We have never come across anyone who does not fancy Mac and Cheese. The flavorful boiled macaroni and mouthwatering cheese strands make the mac n cheese irresistible. In this article, you will learn how to make homemade Mac and cheese, with our secret ingredient; Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce.
This Mac and Cheese recipe is so easy to follow and tastes ethereal that we guarantee you will never get them from any restaurant ever. Moreover, you will find various mac n cheese recipes in this article; microwave mac n cheese recipe, and Velveeta Mac n Cheese recipe, so your dining table does not miss out on anything special.
Table of Contents
History of Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is a popular American comfort food. Well-known for its exquisite and mouthwatering flavor, the combination of macaroni and cheese is one of a kind. Moreover, the history of this dish is rather interesting. The origin of Mac and Cheese is unknown, but it is narrated that it was Thomas Jefferson who blessed the world with this delicious cuisine in the early nineteenth century. He went to Northern Europe and mac n cheese was introduced to him there.
He came back to the USA and introduced Mac n Cheese, along with other noodle recipes, pasta, etc. Another source states, that in actuality, it was Thomas Jefferson’s slave-chef, James Hemings, who prepared all the recipes for Jefferson. He learned all these recipes under colonial rule or his visit to Paris where he accompanied his master and later exhibited his skills at Jefferson’s home. He died at a rather younger age and Thomas Jefferson was accredited for all the efforts James Hemings put into the invention of various popular American dishes.
Additionally, it is believed that the first Mac n Cheese recipe was penned down in the 13th cookbook, known as, Liber de Coquina, by two chefs who belonged to France and Italy, respectively. Another source cites that Mac n Cheese was Elizabeth Raffald’s invention and she wrote the recipe in her book The Experienced English Housekeeper in 1769. Anyways, this banter seems to have no end, but we are glad someone landed on this recipe and we get a chance to enjoy it every now and then.
Furthermore, its popularity skyrocketed when in 1937, Kraft Foods introduced boxed macaroni and cheese and made it accessible in America when it was in the bouts of the Great Depression. Since then several innovations have been made to the traditional recipe and we are thankful for each one of them. In this article you will learn several Mac and Cheese recipes, i.e., baked Mac and Cheese, Five Minutes Mac and Cheese recipe, and Mac n cheese with Velveeta.
Mac and Cheese Recipe
Our Mac and Cheese recipe is one of the easiest to follow, but its sauce might get tricky to prepare at times. Fret not, our easy Mac n Cheese Recipe will never fail you.
Ingredients for Mac n Cheese
- Elbow shells/macaroni: 2 cups (boiled)
- Water: to boil
- Olive Oil: 2 to 3 Tbsp
- Unsalted Butter: 2 Tbsp
- All-purpose Flour: 2 Tbsp
- Milk: 2 to 3 cups
- Heavy Cream: ½ cup
- Cheddar Cheese: 1 cup (grated)
- Fontina Cheese: 1 cup (grated)
- Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup (grated)
- Garlic: 2 cloves (finely chopped)
- Salt: to taste
- Black and White Pepper Powder: to taste
- Paprika Powder: to taste
- Fresh Parsley: to garnish (finely chopped)
Instructions to Make Mac n Cheese
| Prep Time | 30 to 35 minutes |
| Bake Time | 20 to 25 minutes |
In a deep pan, bring water to a boil, and add salt and half a teaspoon of olive oil. Then add the elbow macaroni. Meanwhile, keep stirring gently, so they do not stick together. When the macaroni is done, shift it into a strainer, and rinse it immediately with cold water. Let it sit in the strainer for a few minutes, so the excess water may drain out.
Meanwhile, in another deep pan, over medium heat, pour olive oil, then add butter, and let it melt. Add garlic and saute it. Then add all-purpose flour and keep stirring. When you notice that its color has shifted from white to golden-ish yellow, and your kitchen is aromatic. Slowly pour milk into it, and keep stirring to avoid lumps. Then add heavy cream. As the sauce starts to thicken, or reaches your preferred consistency, turn off the heat.
Add paprika powder, salt, white and black pepper powder, and Cheddar and Fontina cheese. Mix well. The sauce will thicken at first, then the melted cheese will thin it out.
Add boiled macaroni and wrap all the ingredients together.
In a non-stick baking tray, shift mac n cheese, and garnish it with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and place mac n cheese into the oven for about twenty minutes, or until the cheese and macaroni are bubbly.
Carefully take out the dish and serve hot with french fries, and Dingolay Hot Sauce.
Five Minutes Microwave Mac and Cheese Recipe
Feeling tired and not in a mood to prepare a dainty meal? Fret not, our easy five minutes Mac and Cheese recipe in microwave has got you covered.
Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni: ½ cup
- Water: ½ cup
- Milk: 4 Tbsp
- Salt: to taste
- Black Pepper Powder: to taste
- Cheddar Cheese: ¼ cup
- Parmesan Cheese: to garnish
- Fresh Parsley or dried Oregano and Thyme: to garnish
Instructions
Add all the aforementioned ingredients to a microwave-friendly mug and mix them well.
Place the mug in the microwave and let it cook for up to 1 minute. Take the mug out of the microwave after the said time, mix them again and enjoy the delicious, easy, and quick Microwave Mac and Cheese.
Mac and Cheese with Velveeta
Velveeta Mac n Cheese has been our favorite since forever. Its velvety, creamy texture is loved by everyone. Follow our easy Velveeta recipe for a relishing experience.
Ingredients
- Elbow Macaroni: 2 cups (boiled)
- Olive Oil: 2 Tbsp
- Unsalted Butter: 2 Tbsp
- All-purpose Flour: 2 Tbsp
- Milk: 2 cups
- Salt: to taste
- Black and White Pepper Powder: to taste
- Paprika Powder: to taste
- Velveeta: 2 cups (diced or shredded)
- Cheddar Cheese: to garnish (grated)
- Fresh Parsley or dried Oregano and Thyme: to garnish
Instructions
Follow the instructions given above in the Mac and Cheese recipe. Only add diced Velveeta to the sauce and let it melt while the heat is still on.
Then add the macaroni, and bake it the same way.
Velveeta cheese is one of the well-appreciated cheeses all around the globe. Its creamy texture is irreplaceable. Make Mac and Cheese with Velveeta and we guarantee you the time of your life.
Side Dishes with Mac and Cheese
To turn your plain Mac and Cheese into a fancy dinner, serve it with French Fries and Mint Margarita. Our easy-to-make French Fries and Mint Margarita recipe will bring additional flavors to it. Serve it with Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce as a dip and get ready for a heavenly adventure.
Storage Options
- You can store cooked/baked Mac and Cheese for four to five days in the fridge. Only bring it to room temperature. If you are planning to reheat it on the stove-top, add two tablespoons of milk and heat it until the cheese melts and becomes all tender and warm.
- If you are expecting guests anytime soon, you can prepare it ahead and warm it with the same method. Or refrigerate it unbaked, and when the guests arrive, garnish it with cheese and parsley or breadcrumbs and bake it fresh.
- Mac and Cheese sauce can be refrigerated for up to two months. We will not recommend you to boil pasta and save it for later use. Instead, try to boil the macaroni at the spot. Warm up the sauce and bake it as usual.
Customizability
- Chicken Mac n Cheese: To enhance the nutrients, you can add boiled or fried chicken (marinated in Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce) to the aforementioned three tasty, and delicious Mac and Cheese recipes.
- Dingolay Hot Sauce: Dingolay Hot Sauce serves as a perfect dip and marinade paired with any food. Bring novelty to the regular Mac and Cheese recipe and try preparing it in Dingolay Hot Sauce or pour a generous amount of it on mac and cheese and enjoy a flavorful meal.
Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce
In the realm of Hot Sauces, dips, or marinades, no one can beat the excellence of Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce. These hot sauces are prepared with mellow and hundred percent natural Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Peppers, seasoned carrots and garlic, Olive Oil, and selective Caribbean herbs and spices. These ingredients combined make these sauces healthier as well as tastier.
Available in three exclusive flavors; Original Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce, Mango Tropical Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce, and Pineapple Tropical Dingolay Gourmet Hot Sauce, these are irreplaceable. They are gluten-free and vegan-friendly and add flavors to meals that cannot be achieved even at any grand eatery.