Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (2024)

Grandma’s Mac And Cheese recipe! The old-fashioned Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Grandma made old school as only Grandma did! She passed on her method of making Mac N Cheese growing up and continues now. It wasn’t until much later in life when I was exploring cooking books and cooking shows that I actually realized that many people make macaroni and cheese with a cheese sauce.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (1)

However that is precisely what I like about this homemade mac and cheese recipe is that Grandma’s Mac and Cheese does not use a cheese sauce. Love it! This recipe is easy, quick and flexible baked Macaroni and Cheese dish.

How To Make Grandma’s Mac And Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

You know how family recipes are with the measurements. A little sketchy depending upon who you learn the recipe from. It always seems to center around “Oh just eyeball it. You will know.”

But it is true. Make the recipe a few times and you will know! And this recipe is so flexible it will work the first time too!

Prep time: 20 minutes ~ Serves four

Cooking time: 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees

2 QT glass baking dish

Elbow macaroni (adjust to your desired serving size). For a 2 quart dish use 8 ounces.

8 ounces block cheese of your choice. I use sharp cheddar.

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

One cup milk of your choice.

Breadcrumbs optional. Plain or seasoned, your choice.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

  1. Boil the macaroni to your desired firmness.
  2. While boiling macaroni cut the block cheese into 1/2 inch cubes.
  3. Cut the butter into dab size pieces.
  4. Drain macaroni.
  5. Begin layering dish.

Kitchen Tip: Layering is the key to this dish for even cheese throughout.

Order Of Layers

Layer of macaroni.

Layerthe cheese squares and butter dots on top of the macaroni.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (2)

Approximately 3/4 of the macaroni should be covered.

Repeattwo more times.

Pour milk into baking dish but not the entire cup at once.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (3)

The milk should cover 3/4 of the mixture. Add the milk and look at the baking dish from the side to decide when to stop.

Breadcrumbs are optional. If desired sprinkle breadcrumbs on top or make a mixture of breadcrumbs and butter and spread on top.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (4)

Kellogg’s Corn Flake Crumbs also work wonderfully.

Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (5)

Is a safe bettheMac n Cheese recipe will need to bake at least 30 minutes. Usually 35 -40 minutes if the temperature of your stove is accurate.

At 30 minutes check.

You will know thedish is cooked fully when the milk is congealed. If you put a spoon into the mixture and see that the milk is still liquid,thedish is not fully cooked.You can also look into the side of the baking dish to eyeball if the milk is still liquid.

What I like about this dish are the simple easy ingredients which are usually on hand. You can choose the cheese and milk of your choice. Season the breadcrumbs or leave out the breadcrumbs.

Tonight when I decided to add the remnants of a bag of cheddar cheese shreds I had o hand to the block cheese squares.

This is a foolproof baked macaroni and cheese recipe as it always tastes good whichever combo of cheese and milk you use. It is also a perfect recipe for beginner cooks of any age to have in their repertoire.

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (6)

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (7)

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Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe

Grandma's Mac And Cheese recipe! The old-fashioned Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Grandma made old school as only Grandma did! She passed on her method of making Mac N Cheese growing up and continues now.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author The Savvy Age

Ingredients

  • Elbow macaroni adjust to your desired serving size. For a 2 quart dish use 8 ounces.
  • 8 ounces block cheese of your choice. I use sharp cheddar.
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • One cup milk of your choice.
  • Breadcrumbs optional. Plain or seasoned your choice.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions

  • Boil the macaroni to your desired firmness.

  • While boiling macaroni cut the block cheese into 1/2 inch cubes.

  • Cut the butter into dab size pieces.

  • Drain macaroni.

  • Begin layering dish.

  • Kitchen Tip: Layering is the key to this dish for even cheese throughout.

  • Order Of Layers

  • Layer of macaroni.

  • Layerthe cheese squares and butter dots on top of the macaroni.

  • Approximately 3/4 of the macaroni should be covered.

  • Repeattwo more times.

  • Pour milk into baking dish but not the entire cup at once.

  • The milk should cover 3/4 of the mixture. Add the milk and look at the baking dish from the side to decide when to stop.

  • Breadcrumbs are optional. If desired sprinkle breadcrumbs on top or make a mixture of breadcrumbs and butter and spread on top.

  • Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs also work wonderfully.

  • Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes.

  • Is a safe bettheMac n Cheese recipe will need to bake at least 30 minutes. Usually 35 -40 minutes if the temperature of your stove is accurate.

  • At 30 minutes check.

  • You will know thedish is cooked fully when the milk is congealed. If you put a spoon into the mixture and see that the milk is still liquid,thedish is not fully cooked.You can also look into the side of the baking dish to eyeball if the milk is still liquid.

Notes

What I like about this dish are the simple easy ingredients which are usually on hand. You can choose the cheese and milk of your choice. Season the breadcrumbs or leave out the breadcrumbs.

Tonight when I decided to add the remnants of a bag of cheddar cheese shreds I had o hand to the block cheese squares.

This is a foolproof baked macaroni and cheese recipe as it always tastes good whichever combo of cheese and milk you use. It is also a perfect recipe for beginner cooks of any age to have in their repertoire.

More Grandma’s Recipes

Old Fashioned Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Goulash

Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread

Grandma’s Crustades (Mini appetizers)

Grandma's Mac And Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

Cheddar, Gruyère, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Fontina, and Gouda cheese are good options.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

The remaining ingredients are simple: butter and flour (which makes the sauce thicken), milk, spices, salt, and pepper. For the milk, I prefer whole milk since it makes a creamier sauce, but I've used reduced fat milk plenty of times without complaint.

What is the best cheese for mac and cheese? ›

7 Best Cheeses for Macaroni and Cheese
  • Cheddar. Cheddar is a staple for countless recipes. ...
  • Parmesan. Parmesan is a salty cheese with complex flavors. ...
  • Gruyere. Update your mac and cheese recipes to something more mature with Gruyere. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Smoked Gouda. ...
  • Monterey Jack. ...
  • Fontina. ...
  • Sausage Mac and Cheese.

Why do you need evaporated milk in mac and cheese? ›

Why Evaporated Milk Makes Better Mac. That higher concentration of milk proteins means evaporated milk is more stable, so it's less likely to “break” or curdle. Evaporated milk also usually contains stabilizers, such as carrageenan, which help keep your mac's sauce super smooth and silky.

What can I add to mac n cheese to make it better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

Why do people put sour cream in mac and cheese? ›

Sour cream is the perfect ingredient to substitute for milk when making mac and cheese, giving it a rich and creamy flavor without sacrificing texture. It's easy to add in, and you can adjust it to your liking — add extra sour cream for more creaminess, and counter with extra cheese for more cheesiness.

What's in Bob Evans mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Elbow Macaroni [Semolina (Wheat), Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]), Milk, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (American Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less than 2% of ...

What is the most popular mac and cheese? ›

Top 50 Scanned: Macaroni And Cheese beta
Popularity
#1Mac & Cheese, Original Flavor Kraft2.5 oz
#2Mac & Cheese, Vermont White Cheddar Lean Cuisine1 package
#3Shells & Cheese, Original Velveeta4 oz
#4Mac & Cheese, Original Flavor Kraft1 package
46 more rows

What is the white stuff in instant mac and cheese? ›

The white powder in mac and cheese cups is typically a powdered cheese blend. This mixture often contains dehydrated cheese, milk powder, salt, and other flavorings to create the cheesy taste and creamy texture when mixed with hot water or milk.

What is gritty mac and cheese? ›

If the sauce becomes grainy as it cools, it may be due to the ratios of the roux and the fat content in the cheeses being a little off. Overcooking the sauce can also contribute to the grainy texture.

How to cook Bob Evans mac and cheese singles? ›

Peel back corner or cut a small slit in film to vent. Microwave on high power for 1.25 - 1.5 minutes. * Completely remove film and stir. Let product stand for 2 minutes prior to serving.

What 3 cheeses are in 3 cheese blend? ›

Made with Romano, Parmesan and Asiago cheeses, this blend comes grated and ready to dust over pasta, into dressings, over salads, or anywhere you want to add savory, nutty flavor.

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