Macaroni and cheese is a great pasta to use as a side item for any meal, and kids love it! If you are unhappy with store bought or box made macaroni and cheese, this recipe will yield enough Mac and cheese to feed 4 people a regular ½ cup side serving.
You will need:
- 2 cups of macaroni noodles
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 cups of shredded sharp or mild cheddar cheese
- Baking dish with lid
- Pot
- Wooden spoon
Step 1: Place the 2 cups of macaroni noodles into the pot and cover with water. Place on the stove on high heat and allow the noodles to come to a boil. Stir in a pat of butter to keep the noodles from sticking together, and stir the entire time the noodles are boiling so they do not stick to the bottom of the pot. To come to a boil, it should take the water no longer than 10 minutes.
Step 2: Drain the water from the noodles after boiling is complete. Place the noodles into the baking dish, covering the bottom completely. Cut the two tablespoons of butter into small pieces and distribute them all around the macaroni noodles in the baking dish.
Step 3: Distribute the shredded cheese over all of the macaroni noodles. Be sure to only place the cheese on the noodles and not the baking dish, as this will cause the cheese to burn. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the baking dish with the lid on, into the oven. Allow the macaroni and cheese to cook for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
Step 4: Remove the dish from the oven, and then the lid off the dish when done. Stir the noodles together with the wooden spoon so that all macaroni pieces are covered in cheese. If serving at a later time, take a few pats of butter and place along the edges of the baking pan so the cheese does not stick. This dish will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days covered, or in the freezer for up to 2 weeks when properly sealed. To reheat from room temperature, use a microwave or set the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit and allow the dish to sit in the oven for 15 minutes. If frozen, allow an additional 15 minutes of baking or 5 minutes microwave time.
July 10th, 2011 at 11:02 am
Thank you so much for this help my mom just recently passed away and i have 4 children and 1 i adopted so i am trying to save money and this will help alot thank you again and if you have any money saving tips please feel free to e-mail to me. i think my kids will really enjoy this it will be a change. i am not a very good cook so thanks for the help.
mary a mom in trouble.
July 15th, 2011 at 1:31 am
I have any recipes on here that will save you money vrs eating out along with some great financial articles. So glad it helped that’s my goal.
August 10th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
So I’d double the ingrediants if I wanted to serve 8 people?
August 11th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Yes, just keep everything in the proper ratios and you will be fine, thanks!
October 26th, 2011 at 12:36 am
Thats not how you make it you need cans of carnation cooking milk and seasoning salt and garlic salt added oh yeah and
do not stir
October 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Denise, what you are referring to sounds more like a stove top version of mac and cheese. We have a great recipe for that too if like, but it is a bit spicey
Thanks for the comment and thanks for reading!
December 3rd, 2011 at 1:47 am
This is as simple as it gets for a mac and cheese recipe. The simpler the recipe better I always say. Whats nice about this mac and cheese recipe is that you can experiment by adding different things to give it a different taste so its not so boring.
December 3rd, 2011 at 1:56 am
Glad you like it! Were here to help.
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:32 pm
mac and cheese is awesome