MACARONI AND CHEESE is one of those recipes that is welcome any time, anywhere. It graces the pages of every barbecue joint’s menu, pleases kids and adults alike at family weeknight suppers, gets gobbled up at summer potlucks, and fits right in at holiday meals all throughout the year. With all that demand, there’s plenty of opportunity to try some new spins on this Southern staple, so try a taste of each of these new favorites.
Fried Mac and Cheese Sticks
MAKES ABOUT 8 SERVINGS
Friends and family will go crazy for these crunchy bites.
3 quarts water
4½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
12 ounces elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1¼ cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning*, divided
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
½ cup finely diced part-skim mozzarella cheese
Vegetable oil, for frying
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons whole milk
3 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
Barbecue sauce, to serve
1. Line a 9-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing edges to extend over sides of pan.
In a
