21 Rich Recipes for Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What to add to mac and cheese to make it less rich? ›

What can I add to homemade Mac and cheese to balance the richness of the cheeses? A lot of recipes add a little dry mustard and a bit of worcestershire sauce to the bechamel before adding the cheese, off heat of course.

Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

Mustard Powder: The secret ingredient you should always add to your Mac and cheese. The acidity in the mustard helps cut through the fat. You can find it in the spice section of any major grocery store. Otherwise, swap it for 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Dijon or yellow mustard to taste or omit it.

Sauce too thick? Stir in a splash of milk and mix until the sauce has loosened up. (This is also a great trick for reheating mac and cheese - if you're microwaving leftovers and the sauce seems to have dried up, stir a splash of milk or half-and-half into the pasta to bring the sauce back to life!)

You want equal amounts of butter and flour by weight. This is key. Throw in too much flour, and sure the sauce might get thick, but it also might taste floury and be lumpy. Even if you get the roux right, use too much or reduce your sauce down too far, and the macaroni and cheese will turn out dry.

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce. The next time you make it, try to find some more strongly flavor cheese, or adding more cheese.

First rinse the cooked and drained pasta with lots of cold water. This will remove any excess starch that may be clinging to the pasta and this starch can sometimes affect the consistency of the cheese sauce. Leave the pasta to drain for 5 minutes or so before adding to your sauce.

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? Yes, adding more cheese than a recipe calls for will not improve the dish. Too much cheese will result in a dish that is heavy and greasy.

What thickens mac and cheese? ›

Both the flour and the cheese help thicken the sauce.

Get the right flavour balance

We've added some acidity in the way of a splash of vinegar to cut through the richness of the dish. It also acts as a seasoning.

If nothing is wrong with the cheese, the easiest way to save it is to add some more macaroni until the flavor balances out to what you intended. Cook the estimated amount of macaroni needed first, and then add some into first batch of macaroni a bit at a time until it tastes right.

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? Yes, adding more cheese than a recipe calls for will not improve the dish. Too much cheese will result in a dish that is heavy and greasy.

Sweeter cheeses do well with accompaniments with acidity like pickles or sour fruit jams, while very savory cheeses like Feta or Gruyere match better with softer flavors. Fresh fruits go with aged cheeses, while dried fruits like apricots or dates balance the saltiness of blue cheeses.