12 Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Lauren GniazdowskiUpdated: Feb. 11, 2022

Hungry for the ultimate comfort food? You might just find a new cheesy favorite.

A packet of ranch salad dressing mix, lemon-pepper seasoning, and garlic salt create a tangy twist on the original.

Nachos and macaroni and cheese come together in this Mexican-inspired one-dish meal.

For the perfect balance between crispy and creamy, spread the pasta mixture on a baking sheet rather than a casserole dish.

A basic add-in like tomatoes keep this comfort food simple yet interesting.

The crust is made of—you guessed it!—cheesy pasta and then topped with sauce and your favorite fixings like sausage and mushrooms.

This casserole has Italian-inspired ingredients like pepperoni and mozzarella, but it still uses good old macaroni and cheese as the base.

These two comfort foods are combined into a a creamy dish that’s better than the sum of its parts—and it’s ready in 30 minutes!

The key players in this variation? Smoked sausage for bold flavor and cheddar cheese soup for extra richness.

Bite-size portions make for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish.

Seafood adds a touch of sophistication to this typically casual dish.

Mushrooms, peas, and peppers turn this classic into a hearty yet healthy meal.

The trick to this veggie-studded pasta is the broiling step: it keeps the top crisp and the inside velvety smooth.

Originally Published: November 02, 2011

Originally Published in Reader's Digest