Buy your cheese in a block and shred it at home.
In order to bake up the creamiest, cheesiest version of mac and cheese, combining these kinds of cheeses makes the magic happen: The type of cheese you use in your recipe can either make or break your dish. Perhaps the most important ingredient(s) in macaroni and cheese is the cheese itself.
Trust me, it’s all worth it! Cheese for Mac and Cheese Yes, this recipe requires you to boil the pasta and perform some prep work before finally baking the mac and cheese inside a baking dish. It uses three different kinds of cheese to create a rich, creamy sauce that’s velvety smooth until the last bite. In fact, this recipe was a hit with our whole family. Macaroni and cheese is the perfect family recipe because it’s a dish that’s loved by both children and adults. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then bake it in your oven until it’s hot and bubbly.Buckle your seatbelt because this cream baked mac and cheese recipe is going to take you for a spin! It uses the optimal combination of cheeses to make the creamiest, cheesiest, most comforting macaroni and cheese you’ll ever have! Don’t believe me? Give this recipe a try. Be sure to freeze it in an oven-safe baking dish. You can also freeze the casserole before baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat as directed above. To freeze after baking, let it cool completely and then freeze in an airtight container. You can store baked pasta for up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also put it in a 350° F oven, covered, and heat until hot. The easiest way to reheat leftover baked pasta is to heat it in the microwave.
(Find the full recipe directions, including a list of ingredients and amounts, in the recipe box below.) Freezer and Reheating Instructions Transfer everything to a baking dish and sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella cheese.īake the casserole until it is hot and the cheese begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Then stir in some shredded cheddar cheese. Pour in the beef and sauce mixture and stir to combine. After draining the pasta, return it to the empty pot. Now it’s time to put everything together. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer everything together for about 10 minutes to develop the flavors. Stir in marinara sauce and the reserved pasta cooking water. Next you’ll add minced garlic and ground beef to the pan and cook until the beef is browned. If you want to add more veggies to your pasta bake, add them to the skillet now. While the pasta boils, sauté chopped onion and bell pepper in a skillet. The water has starches from the pasta and you’ll add about 1/2 cup of jarred or homemade marinara sauce. When the pasta is done, take a mug or measuring cup and scoop out some of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta. Adding a little salt to the pasta cooking water helps to flavor the pasta as it cooks. The first step to making this is to boil the pasta. You can boost the nutrition of this pasta dinner by using whole wheat pasta and adding extra vegetables to the sauce. I usually make this recipe with lean ground beef, but ground turkey or sausage would also work well. When we’re craving some cheesy pasta comfort food, this easy pasta bake is one of our favorites. Delicious leftovers are the best because it means you get a night off from cooking. The best part? This baked pasta tastes even better on the second and third day after the flavors have had time to come together.
Which means that my family can get a few meals out of this pasta bake. One thing that I love about this recipe is that it makes enough to feed a crowd. This recipe is a great one to prepare early in the day and then bake in the evening right before dinner time. The steps to prepare it are simple, and you won’t need to spend all day in the kitchen. This macaroni pasta casserole is easy to make using just a few ingredients. When life is feeling a bit overwhelming, cheesy baked pasta can be a perfect way to nourish both your body and soul. Cheesy, saucy pasta baked together with ground beef is a crowd-pleasing, no fuss dinner. I’ve been making this macaroni casserole ever since.
She called it Macaroni Meat Casserole, and as soon as I was old enough, she taught me how to make the recipe. Growing up, this macaroni pasta bake was one of my favorite dinners that my mom made for us. Use elbow macaroni or any short pasta shape in this comforting baked pasta casserole. This Macaroni Pasta Bake is easy to make with ground beef, marinara sauce, pasta and cheese.
See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.