Easy Macaroni and Cheese Meals

Updated September 30, 2008
Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Homemade mac and cheese is easier–and faster–than you think. Serve the comfort-food favorite for a main dish with a side salad, and dig in.

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Baked Mac and Cheese

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks

Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

The key to this dish is a surprise ingredient, canola mayonnaise, to make things extra creamy.

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Roasted Tomato Mac and Cheese

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Roasted Tomato Mac and Cheese Recipe

Make this dish gluten-free by using the brown rice elbow pasta and brown rice flour options listed in the ingredients.

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One-Pan Mac 'n' Cheese

Credit: Thomas J. Story

One-Pan Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe

Homemade sharp cheddar cheese sauce and smoked-paprika bread crumbs give this mac a massive flavor boost over the boxed version.

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One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe

Butternut squash puree enhances the color here without distracting from the cheesy flavor, and it sneaks in another serving of vegetables. If you can't find frozen butternut puree, swap in an equal amount of mashed sweet potato or canned unsweetened pumpkin.

$8.15 for six servings

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Barbecue Mac and Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Barbecue Mac and Cheese Recipe

Undercook the pasta by 1 minute. It will continue to cook in the creamy sauce while the crumb topping toasts under the broiler.

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Creamy Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Lee Harrelson

Creamy Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Mac and cheese doesn't have to be mild–try this version packed with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic. The extra flavor brightens the hearty cheese sauce, made with milk, cream cheese, and cheddar. Mix up everything on the stovetop in about 15 minutes while the pasta cooks–no baking required.

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Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Add the flavor of the Netherlands to this American classic with creamy, nutty Gouda cheese. Make a white sauce with flour and milk and heat until thickened. Then add Gouda and Parmesan cheeses, spinach, and cooked macaroni. Top with breadcrumbs and bake until browned and bubbly.

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Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Stove-Top Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes Recipe

Macaroni and cheese is the perfect weeknight meal. We've added meat, special cheeses, and secret ingredients; simply choose the recipe that fits your family!A little multitasking gets this stove-top mac and cheese on the table in under 45 minutes. Hearty tomatoes and crunchy breadcrumbs make it extra comforting.

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Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Add Mexican-inspired flavor to the traditionally cheesy dish. The secret ingredient in this dish, low-fat cottage cheese, adds extra creaminess without piling on the fat. This is a great dish for those wanting mac and cheese flavor without the over-the-top richness of most versions–the acid in the tomatoes balances the richness of the cheeses.

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Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Smokin' Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Smoky Gouda cheese, cream cheese, and milk make the sauce in this hearty ham-and-cheese recipe extra smooth. Crushed cornflakes, in place of traditional breadcrumbs, add a distinct crunch when mixed with melted butter and ground red pepper.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Recipe

Classic cafeteria-style goodness, this recipe yields enough to serve as a side for a crowd, or it could be dinner for a family of four. Recipe by Pam Rawlinson, North Augusta, South Carolina.

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Spicy Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Spicy Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Bring some heat to the dinner table with a mac and cheese recipe that calls for Mexican-style cheese and a can of diced tomatoes and green chiles. If your palate prefers all the Tex-Mex flavor without the heat, substitute regular cheese and mild tomatoes and chiles. The recipe calls for penne pasta, but feel free to substitute macaroni.

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Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Southern Pimiento Mac and Cheese Recipe

Undercook the pasta by 1 minute. It will continue to cook in the creamy sauce while the crumb topping toasts under the broiler.

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Ham and Cheese Macaroni Bake with Peas

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Katie Stoddard

Ham and Cheese Macaroni Bake with Peas Recipe

Serve a baked pasta dish packed with chopped ham, frozen peas, and onion. Toss the peas in while frozen–they'll begin to thaw when mixed with the fresh-cooked pasta and will finish cooking during a 20 minute stint in the oven while the rest of the dish becomes golden brown.

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Veggie Mac-and-Cheese

Veggie Mac-and-Cheese Recipe

One great way to add veggies to your diet is to pop them into a delicious cheesy casserole. A serving of this mac and cheese boasts broccoli, squash, carrots, onions, garlic, and red bell peppers. Ricotta cheese adds a creamy thickness that likens this dish to lasagna without the marinara sauce.

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Macaroni-Mushroom Bake

Credit: Tina Cornett; Styling: Leslie Byars Simpson

Macaroni-Mushroom Bake Recipe

You always knew cream of mushroom soup was a go-to ingredient for chicken casseroles, but if you've never tried it in pasta dishes, give it a shot in this super smooth veggie and cheese bake. The preparation couldn't get easier–just combine the pasta, soup, mayonnaise, and veggies, top with cracker crumbs, and bake for 30 minutes. It's the perfect weeknight meal.

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Macaroni and Four Cheeses

Credit: Randy Mayor

Macaroni and Four Cheeses Recipe

Four cheeses–Swiss, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, and cheddar–star in this hearty dinner dish. Users raved that the milk and cheese sauce was so rich, they didn't notice they were eating a reduced-fat version. It's a winner with kids and adults alike.

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Stovetop Sausage Mac and Cheese

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Stovetop Sausage Mac and Cheese Recipe

Get dinner on the table in about 20 minutes with this Italian-inspired dish. Combine chicken sausage, flavored with sun-dried tomatoes, with a smooth cheese sauce of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and cream cheese. Onion powder and garlic salt add an extra pop of flavor, while chopped parsley adds bright color.

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Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese

Credit: Jim Franco

Ultimate Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe

Serve up over-the-top flavor with this truly "ultimate" mac and cheese dish. White wine, whipping cream, gouda, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, and cayenne combine to create a super-flavorful main dish. Even the breadcrumb topping steps it up a notch–it's made from crusty sourdough bread.

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Mexican Mac and Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Mexican Mac and Cheese Recipe

Undercook the pasta by 1 minute. It will continue to cook in the creamy sauce while the crumb topping toasts under the broiler.

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