Best Stovetop Mac And Cheese With Five Stir In Ideas Recipes

EASY STOVE-TOP MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions.
• In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour, and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring constantly to form a roux; add salt and pepper; slowly add milk, stirring well after each addition.
• Cook and stir until bubbly.
• Stir in cheese a small amount at a time until fully melted.
• Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce; stir to coat.

STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE WITH FIVE STIR-IN IDEAS

Steps:

• For the mac and cheese: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until al dente (the lower range of the cooking time on the box). Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water before draining, then return the macaroni to the pot. Add the butter and stir until melted.
• Whisk together the cornstarch, Dijon, hot sauce and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, then gradually whisk in the evaporated milk. Add to the pot with the macaroni, along with the pasta cooking water, and cook over medium-high heat until bubbling. Take off the heat and add the cheese, stirring until melted.
• Serve immediately either plain or with your desired stir-ins.

STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat a small skillet over medium heat; add the bacon and cook, stirring, until lightly crisp, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside; reserve the bacon fat for another use.
• Bring a 2-quart pot of water to a boil. Salt the water generously; it should taste like light seawater. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender to the bite, or al dente. Before draining, use a heavy liquid measuring cup to pull out 3/4 cup of the pasta water; set aside. Drain the pasta and return the pot to the heat.
• Heat the butter in the pasta pot, then add the cooked pasta. Stir in 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Add the American cheese and stir until smooth. Add the cheddar, milk, pepper and the cooked bacon and mix well. Dribble in extra pasta water as needed to make a soft, creamy sauce. Garnish with parsley if using. Serve immediately.

THE BEST STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder and paprika; cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and slightly darker, about 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and comes to a simmer, 7 to 8 minutes. Whisk in the cheddar, American cheese and cream cheese until melted and remove from heat.
• Add the pasta to the sauce; toss, adding some reserved cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt.

STOVETOP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium; add onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden, has a slightly nutty aroma, and is the texture of cooked oatmeal, about 5 minutes.
• Whisking constantly, pour in 2 cups milk; add 2 more cups milk and cayenne and whisk until smooth. Cook mixture, stirring constantly along bottom of pan, until boiling, 6 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and does not feel grainy when a small amount is rubbed between two fingers, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente; drain thoroughly and return to pot. Remove sauce from heat and let cool 10 minutes. Quickly whisk in cheese, mustard, and Worcestershire. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and stir to coat.