What Goes With Mac And Cheese?
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Mac and cheese, a dish I’ve always found to be the ultimate comfort food, is also surprisingly versatile. Its creamy texture and rich flavor create a hearty base that pairs beautifully with a wide range of side dishes and main courses, inspiring endless culinary possibilities.
You can elevate mac and cheese from a simple dish to a gourmet meal by choosing the right accompaniments! The key to a memorable dining experience often lies in these pairings. Whether serving it as a main dish or a complement to proteins like BBQ ribs and fried chicken, understanding what goes with mac and cheese can transform your meals.
What to serve with mac and cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth creamy macaroni combined with ooey-gooey cheese. America’s favorite side dish! It’s the food that brings back the warmest childhood memories. The coziest of all comfort foods.
Mac and cheese is a versatile dish, perfect for a weeknight meal or as a comforting addition to a Sunday soul food menu. It’s a bowl full of goodness that adapts to any dining occasion.
So, let the entire family dig in and share the joy of discovering what goes with mac and cheese!
What meat goes well with mac and cheese?
For more substance, mac and cheese goes well with your favorite proteins, such as chicken, beef, or fish!
Other sides to serve with mac and cheese
Vegetable side dishes provide a refreshing contrast to creamy mac and cheese. Carefully chosen, other side dishes can offer an opportunity to balance the richness with lighter, crisp textures and a variety of flavors. From the crispness of a Southern coleslaw salad to the succulent charm of a cooked cabbage recipe, these side dish companions can elevate a simple meal into a well-rounded feast that pairs well with mac and cheese.
Best homemade mac and cheese recipes
The best homemade mac and cheese is made from scratch and prepared with a combination of soul food seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic, onion, paprika, flour, and milk. It also includes a mix of cheeses, including sharp cheddar cheese for its bold, cheesy flavor. Some popular Southern soul food recipes for mac and cheese include Black folks’ baked macaroni and cheese, Southern mac and cheese without eggs, Instant Pot mac and cheese, and lobster mac and cheese.
What can you add to mac and cheese?
The options for macaroni and cheese toppings are endless. From crunchy to creamy, spicy to sweet, there’s a topping out there for everyone! Take a look at some top favorite combinations.
- Bacon bits
- Panko bread crumbs topping
- Fresh tomatoes, sliced thinly
- Chopped green onions
- Diced bell peppers or pimientos
- Dry thyme or fresh thyme sprigs
- Shredded or grated parmesan cheese
Mac and cheese can shine as both a main dish and a side dish, adapting to your dining needs. So, exploring countless pairing options for what goes with mac and cheese is a great meal-planning idea. You can pair it with succulent meatloaf, BBQ ribs, refreshing cabbage slaw, or sauteed cabbage for a variety of flavors. Experimenting with different combinations opens the door to a world of delicious possibilities!
Equipment
- Large pot
- Colander
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 4 ¼ cups milk divided into 1 ¼ cups & 3 cups
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided into 1 tablespoon & 3 tablespoons
- 8 oz macaroni noodles uncooked
- 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Colby-jack cheese shredded
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with 3 cups of milk, 3 cups of water, and 1 tablespoon of butter, and set the pot on the stove to boil over medium-high heat.
- Once the liquid begins to boil, add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions, stirring occasionally to ensure the macaroni does not clump and stick.
- Once the noodles are done, remove the pot from the stove, turn the stove off, drain the macaroni in a colander, and set it aside.
- Add the 3 tablespoons of butter to the empty pot and set it back on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
- When the butter has melted and coated in the pot, add the flour (which replaces eggs), 1 ¼ cups of milk, and seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried mustard, and paprika) and whisk until smooth.
- Allow the ingredients to simmer for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly.
- Then, stir in the cheese.
- Reduce the heat to low and leave the cheese sauce on the stove to cook for 5-10 minutes or until the cheeses are blended.
- Add the cooked pasta and heavy cream to the pot, stirring the mixture to blend evenly.
- Turn off the stove, remove the pot, and transfer the macaroni and cheese to a cast iron skillet or baking pan.
- Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until the mac and cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve this Southern mac and cheese recipe right away, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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