Macaroni Cheese Without The Pot Of Water Recipes

STOVETOP MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium pot or large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Add about 3/4 cup of milk and mix into butter mixture - it will become a slurry pretty quickly.
• Add remaining milk and mix so the slurry mixes in. Then add water and Seasonings.
• Add macaroni and mix. Stir occasionally as it comes to heat. When you see wisps of steam as you stir, lower the heat down to medium low.
• Stir regularly as it cooks for 9 - 10 minutes (it will bubble gently), or until the sauce thickens and the macaroni is just cooked - tender but still firm. It should still be saucey at this stage and thinner than you want.
• Take it off the stove and stir the cheese in quickly. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately!!

NO-BAKE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• For the cheese sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add 4 tablespoons of the butter. When foamy, sprinkle in the flour and a pinch of salt. Whisk to combine, then continue whisking until flour is cooked, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk, pouring it in a slow, steady stream. Then whisk in the cream. Bring to a simmer. Set aside 3/4 cup of the mild Cheddar; whisk in the remaining mild Cheddar and the sharp Cheddar, smoked Cheddar and Brie. Continue to stir for 2 minutes or until all the cheese is melted, then turn the heat off. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter until melted and incorporated.
• For the macaroni: Fill a large pot halfway with water. Season with salt until it tastes like the sea. Bring to a boil, then add the macaroni. Stir, then simmer until macaroni is al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place cooked macaroni into a heat-proof serving dish. Ladle cheese sauce all over, then sprinkle the reserved mild Cheddar on top. Place in the oven just until all of the Cheddar is melted and everything is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

VEGAN MAC AND NO CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Transfer to a medium baking dish.
• Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until tender and lightly browned. Gently mix with the macaroni.
• In a blender or food processor, mix cashews, lemon juice, water, and salt. Gradually blend in canola oil, roasted red peppers, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and onion powder. Blend until smooth. Thoroughly mix with the macaroni and onions.
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned. Cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.