Macaroni and cheese

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Macaroni and cheese with a breadcrumb topping.

This article is about the food. For the episode of Friends, see The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E..

Macaroni and cheese (sometimes referred to as macaroni cheese or mac 'n' cheese in parts of the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom and Ireland) is a common dish, similar to the British dish cauliflower cheese. The main ingredients of macaroni cheese are cooked macaroni (often termed elbow macaroni in the US) and a cheese sauce. Cheddar cheese is the traditional choice (or cheddar-like processed cheese), but other cheese may be used. Similarly, other shapes of pasta can be used, though it may still be (technically incorrectly) called mac'n'cheese.

Packaged versions are available, consisting of boxed pasta and a cheese powder, to which are added butter and milk (or water). Extra ingredients, like ground beef, ketchup, jalapenos, sliced hot dogs, ham, bacon, tuna, tomatoes, and other vegetables are sometimes incorporated into the dish as well, though some might say that such recipes are no longer "macaroni and cheese."

[edit] References

Steingarten, Jeffrey (1997). The Man Who Ate Everything. New York: Vintage. ISBN 0-375-70202-4. The chapter, "Back of the Box", was first published in 1992.