Do you love macaroni and cheese? Stupid question, right? OK, so let’s try this one: How could you love macaroni and cheese even more?
Now we’re talking. Because there are all sorts of simple ways to doctor an already awesome pan of basic mac and cheese to take our love of this dish to a whole new level. But let’s start with the basics — our classic take on macaroni and cheese. Since everyone is pressed for time, we kept it simple with a stovetop version that will have you ready to eat in about 20 minutes.
But we didn’t sacrifice flavor to get that speed. Four cups of cheese — a blend of cheddar and Gruyere — keep this dish rich and gooey. Want to push it even further? Add some grated Parmesan cheese and maybe even aged gouda. Now you’ve got yourself a four-cheese mac and cheese.
You could enjoy it as is, but we’ll also walk you through three ways to up the ante. Want to keep it simple? How about a crunchy-salty topping of crushed potato chips? Or maybe you’re looking for a little spice in your life. Our Midwestern take combines jalapeños and smoked paprika for kick. And no one would think less of you for combining both those ideas — perhaps a Midwestern mac and cheese topped with barbecue chips.