Southwestern Macaroni

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Butter + breadtop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together27,232 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-decalactone (sweet, creamy).

2. Butter + milktop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together81,283 recipes

   Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).

3. Cheese + breadtop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together2,130 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-decalactone (sweet, creamy).

4. Butter + cheesetop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together7,962 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).

5. Milk + cheesetop 10% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,426 recipes

   Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Eggs

Set the custard-like base, binding the macaroni and cheese into a sliceable casserole.

Milk

Provides the liquid that creates a creamy, saucy base around the pasta.

Cheddar or jack cheese

Melts into the sauce, adding richness, savory flavor and a creamy texture.

Macaroni

Forms the body of the casserole and absorbs the surrounding sauce as it bakes.

Bread crumbs

Toast in the oven, adding a golden, crisp topping that contrasts the soft interior.

Butter

Adds fat and richness, and helps the bread crumbs brown evenly on top.

The step that matters

Swap the mustard

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (butter, milk, cheese, egg, bread):

1. Potatofits better
2. Asparagusfits better
3. Capsicumfits better
4. Mustardthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against butter, milk, cheese, egg, bread. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.