Macaroni pasta is one of the most versatile ingredients that you can have on hand. In addition to traditional mac and cheese, it’s the perfect-sized pasta to use in soups and salads. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best macaroni recipes.
Table of Contents
Easy Truffle Mac and Cheese
Treat yourself to the amazing flavors of this easy truffle mac and cheese. Truffles have a distinctive savory flavor that pairs well with pasta. Plan to serve this dish on a special occasion!
Microwave Mac and Cheese
Save yourself some time by making mac and cheese in the microwave! It cooks up tender and creamy, and takes just 15 minutes.
Seafood Pasta Salad
Adding seafood to pasta salad takes it from basic to amazing! This dish features a homemade Italian dressing and it comes together in just 15 minutes. Make a plan to serve it at your next barbeque.
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
This southern baked mac and cheese is creamy, tender, and full of cheese – in fact there are three kinds of cheese! Serve it with your favorite veggies for a complete and delicious meal.
Mac and Cheese Pizza
This pizza shaped mac and cheese dish is super fun! Your kids will want to get involved and your whole family will love the classic pizza flavors.
Cheeseburger Macaroni
This homemade cheeseburger macaroni is a copycat of the Hamburger Helper you ate as a kid! Your family will love this version that’s full of tender pasta, shredded cheddar, and perfectly seasoned ground meat.
One-Pot Chili Mac
One-pot meals are the ideal solution to busy weeknight meals. This chili mac takes just 30 minutes to make and is full of delicious flavor.
Beef and Macaroni Soup
Beef and macaroni soup is comforting, hearty, and delicious. Your family will love the flavors and it takes just 35 minutes to make.
Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
When you tell the kids you’re making cheeseburger casserole for dinner, you’ll be met with happy faces. It comes together easily and is ready to serve in just 45 minutes.
Tuna Pasta Salad
This tasty tuna pasta salad is easy to make and serves 10. It’s the perfect salad to serve to a crowd at a fun outdoor gathering!
Best Macaroni Recipe Collection: Easy Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound macaroni or similar short pasta
- olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt optional
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups milk
- 3 cups medium white cheddar cheese grated
- 2 teaspoons truffle oil see note
Optional Toppings
- ½ cup breadcrumbs regular or panko
- 1-2 teaspoons black truffles shaved or finely sliced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and salt. Cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, toss with a bit of olive oil and set aside.
- Have your measured flour, butter, milk and cheese ready along with a small whisk. Recommended: Warm the milk in the microwave or a small saucepan.
- Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and wait a few moments until melted. Then add the flour and garlic powder, whisking to incorporate and form a roux.
- Let the roux bubble for about 30 seconds. Then dribble about a half cup of (warm) milk into the roux, whisking continuously. The sauce should be thickening steadily. Keep dribbling in more milk and whisk until it bubbles and thickens. Repeat until all the milk is used up. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon, like a runny pancake batter. If not, then let cook longer but continue whisking to avoid lumps or sticking.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Using a wooden spoon, mix in the grated cheese until completely smooth. Then mix in the truffle oil (it should lend a pleasant musky aroma to the cheese sauce).
- Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring until completely coated.
- Optional: For a golden topping, broil the mac and cheese. Preheat the broiler to maximum, setting the oven rack to the upper middle position (so the top of the pan will be 2 to 3 inches from the broiler). Turn the mac and cheese into a 13×9” pan. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly on top. Place the pan in the oven and broil until bubbly and golden on top, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Black truffle mac and cheese: If you have black truffles available, you can cut into very thin pieces or shave them on top before serving for extra flavor and a stunning presentation.
- White truffle mac and cheese: If you have white truffles, you can cut/shave them on top before serving. The flavor is muskier but also delicious.
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