7 Creative Recipes to Spice Up Your Macaroni and Cheese

July 7 celebrates one of our favorite comfort foods as National Macaroni Day. Believe us, nothing can heal the soul like a pot of creamy, delicious mac and cheese.

Rather than opting for your standard box meal of noodles and cheddar, continue reading to discover seven recipes to elevate the way you see macaroni and cheese.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese by Don't Go Bacon My Heart

We'd like to start with something popular and palatable. Something about buffalo chicken and cheese goes very well together. Don't Go Bacon My Heart makes it simple to enjoy with this foolproof recipe. It combines classic ingredients of mozzarella, cheddar, sour cream, buffalo sauce, seasoning and rotisserie chicken. For even more savory goodness, consider topping it with crispy bacon pieces.

(via Don't Go Bacon My Heart)

 

Also read about: The 7 Most Delicious Recipes to Try on National Onion Day

 

Pepperoni Pizza Mac and Cheese by Belly Full

The only thing stopping macaroni and cheese from being a pizza is its lack of marinara sauce. With the help of Belly Full, that dream becomes a reality. In under 30 minutes, you can create the ultimate combination using noodles, chicken broth, pasta sauce, onions and pepperoni. Surprisingly, it's not terrible for your diet, containing 21 grams of protein and less than 500 calories.

(via Belly Full)

 

Lobster Mac and Cheese by Dinner at the Zoo

Take a trip to the East Coast (without the expensive flight tickets and hotel costs) with this recipe from Dinner at the Zoo. Say hello to this fresh feast with chopped lobster meat, paprika, garlic powder, panko breadcrumbs and more. It contains even more protein than the previous recipe at a whopping 29 grams. Now that's how you meet your dietary goals.

(via Dinner at the Zoo)

 

Kimchi Mac and Cheese by Urban Farmie

Because of its strong flavor, you might not expect kimchi to pair well with macaroni and cheese. However, Urban Farmie proves it gives a delicious balance with this recipe. The subtle milkiness and creaminess accentuate the best parts of kimchi's spicy, umami profile. Add your black pepper, garlic powder and cheese, and it's ready to serve.

(via Urban Farmie)

 

Also read about: 7 Funfetti Treats to Add Some Color Into Your Diet

 

Jalapeño Popper Mac and Cheese by The Chunky Chef

Let's continue to turn up the heat with jalapeño. But not just any jalapeño—this recipe fuses macaroni and cheese with jalapeño poppers. You'll get tons of heat from the pepper. Meanwhile, cream cheese, yellow onion and garlic add flavor. Don't forget to garnish the finished pasta with crumbled bacon.

(via The Chunky Chef)

 

Mac and Grilled Cheese by Something About Sandwiches

Grilled cheese is great and all, but sometimes it can lack texture. However, you can perfect it by adding noodles for a grilled macaroni and cheese. It's as simple as it sounds. After you're done making your macaroni and cheese, top your bread and grill as usual.

(via Something About Sandwiches)

 

Taco Mac and Cheese by Oh Snap Macros

We're the kind of people who always like cheese on our tacos, so we're not surprised to find recipes that bring taco ingredients into macaroni and cheese. Oh Snap Macros makes theirs with ground beef, cheddar, salsa, cottage cheese and more. If you want to truly experiment, maybe you can even put it on a taco shell.

(via Oh Snap Macros)

 

Searching for even more recipes? Click HERE to discover seven dishes we found on National Egg Roll Day.