Coated with cheesy and buttery flavor, macaroni or mac and cheese does have a slightly chewy and sharp taste with a hint of sweetness that you will find from the cheese selection.
It’s an essential comfort food for many people since it’s easy to prepare, creamy, satisfying, and sumptuous to add as a side dish. But macaroni requires some company to make it a complete meal that is more filling and nutritious.
What to eat with macaroni? Macaroni is a wonderful side dish to pair with BBQ ribs, meatloaf, and meatballs. It also tastes great with vegetables like coleslaw, sautéed broccoli, and salad.
This pasta dish is versatile as a main entrée or side dish depending on what extra ingredients are added to macaroni. As a result, it can become a meal or simply serve as sides with juicy meat or vegetables to make it more complete.
Mac and cheese is a delicious creamy pasta dish that consist of macaroni pasta blended in a cheese sauce. Using a few basic ingredients, this dish can be ready in a minutes.
When coming up with ideas on what dish to best pair with macaroni, go for foods that contrast its rich and creamy flavor. Also, choose colors that complement the dull color of the noodle to get a colorful and vibrant dish. So, what are the ideal accompaniments for macaroni? Let’s find out!
What goes good with macaroni?
When serving macaroni as a main dish, consider adding additional protein or vegetables to provide nutrition or color. In addition, layering breadcrumbs on top gives a crunchy texture in every bite.
- Spice: chili powder, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika
- Fruits: apple, lemon, berries, pear
- Vegetables: carrots, asparagus, corn, bell peppers, tomato, cauliflower, zucchini, broccoli, garlic, scallions, mushrooms
- Meat: ground beef, bacon, smoked sausage, pork rinds
- Seafood: salmon, tuna, shrimp, scallops
- Condiments: BBQ sauce, hot sauce, dijon mustard, mayonnaise, capers
- Wine: Beaujolais, white Burgundy, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir
What cheese goes well with macaroni?
It’s hard to make a bad macaroni and cheese, but the number one mistake many people make is using the wrong cheese. The best cheeses to add to macaroni are:
- Cheddar cheese: Cheddar cheese has a low melting point making the perfect smooth mac and cheese combo. Always go for sharp cheddar since it has a classic taste and strong flavor that the macaroni needs. Pre-shredded cheddar cheese doesn’t blend well because it is coated with cellulose, so be sure to purchase a block and grate on your own.
- Goat cheese: Everyone loves the extra creamy texture with tangy flavor, and that’s exactly what goat cheese has to offer. Most people go for it because even after adding cream and milk, its rich flavor lingers.
- Gouda: Gouda is underrated when it comes to cooking. It melts perfectly and adds a sophisticated taste to macaroni.
- Brie: When feeling superfluously fancy, add some brie to macaroni. Brie cheese adds a special sauce to coat macaroni in and forms a decent mac and cheese duo.
- Gruyere: The saltiness of these cheese cuts through macaroni’s heavy fats and gives the dish a nutty flavor. Despite being a hard cheese, gruyere melts perfectly.
- Parmesan: Parmesan adds a nutty flavor and desired saltiness to the macaroni dish, but always go for a high-quality parmesan.
What sauces go well with macaroni?
The taste of macaroni is generally determined by the cheese or sauce option. However, it can be spicy or give a punch of diverse flavors to the mixture.
These sauces are highly versatile, easy to prepare, and add taste to the bland noodle. The sauces that you should try other than cheese based are:
- pesto
- ragu
- tomato
- pepper
- white
- mushroom
- masala
- herb
- alfredo
- garlic
- mayonaise
What do you serve with macaroni
The creamy cheesy pasta macaroni has subtle taste that pairs well with other main dishes. From fresh chopped salads to steamed vegetables, it can transform macaroni into full dinner.
Here are classic side dishes to serve with macaroni:
- pork chops
- roasted chicken
- salads
- meatloaf
- BBQ ribs
- meatballs
- roasted broccoli, peas or brussels sprouts
- succotash (corn and lima beans)
- fried chicken
Eat with Macaroni: Conclusion
Macaroni is a quick and easy dish to prepare. It’s cheap, versatile, and pairs well with almost everything.
From BBQ ribs to salads, macaroni can be served as a main dish or side dish by simply adding different cheese and sauces. It makes huge difference to give a hint of spice or vegetable to improve taste and overall nutrition of the meal.
Adding extra protein such as bacon or ground beef provides a juicy taste to the sauce and further enhances the macaroni itself.
If you are looking to try new additions to macaroni pasta or serving on the side, try these flavor combination for a fulfilling meal or quick snack.