Mac and Cheese: compare the 2 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Creamy StovetopReady in 25 min; the other takes 1 hr 10 min.
- Easiest Creamy StovetopEasy, where the other is medium.
- Make it ahead Baked with Crumb ToppingAssemble without the topping, cool, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.
Side by side
| Creamy Stovetop | Baked with Crumb Topping | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 25 min | 1 hr 10 min |
| Prep | 10 min | 25 min |
| Level | Easy | Medium |
| Steps | 6 | 9 |
| Serves | 4 | 8 |
| Key ingredients | elbow macaroni, whole milk and sharp cheddar cheese | elbow macaroni or cavatappi, whole milk and sharp cheddar cheese |
| Only in this one | Monterey Jack or American cheese | smoked paprika, Gruyere or Monterey Jack cheese, panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese |
| Dietary | ||
| Calories | 630 | 630 |
| Protein | 28 g | 27 g |
| Carbs | 53 g | 56 g |
| Fat | 34 g | 33 g |
| Cleanup | 2/5 4 things to wash | 2/5 5 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.