9 Irresistible Mac And Cheese Recipes

Whether you call it macaroni and cheese, mac and cheese, or simply mac n' cheese, this cheesy noodle casserole is always a favorite. Some like to add jalapenos or sliced vegetables, while others add crispy bacon or ham. There are traditional versions made from a béchamel sauce with classic cheddar cheese and healthier versions made with butternut squash purée and light cheese. No matter how you make it, mac and cheese is comfort food at its best.

Click here to see the 9 Irresistible Mac and Cheese Recipes (Slideshow)

With so many variations of mac and cheese recipes, we decided it would be the ideal dish for this week's SWAT (Sharing with a Theme). We put the Culinary Content Network and our staff to the test to come up with Irresistible mac and cheese recipes. Here are some of the highlights:

• Andi Gleeson of The Weary Chef shared with us her recipe for cheeseburger mac and cheese that uses cheddar cheese, ground beef, and tomatoes. Gleeson is a member of the Culinary Content Network.
• Heather Carter of My Sweet Mission shared with us her recipe for spicy mac and cheese with bacon and spinach. Sounds like a winning combination to us. Carter is a member of the Culinary Content Network.
• The winner this week is Tim McGeever, the Public Relations Manager at The Daily Meal. Tim made a spicy three cheese mac and cheese that used fusilli instead of the traditional elbow noodles. Tim's winning recipe used jalapenos and scallions for added spice.

All of the recipes featured can be made at home for about $20 or less, excluding the cost of small amounts of basic ingredients such as butter, oil, flour, sugar, salt, pepper, and other dried herbs and spices.

Emily Jacobs is the Recipe editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyRecipes.