topic Re: Help for bland mac and cheese in Recipes

Help for bland mac and cheese

geegerbee — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:42:48 GMT

I just made a big pot of mac and cheese with a recipe from Trisha Yearwood and using cheddar cheese. It has no flavor. What can I do to jazz it up a little?

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

chickenbutt — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:47:15 GMT

One of the things that I put in mine is a little bit of dry mustard. A little 'taco seasoning' is nice, too. I always have some in a jar from Penzey's and their spices and mixes are really nice.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

SilleeMee — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:49:02 GMT

I would put some salsa in it...Pace brand.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Kachina624 — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:50:03 GMT

Green Chile and bacon. I'm not a fan of mac & cheese for that reason. Its just sort of a bland sticky mess. That's why its fed to kids so often. Discerning adults won't eat it.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Pook — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:54:41 GMT

@geegerbee I always mix in some sour cream or cream cheese.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

colliegirls — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 21:57:35 GMT

BACON!

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

WRXtoo — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:02:10 GMT

Dry mustard and smoked paprika.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Hoovermom — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:17:10 GMT

Fleming's Chiptole Mac and cheese is the best ever!!!!

INGREDIENTS

Nutrition

1lb pasta (cavatappi or curly)
2teaspoons salt
1tablespoon vegetable oil
3⁄4cup onion, 1/2-inch dice
1⁄2cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
3tablespoons all-purpose flour
2cups heavy cream
3cups half-and-half
2teaspoons kosher salt
1teaspoon white pepper (ground)
3⁄4lb smoked cheddar cheese, grated
1⁄4lb cheddar cheese, grated
1tablespoon vegetable oil
1teaspoon dried chipotle powder (chipotle chili powder)
3⁄4cup panko breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pot, bring 1 gallon of water to boil. Add 2 teaspoons salt and pasta and cook for 8 - 9 minutes
Drain pasta and cool under cold running water. Pasta should be slightly firm. Toss drained pasta in oil and reserve.
Melt butter in a large sauce pot over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 4 - 5 minute.
Add flour and cook 1 - 2 minute but do not brown.
Add cream, half and half, kosher salt and white pepper.
Bring pot to a simmer. Cook until sauce is thick, about 5 - 6 minute Blend cheese into sauce and add cooked pasta.
Pour pasta and sauce into a 9 x 12" baking dish. Reserve.
In a saute pan over medium-high heat, add oil and chipotle chili powder. Heat for 30 seconds, until pan starts to smoke. Remove from stove and stir in bread crumbs.
Sprinkle bread crumbs over the pasta and bake for 15 - 20 minute until golden. Cool slightly before serving.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Icegoddess — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:29:15 GMT

I add shredded Vermont Sharp White Cheddar to mine.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Foxxee — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:39:28 GMT

I always use New York Style extra sharp aged white cheddar cheese. Lots of flavor.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

mspatmac — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:38:16 GMT

I make baked mac and cheese with a planko bread crumb topping. Lots of spices, bacon and made from scratch. Truly gourmet. Found recipe on line. To hot here in Texas for the oven right now so it macaroni salad instead.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:40:02 GMT

@geegerbee I agree with the dry mustard advice, and I most certainly agree with @Icegoddess that sharp Vermont cheddar is a great cheese to use. I use the Cabot extra sharp white cheddar.You could also use a combination of cheeses For now, add some extra salt to the batch you already have. Next time, make sure you salt your pasta water too.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

KBEANS — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 22:44:27 GMT

My mom always stewed tomatoes and onions with a pinch of oregano and basil, and added this into the elbows before mixing in the cheese which was usually a mix of velveeta and pecorino Romano cheese. It was always delicious.

My lazy azz takes a short cut and opens up a bottle of Francesco Rinaldi tomato and basil spaghetti sauce, (1/2 to 3/4 cup ) microwave it with the onions until they softened and this is pretty quick and tasty too!

People use Rotelle with green chiles and add that in too.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

cindyNC — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 23:48:23 GMT

I would add some additional cheeses......cream cheese, maybe some swiss and some parmigan (ok, can't spell it). Guess it depends on what you mean by bland........not cheesy enough, not spicy enough? Lots of good suggestions here.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

chickenbutt — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:01:51 GMT

ITA about 'extra sharp cheddar'. It's one of my favs (I LOVE cheese!!!) and I always have some on hand. It's great for this dish as there is more flavor, IMO, than just a regular cheddar.

Also, I don't use that 'American cheese' but I keep on hand some of the 'sharp cheddar' slices (Kraft, but not the individually wrapped ones) and will put one or two of those slices, depending on the batch size, just to make it more melty.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

qbetzforreal — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 00:39:11 GMT

Sharp cheddar along with medium cheddar. Paprika and dry mustard.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

GenXmuse — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:01:26 GMT

Mustard or Tabasco sauce, or both!

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Enufstuff — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:40:38 GMT

@geegerbee I use four cheeses: Shredded Mozzarella

Shredded Swiss

Shredded Cheddar

Grated Parmesan

To the melted cheese mixture (whatever recipe you use)

I add a little dehydrated onion flakes ( or if you like fresh

onions, just add a little bit, finely chopped)

Then I stir in just a splash of Worchestershire sauce.

When I put the cheese and macaroni mixture into my baking dish, I put in half and then top that with wedges of fresh tomato. Cover tomato slices with remainder of macaroni mixture. Top with breadcrumbs and bake. My family loves this.

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Juules — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:56:02 GMT

Dry mustard powder maybe?

Re: Help for bland mac and cheese

Juules — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 01:58:14 GMT

ok. Well, I hadn't read the other responses before I posted mine, but mustard and paprika will jazz up your cheese dish.