Fried Mac And Cheese Balls
This take on mac n cheese gives us total state fair vibes! Try making these in the air fryer for a healthier version. Take Two Tapas has a fried mac and cheese ball recipe that you will LOVE!
Use these tasty creations as a side dish, app, or afternoon snack. If you’re looking for the perfect dipping sauce, we suggest making a batch of our own homemade spaghetti sauce.
Speaking of spaghetti, what if you subbed out meatballs and topped your pasta with this mac n cheese balls?! Yeah, that’s a lot of carbs, but we’re not mad at it.
Quick Tips For Mac And Cheese From Scratch
We certainly wont judge you if you do make your mac and cheese from a box, the freezer, or buy it pre-made from your supermarket.
But if you do have the time to make your own from scratch, make sure you dont overcook the pasta. Nothing is worse than mushy macaroni.
Also, dont feel like you need to commit to macaroni as the pasta shape. You can make mac and cheese with other pasta varieties, though we suggest using tubular shapes as the cheese gets in there, making it extra gooey and delightful.
Go for it with the cheeses too. Using a mixture of different cheeses can totally heighten the mac and cheese experience.
And now that you have some ideas for what to serve with mac and cheese, you can enjoy a fulfilling dinner tonight!
Related Meals, More Great Sides
Check out these side dishes for your other favorite meals with pasta.
- Lasagna sides: A true hearty, pasta dish with a wide range of sides.
- Spaghetti sides: The king of pasta dishes for many of us.
What Is The Purpose Of Egg In Mac And Cheese
The addition of the egg will make the Mac and Cheese smoother and creamier in texture. Ive tested this recipe both with and without the egg and have found that it does have an effect on the texture of the end product. One egg should be beaten in a medium-sized mixing basin. To warm the egg, drizzle 2-3 Tablespoons of the thickened milk mixture into it very gently while whisking constantly.
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Best Baked Mac And Cheese
The most important thing to do is make some amazing macaroni and cheese.
This baked mac and cheese casserole is one that I make often. In fact, its my absolute favorite mac and cheese.
Or you can add other ingredients and make this mac and cheese with ham.
There are so many different ways to make macaroni and cheese. You can use all cheddar cheese or add feta cheese for extra flavor. You can even use parmesan, but if you do, I recommend mixing it with cheddar to balance the strong flavor.
Macaroni And Cheese With Andouille Sausage
Spicy andouille sausage, Cajun seasonings, and peppers and onions give this scrumptious macaroni and cheese its incredible smoky flavor and a bit of heat. Make the recipe with macaroni or other pasta shapes. If you don’t have access to good smoked andouille sausage, try this recipe with another variety of smoked sausage. Chorizo or a spicy turkey or chicken sausage would be excellent as well. For milder sausage, add a little cayenne pepper to the dish for more heat.
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How Do You Dress Up A Box Of Mac And Cheese
Hack your mac: 13 simple ways to improve the taste of packaged macaroni and cheese
Offer Options When Serving Macaroni And Cheese
My easy macaroni and cheese casserole is delicious with or without the crunch because I bake it until the top turns a golden brown. Every bite is so satisfying!
Although you can make a full meal out of a bowl of macaroni and cheese, I think its a good idea to include some sides.
You dont have to offer a lot of different dishes. Choose foods that add color to the plate to make the meal a more satisfying experience.
You can also set aside a bowl of cooked plain macaroni for anyone who cant have dairy products. If you offer a few add-ons, such as bacon bits, garlic salt, or ham, the person can doctor it up according to his or her personal taste.
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Ways With Macaroni Cheese
Check out our five makeover macs. We’ve used our ultimate macaroni cheese recipe as a base, but omitted the topping and instead added our own unique flavour twists to this mighty pasta favourite. Each dish serves four and should be baked for 20 minutes.
Nacho cheese
This is one for fans of smoky spice. The nacho topping adds an addictive crunchy texture. Sweat a large sliced onion until soft, add 1 tbsp chipotle paste and a handful of roughly chopped jalapeños. Layer into your macaroni and top with 60g crushed tortilla chips before baking.
Go green
Cheese and basil work together in perfect harmony in this comforting green bake. Add a dollop of fresh pesto and some baby spinach to your cheesy masterpiece. Stir 100g fresh pesto, 80g bag of baby spinach and 200g frozen peas through the cheese sauce before adding to the macaroni and baking.
Garlic mushroom & stilton
You know what a standard mac ‘n’ cheese needs? Even more cheese, plus a pile of buttery garlic mushrooms. Fry 250g chestnut mushrooms in butter with 2 cloves of crushed garlic until softened. Assemble with the mac ‘n’ cheese then dot over 100g stilton before baking.Sausage, onion & mustard
This is sure to be a crowd-pleasing family favourite. Remove 6 pork sausages from their skins and fry until crisp then set aside. In the same pan, cook a sliced onion until caramelised. Stir 1 tbsp Dijon mustard into the cheese sauce then mix everything together and bake.
Chorizo, parsley & almond
Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
An iconic food in Venezuela, beef Empanadas is a savory pastry to eat as a snack or lunchs side dish with mac and cheese. What a pity if you ignore the crispy and golden brown air-fried Empanadas dough filled with juicy and tender ground beef.
Although people tend to deep fry the beef empanadas, I highly recommend you to cook them in the air fryer to reduce as much oil as possible. The cooking results of both methods are nearly the same, both crunchy and delicious!
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Scrambled Egg Toast With Roasted Asparagus
Healthy, quick, easy, and delicious, you might just want to call this side dish idea eggs-ellent!
Puns aside, we just love eggs for dinner.
Asparagus is such an elegant vegetable too, and if you have some in your fridge that you havent used up yet, get them ready to go.
Along with the toasted bread, it makes for a very filling macaroni and cheese side dish that everyone will most certainly enjoy.
Erin over at Well Plated shows you how she puts this one together. Check out her magnificence at: WellPlated.com
What Can You Serve With Mac And Cheese
Mac and cheese is, without a doubt, in the top ten of everyones favorite comfort food list.
We can never say no to its creamy and cheesy sauce melded together with the soft and chewy macaroni. The best part is, you can choose to make it from scratch or purchase a boxed version of macaroni and cheese of your choice.
Thinking about what to serve with mac and cheese may be a bit challenging, since some people already consider mac and cheese by itself as a complete meal.
The truth is, having a side dish makes it a more delectable meal. Plus, youll find that our tried-and-true recipes all complement mac and cheeses rich and creamy flavor.
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What To Serve With Mac And Cheese
Looking for that perfect compliment to comforting, homemade mac and cheese? Whether you need a main dish, side dish, desserts, toppings, or condiments, we have you covered. If you dont know what to serve with mac and cheese, find the answer here!
There is no question mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. How can you go wrong with pasta swimming in a creamy, ooey cheese sauce? Its a meal adults or kids can turn down!
That must be the reason behind the plethora of macaroni and cheese recipes, from Velveeta Mac and Cheese , to Instant Pot, baked, stove-top, and gourmet recipes greet us at every recipe corner.
Whether you need to know what to serve with mac and cheese, sides or main dishes, the choices and recipes abound!
Macaroni And Cheese + Casserole
No doubt, mac and cheese are that its already a beautiful thing by itself. Its cheesy, creamy, and delicious. But when you pop it into the oven in casserole form, a magical thing happens:
The crispy edges of your macaroni toast up perfectly and bring out a whole new level of texture and flavor that you never knew existed.
Macaroni and cheese casserole is the perfect match and youre going to love it!
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Sweet And Savory Meatballs
Mac and cheese tastes great when paired with a meaty side. The savory and sweetness of these meatballs works very well against the creaminess of the cheese sauce. A great thing about meatballs is that you can tailor the taste to suit your preferences.
Whilst some may prefer traditional meatballs that have been cooked in an ol marinara sauce, others may opt for meatballs that have a barbeque or chili flavor.
A great thing about meatballs is that they are fairly easy to make from scratch, but you will likely find pre-made varieties at your local grocery store too. If you are going to be making your own meatballs, you simply need to combine the ingredients before frying or baking them.
Barbecue Chicken From Kraft
Macaroni and cheese goes so well with barbecue. Its the perfect combination reallysavory, sweet, smoky and cheesy! Use shredded chicken and barbeque sauce to really amp up this combination. Also try this dish with pork as well. You can also turn it into the ultimate dinner platter.
So, if youre faced with an empty fridge and no idea what to fix for dinner, check your pantry. With a box of macaroni and cheese and a can or two of extras youll enjoy a delicious, simple meal tonight that wont derail your grocery budget.
Whats your favorite way to upgrade your basic mac and cheese recipe? Is there an add-in you use to take your boxed meal to the next level? Share your own mac hacks in the comments!
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Hearty Chicken Cobb Salad
When you think of mac and cheese, you think of decadence. Your entire mouth tends to look for something that will somewhat cleanse that creamy coat in your mouth.
One of the best side dishes I could think of is a chicken cobb salad. It has all the elements my family loveschicken, cheese, turkey, bacon, and honey.
Sure, there are other elements in there, but they know the tastes they love are in the mix. When you make this salad, you can change the ingredients, as long as there is meat.
It makes this side dish heartier, which then makes your mac and cheese meal more satisfying. If you want it spicier, you are welcome to add more chili powder or paprika. When it comes to cheese, not everyone loves the taste or after-taste of blue cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese or goat cheese will do the job.Recipe here
Pulled Pork Macaroni And Cheese
Pulled pork macaroni and cheese consists of two comfort foods in one dish. You can use homemade leftover pulled pork or store-bought, including leftovers from your favorite barbecue restaurant. Add a little extra barbecue sauce to the pork before baking and serve this dish with coleslaw for a filling meal.
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Complementary Condiments To Serve With Macaroni And Cheese
Hot Sauce Whether you like Franks or Tabasco, a splash of hot sauce livens up mac and cheese unlike anything else.
Salt and Black Pepper Some people like to add salt and pepper to everything, so make sure you have some on the table.
Red Pepper Flakes This is another condiment that adds heat to balance the creaminess.
Ketchup Some people like ketchup on almost anything, and macaroni and cheese is no exception.
Mustard Add a little zing to your mac and cheese with a bit of mustardeither regular or dijon. Or you can use dry mustard, but remember that a little bit goes a long way.
Please feel free to share!
Hack #: Canned Tuna + Frozen Peas + Shredded Cheese + Breadcrumbs
Try this modified take on a classic tuna noodle casserole. This dish works well with any white cheddar mac base. Boil pasta according to package directions. Halfway through cooking, add in 1/2 cup of frozen peas. Drain pasta and peas and make sauce as directed. Mix pasta, peas and sauce, along with as much or as little drained canned tuna as you like, then put it into an oven-proof casserole dish. Sprinkle shredded cheese and breadcrumbs on top, then broil for three to five minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
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Prepared And Packaged Mixes
Packaged macaroni and cheese are available in frozen form or as boxed ingredients for simplified preparation. Boston Market, Michelina’s, Kraft Foods, Cracker Barrel, and Stouffer’s are some of the more recognizable brands of prepared and frozen macaroni and cheese available in the United States. “Macaroni and cheese loaf”, a deli meat which contains both macaroni and processed cheese bits, can be found in some stores.
A variety of packaged mixes that are prepared in a sauce pan on the stove or in a microwave oven are available. They are usually modeled on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese , which was introduced in 1937 with the slogan “make a meal for four in nine minutes.” It was an immediate success in the US and Canada amidst the economic hardships of the Depression. During the Second World War, rationing led to increased popularity for the product which could be obtained two boxes for one food rationing stamp. The 1953 Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook includes a recipe using Velveeta, which had been reformulated in that year. The boxed Kraft product is popular in Canada, where it is the most-purchased grocery item in the country.
Boxed mixes consist of uncooked pasta and either a liquid cheese sauce or powdered ingredients to prepare it. The powdered cheese sauce is mixed with either milk or water, and , butter, or olive oil and added to the cooked pasta. Some mixes prepared in a microwave cook the pasta in the sauce.
Brussel Sprouts Caesar Salad
The mild flavor of thin-sliced Brussel sprouts combined with the distinct sour and garlicky taste of Caesar dressing is perfect for serving with mac and cheese. The sourdough bread added in this is also a plus point, thanks to its crunchy texture.
If you think that sliced those tiny sprouts take your time and annoy you, pulse them in the processor set with sliced attachment. In addition, you can lower or increase the amount of cheese in this recipe since the mac and cheese are so creamy itself.
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Side Dishes Perfect For Mac And Cheese
When youre looking for something to serve with comforting Mac and cheese, dont make it too difficult.
The best thing about all of my side dish recipes is that they are easy to make and delicious.
Brussels Sprouts A great way to enjoy Brussels sprouts is to roast them in your air fryer or oven. You only need a few simple ingredients to get a boatload of flavor.
Green Beans I often steam some green beans and set them out in a bowl for those who want some. You can steam them in water or chicken broth on the stovetop or in your microwave.
Air Fryer Carrots Although theyre a similar color to the macaroni and cheese, the nutritional value and amazing sweet flavor gives them the right to hold court on the table.
Garlic Zucchini Parmesan Serve this dish with your mac and cheese, and you really dont need anything else.
Creamed Spinach This is one of those vegetable dishes that gets more requests for the recipe than anything else I make because its that good!
