Nothing hits the spot on a cold windy fall day like a steaming bowl of baked macaroni and cheese. The blend of creamy cheeses, succulent noodles, and usually a crumbly brown topping all combine to make any problem any issue any heartache instantly disappear. Moms have wielded the power of the classic family baked macaroni and cheese recipe for years, and even if you’re family doesn’t have one, there are hundreds of moms out there who are willing to give you theirs, or challenge you to a taste test.  Macaroni can be simple, it can be classy, it can be quick, it can take hours, it can be sweet, salty, spicy, its a truly customizable dish. Below is a collection of recipes that give you a basic mac n cheese recipe, then add a twist, be it a special ingredient a unique flavoring, or just a different way to cook it!

Mac N Four Cheese

A sumptuous blend of four cheeses combine with hearty noodles and a wonderfully decadent sauce making this easy recipe both heartwarming and satisfying.

Mac N Ham N Cheese

Chunks of salty ham blend perfectly with a classic mac n cheese recipe.

Spicy Mac N Cheese

Peppers and chili powder add a bit of kick to this yummy recipe, with just enough heat to take away the winter blues.

Mac N Corn

Sweet tender chunks of crispy corn give a bit of texture to the enduring mac n cheese in this traditional recipe.

Mac N Peas

Add a nutritious and flavorful veggie to your everyday baked noodles and cheese sauce for a bit of variety and extra vitamins.

Homemade

Mac N Cheese the way Mom used to make it.

Mac N Beer

Mac N Cheese the way Dad wants Mom to make it.

Mac N Oysters

Give seafood a try in this simple but elegant take on the traditional Mac.

Mac N Chicken N Broccoli

Empty the contents of your frozen leftovers for a great bit of variety in your weekly Mac recipe.

Mac N Queso

A blend of mexican spices, chunks of ground beef,  yummy green chiles, and salsa adds a south of the border flavor that your kids will love.

Set It and Forget It Mac N Cheese

Add all of your ingredients, set your timer, and come home to warm bubbly cheesy goodness, just in time for dinner!

Italian Mac N Cheese

Of course I had a contribution to this post, I love Mac N Cheese, everyone in my family loves mac n cheese, even my six month old son loves the cheesy sauce, so when I was faced with a shortage of cheddar and an abundance of mozzarella, I quickly adapted the recipe for an Italian flair.

You Will Need:

1 box rotini pasta
1 can black olives (sliced)
1 tsp minced garlic
1 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
1 tsp oregano
4 fresh basil leaves minced or 1 tsp dried basil

Preheat your oven to 400*F.
Boil pasta according to package directions, drain well. The less water in the pasta the more sauce it will absorb, and the tastier it will be.
While the pasta is draining, slice your olives, your basil and shred your mozzarella. Mix your ricotta and heavy cream together.
In a large glass baking dish add your pasta, ricotta cream blend, olives,  garlic, oregano, basil and 3/4 of the mozzarella. Mix it all really well then top with bread crumbs and the last of the mozzarella.
Bake at 400* for 15 minutes or until bubbly and browned.

HAPPY COOKING!

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