Creamy and cheesy, there aren't many foods more comforting than homemade macaroni and cheese. Experiment with different ingredients to find the perfect recipe for your family. Here, tomato slices top rich single servings.

This homemade version of the noodle favorite will make you forget about the boxed orange variety. A sauce made with three kinds of cheeses and a crunchy breadcrumb topping really separate it from its store-bought cousins.

For the maximum crust, bake macaroni and cheese in a broad, shallow casserole dish. Broccoli can be added nicely to this recipe.

Macaroni and cheese, a comfort classic, is lightened (though you wouldn't know it) yet retains its creamy texture and its crisp topping. Instead of the usual bechamel, we use a rich puree of butternut squash, chicken stock, and nonfat milk.

With this recipe, everyone can enjoy a forkful of warm, comforting mac and cheese, complete with a crunchy topping.

This luxurious macaroni and cheese keeps unbaked in the refrigerator for up to a day; in the oven, it turns piping hot, creamy inside, and golden brown on top in less than an hour. 

Cherry or grape tomatoes boost the nutrition in this version of macaroni and cheese -- and adds a little color. It's sure to please the whole family.

Ham makes a nice addition to this macaroni and cheese recipe.

Lobster goes great in this fantastic one-dish meal, but if that seems too luxurious, use any combination of seafood that makes you happy.

This down-home macaroni and cheese uses a base of eggs and half-and-half for a tasty, custardy alternative that's denser than many renditions.

Introduce the sunny flavors of tomato, olives, and feta to your mac and cheese. If you like, add canned tuna, browned ground meat, or cooked chicken when you stir in the feta.

Add a bit of green goodness to basic mac and cheese with fresh spinach, stirred into the sauce until just wilted.

Save time and money with a warm, hit-the-spot supper and delicious ideas for stretching leftovers into fresh new meals. This recipe makes enough to have for dinner tonight, as well as casseroles later in the week.

Everyone loves old-fashioned macaroni and cheese, and this bacon-and-garlic version comes together in no time flat.

These individual mac-and-cheese casseroles call for pungent Parmesan and extra-sharp cheddar, which means the noodles get away with less-than-usual amounts of cheese. Low-fat milk, chicken stock, and olive oil keep the sauce creamy.

When musician John Legend visited Martha, he shared his recipe for this favorite Southern comfort food, with generous helpings of both Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses; evaporated milk creates a creamy texture under the golden brown surface.

This is a grown-up alternative to macaroni and cheese, but even kids might approve.

This easy recipe for macaroni and cheese freezes well, so bake up an extra dish to have a meal on hand for busy weeknights.

Martha has fond memories of her grandmother's recipe, which called for unusual ingredients such as spaghetti, tomato soup, and sour cream. In this version, Martha and her mother pay tribute to Grandma's recipe, while calling upon a few of the more traditional additions such as elbow macaroni and grated Swiss.

This recipe for squash baked macaroni from chef Todd English is a perfect choice for dinner.