What's a good recipe for a homemade macaroni and cheese?

Question

I like ham and peas in the meal but I have a hard time melting the cheese. I use velveeta that I cut into chunks but I'm not getting that smooth cheesey look, taste and feel. I think I use enough cheese.

Answer 1

"Creamy Ham 'n' Macaroni" - 6 servings

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 cup butter; cubed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
4 tsp. chicken bouillon granules
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese; divided
1 1/2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.
In large saucepan, melt butter over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in milk, bouillon and pepper; bring to boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup of the Cheddar, ham, Parmesan and macaroni.
Transfer to a greased 2-quart baking dish; sprinkle with remaining Cheddar. Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Answer 2

BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE

2 c. (8 ounces) elbow macaroni
1 stick butter
1/4 cup minced onions
3 tbsp. flour
2 c. of milk or light cream
1/2 c. dry white wine (or water)
2 c. grated sharp cheddar (1/2 pound)
1/2 cup bread crumbs (topping)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Cayenne to taste 1/2 tsp. paprika

Bring 4 qt. salted water to a rapid boil and cook the macaroni until not quite tender. Drain macaroni and set aside.
In saute pan, melt 1/2 the stick of butter (or 4 tablespoons). When melted, stir in the breadcrumbs and toast just until lightly browned. Remove breadcrumbs from pan and set aside. Wipe pan clean with paper towel and re-use for next step. Breadcrumb topping: Melt remaining butter, add onions, and stir over low heat until onions are just translucent, but not browned. Stir in the flour and seasonings. Continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the wine, then gradually stir in the milk or cream.

Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened and smooth. Add cheese and continue stirring until the cheese melts.

Combine the macaroni with the cheese sauce. Turn out into a generously buttered casserole dish (approximately 1 1/2 quarts). If you have any extra grated cheese, you can sprinkle this on top along with the 1/2 cup of buttered, toasted bread crumbs.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for approximately 20 minutes or until heated all the way through and golden brown on top.

Answer 3

Chicken Macaroni and Cheese:

1 (16-ounce) loaf pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed
1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
8 ounces penne pasta, cooked

Cook first 3 ingredients in a Dutch oven over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Stir in chicken and pasta; cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Note: To lighten recipe, use light pasteurized prepared cheese product, light sour cream, and 2% reduced-fat milk.

Spicy Chicken Macaroni and Cheese: Substitute 2 (8-ounce) loaves Mexican-style pasteurized prepared cheese product, cubed, for the regular cheese product.

Yield: Makes 4 to 6 servings

Answer 4

Here is a good recipe:

Macaroni and Cheese:

7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
1 pound elbow macaroni
3 cups coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
1 1/3 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 cup fresh bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 3- to 4-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.
In a heavy saucepan melt 6 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat. Add flour and cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Add milk in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Add mustard, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer sauce, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

In a kettle of salted boiling water cook macaroni until just al dente, about 7 minutes, and drain well. In a large bowl stir together macaroni, sauce, Cheddar, and 1 cup Parmesan and transfer to prepared dish.

In a small bowl stir together bread crumbs and remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and sprinkle evenly over macaroni. Cut remaining 1 tablespoon butter into bits and scatter over topping.

Bake macaroni in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Serves 6 to 8 as entrée or 8 to 10 as a side dish.

Answer 5

Mom's Macaroni and Cheese

1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
3 tbsp butter or margarine
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp dried mustard
2 ½ cups shredded or cubed Muenster cheese
Italian-style bread crumbs

Cook macaroni in boiling water till tender. Drain.

Melt butter in sauce pan and blend in flour. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly till there are no lumps and sauce has thickened.

Mix macaroni with cheese sauce and turn into a casserole pan. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees about 45 minutes or till bubbly and brown.

Answer 6

Crock pot macaroni and cheese
16 oz. box of macaroni (for 5 qt. pot)
3 large cans of evaporated milk
3 cups shredded cheese, chedder or whatever kind you like best
3 eggs
1 stick melted margerine
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon sugar

Mix all together and put in crock pot. Cook on low 3 hours. Add a little extra cheese on top if you love it real cheesy.

Answer 7

Try using Campbells cream of cheddar soup, some cheddar cheese, some velveta, and some milk. You can never have enough cheese, right? Also, add some nutmeg, like 1/8 tsp, it really brings out the flavor of the cheese.

Answer 8

ya got to premelt in the microwave

velveeta, with some milk, & butter,stir as needed ..

then mix with noodles over low heat..creamy, smooth...