When you go to a restaurant, do you find yourself gravitating towards the same items on the menu? I know I do! For me it’s usually fish and chips if it’s a pub/bar, Eggs Benedict if I’m eating breakfast or brunch, and macaroni ’n cheese at a good restaurant. I think it’s a way for me to rank the place on my internal favorite restaurants list. To size them up a bit. So it should be no surprise that I’ve made my fair share of Macaroni ’n Cheese recipes on my blog over the past 5 1/2 years.
So this month, as we get closer to Fall, cozy sweaters, and comfort food, it seemed like the perfect time to feature my favorite Macaroni ’n Cheese recipes. Because does much else feel like comfort food than a big bowl of pasta and cheese?
I didn’t think so.
Now I could go on and on with favorite Macaroni ’n Cheese Recipes but for this post, I’m featuring my top 5 dishes. So let’s go for it, shall we?! And I’m not about to rank them, because they are all fantastic in their own way. Oh and yes, there’s a lot of bacon involved in this post . . . but I’m hoping you’ll forgive me.
MY TOP 5 ULTIMATE Macaroni ’n Cheese Recipes:
Lightened Up Mac ’n Cheese
Now I know there are some of you who are a bit like my mom, and don’t want to break away from the classics. For you, you don’t like all of the fussiness of adding extras to the mac ’n cheese. Give you pasta and a seriously good cheese sauce, and that’s all you need. Well this Lightened Mac ’n Cheese is the dish for you. Plus, it’s a healthier option, which is even better!!
Bacon & Brussels Sprouts Mac ’n Cheese
Brussels Sprouts are going to become a favorite veggie by all in the world once people actually eat them properly. And this Bacon & Brussels Sprouts Macaroni and Cheese recipe is a great example! This is an original recipe I created that was inspired by a dish I devoured in Vegas, and it’s one I think about a lot when it comes to good mac ’n cheese dishes. The roasted sprouts are perfectly balanced with some salty bacon and a combo of Gruyere cheese, sharp cheddar (always sharp), and fresh Parmesan cheese. If you aren’t a sprouts fan just yet, this one may convert you!
Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ’n Cheese
I believe when I first made this dish and wrote about it, the word that came to mind was swoon-worthy. Hell, I don’t know if this is even a word, but it is now. Because I swoon just thinking about this Bacon & Caramelized Onion Mac ’n Cheese dish. The caramelized onions take some patience, but their sweetness is the perfect partner to the smokey bacon. And then of course I like a little spice with some cayenne and black pepper added in. This is the definition of comfort food, if you ask me!
Spicy Roasted Vegetable Mac ’n Cheese
As a true veggie lover, this recipe is a total favorite of mine. You roast red peppers, yellow squash, baby carrots, and broccoli. Then cook up your pasta of choice, and you’ll make a classic white sauce and load it with lots of sharp cheddar cheese. I love the spice in the sauce thanks to crushed red pepper flakes and cayenne. I think it adds a nice kick to the roasted veggies. It keeps this from being a boring dish for sure. You really do need to make and enjoy this Spicy Roasted Vegetable Mac ’n Cheese as soon as possible.
Grown Up Mac ’n Cheese
This is yet another bacon-filled macaroni ’n cheese recipe . . . but I did warn you, didn’t I? And it’s really the cheeses that make this one Grown Up Mac ‘n Cheese. As a kid, pungent cheeses were something to avoid, but I really love blue cheese now. So if you’re a fan of smelly cheese a bit, then this one, which is filled with sharp cheddar cheese (because it’s the right thing to do), Gruyere cheese, and blue cheese is for you! Seriously, it’s rich and glorious and the ultimate comfort food as the temperatures drop. (Or any time, really.)
So there you go! That is my ultimate Top 5 list of Macaroni ’n Cheese Recipes! I look forward to bringing you another installment in the future as I keep discovering and inventing more pasta and cheese filled dishes.
Are you a giant fan of macaroni ’n cheese recipes? What’s your favorite thing to put in your mac ’n cheese, or are you a purist too? Comment below and let’s keep this cheesy convo going!!
Stay inspired & eat some mac ’n cheese!
~Kelli
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