Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

By Jean Teller
Published on December 8, 2009
1 / 5

With a slight kick on the spice meter, Mexican Mac ‘n’ Queso hits the spot.
With a slight kick on the spice meter, Mexican Mac ‘n’ Queso hits the spot.
2 / 5

Low-Fat Macaroni and Cheese
Low-Fat Macaroni and Cheese
3 / 5

Add a few jalapeños to increase the spice factor of Green Chile
Add a few jalapeños to increase the spice factor of Green Chile
4 / 5

Two styles of corn help the creaminess of Mac & Cheese Corn Casserole.
Two styles of corn help the creaminess of Mac & Cheese Corn Casserole.
5 / 5

Bite into the crunchy almond goodness on top of Krinkly Casserole.
Bite into the crunchy almond goodness on top of Krinkly Casserole.

A simple dish of pasta and creamy cheese, with a few added ingredients, often claims the title of our favorite comfort food. Mac ‘n’ cheese can be as easy and simple, or as complex and tantalizing, as you want it to be, and many a child has thrived on a steady diet of the hot casserole.

My version of the classic is made in the microwave, and while it’s good, it has never compared to the steaming casserole of bubbling goodness that my mother brought to the table. I’ve lost track of the number of recipes I have for macaroni and cheese, from classic baked dishes, including my mom’s version and my sister’s hand-me-down (from her mother-in-law) recipe, to innovative slow-cooker versions.

When it comes to mac ‘n’ cheese, my colleagues didn’t want to be left out, so we organized an office-wide Mac ‘N’ Cheese Cookoff. Seven intrepid cooks entered the fray, and more than 30 people taste tested the entries and cast votes in four categories. My Low-Fat Macaroni and Cheese took top honors in the Healthiest category; J.P. Barker’s Mac & Cheese Corn Casserole was the Cheesiest; Brenda Kipp’s Mom’s Mac & Cheese was voted the Most Traditional; and Christian Williams’ Mexican Mac ‘n’ Queso claimed the title of Most Unusual.

Since all the entries were delicious, it didn’t take long for the tastetesters to clear out each and every dish in yet another successful cook-off.

We hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we did.

Senior Associate Editor Jean Teller keeps tri-colored pasta in the cupboard and plenty of cheddar cheese in the fridge to combat any mac ‘n’ cheese cravings.

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