Amazing Things You Can Make With Mac And Cheese

Macaroni and cheese makes life's annoyances, like having to deal with winter weather and Mondays, seem less annoying — it reassures us with every rich, gooey, cheesy bite that everything will be okay (yes, winter will end). Even our ancestors enjoyed macaroni and cheese, likely a comforting reprieve from the hardships involved in settling colonies and avoiding dysentery. A modern form of mac and cheese appears in Elizabeth Raffald's 1769 book The Experienced English Housekeeper, which includes a recipe for a cheesy noodle casserole made with a béchamel sauce and topped with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

This American comfort food staple has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Macaroni and cheese can be prepared in countless ways; pot-simmered or microwaved, with real cheese(s) or powdered substitutes, kicked up with hot sauce, elevated by the addition of lobster, or made even more awesome with bacon. And while it's predominantly prepared as a standalone dish (awesome in and of itself), macaroni and cheese can also be used to make other foodstuffs exponentially more delicious.

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Whether you prefer the convenience of boxed macaroni and cheese or simply must whip up a fresh béchamel and make your own from scratch, these creamy, cheese-plastered noodles can be used to create dishes so epic and indulgent your heart will reflexively tighten upon sight (both from lust and in anticipation of having to work harder after consuming aforementioned epic-ness). Because the only thing better than a hearty helping of mac and cheese is mac and cheese that's been breaded and deep-fried... or put on a pizza.... or stuffed inside a burger patty...

I wonder how our ancestors would have felt about our culinary ingenuity (read: insatiable desire to consume more cheese). Probably shock and awe, followed by extreme hunger.

These outrageous macaroni and cheese creations need to be seen to be believed, so feast your eyes on 10 of the most amazing repurposed mac and cheese dishes and chow down to your gluttonous heart's content.

(Credit: Erika Monroe-Williams)
Macaroni and cheese makes an irresistible appetizer, especially when breaded and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. Try dipping these cheesy fried balls of heaven in ketchup, marinara, or hot sauce.
Click here for the recipe

(Credit: Dan Whalen)

A traditional Mexican dish featuring a batter-coated and fried stuffed poblano pepper gets an Americanized injection of ooey, gooey macaroni and cheese. Coat with bread crumbs instead of batter to maximize crunchiness.
Click here for the recipe