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Top 5 Mac and Cheese Recipes

By , About.com Guide

If you want to save money yet still serve your family a hearty and filling dinner, macaroni and cheese rates among the top choices. It's simple to make and very inexpensive. And it's comforting, warming, and everybody loves it. You can use your favorite combination of cheeses to create your own masterpiece. One tip: don't use preshredded cheeses. They are usually coated with a type of starch, which inhibits smooth melting. And you want the smoothest sauce ever!

1. Indulgent Mac and Cheese

Indulgent Mac and CheeseLinda Larsen
With all these cheeses, heavy cream, and lots of flavor, this special recipe for macaroni and cheese is my favorite. Sometimes I make it without the crisp bread crumb topping, just to have nothing but creamy sauce and tender macaroni. Yum.

2. Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Macaroni and Cheese CasseroleLinda Larsen
Four cheese Alfredo sauce is the secret ingredient in this simple recipe. Frozen baby peas are the perfect addition to this rich and creamy dish. In fact, you can add peas to any mac and cheese recipe for more color, texture, and nutrition.

3. Dressed Up Mac and Cheese

Dressed Up Mac and CheeseLinda Larsen
This simple recipe, from my book Everything Meals on a Budget, is an excellent and fast way to dress up a box of mac and cheese. It is a recipe I made a lot when I was first married; it's very inexpensive and perfect for a strict budget. And it's delicious!

4. Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Crockpot Mac and CheeseLinda Larsen
I've fiddled with this recipe; it turns out that reducing the amount of macaroni makes a creamier dish. Watch this as it's cooking the first time. Then, once you know how your crockpot cooks it, write down the time and use that. This rich and thick mac and cheese is classic.

5. Southwest Mac and Cheese

You can make this recipe as spicy or mild as you like. Mild mac and cheese is dressed up with bell peppers, black olives, and green onions. And I like the reviewer's idea to add some smoked sausage. Use your imagination and create your own masterpiece!

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