like Gorgonzola, which some might find more interesting).

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