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 three best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

What does adding more milk to mac and cheese do? ›

Creamier Mac and Cheese Starts with Milk

Now, you usually add milk later in the cooking process to make the cheese sauce, but for an extra touch of luscious creaminess, incorporate the milk at the very beginning of cooking.

What to add to macaroni and cheese to make it taste 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

What is the most flavorful cheese for mac and cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

What two cheeses go well together for mac and cheese? ›

For a mac and cheese recipe, consider the combination of sharper cheddar cheeses and a flavorful Parmesan. This cheese adds a boost of fruity, nutty notes to your favorite macaroni recipes.

Why is evaporated milk better for mac and cheese? ›

Evaporated milk is a highly concentrated source of milk protein micelles—bundles of proteins that can act as powerful emulsifying agents—which help to keep the sauce creamy and smooth.

How to keep mac and cheese creamy? ›

If you want a very creamy mac n' cheese, you can add Velveeta processed cheese or American cheese (from the deli) to your melted cheese base mixture. The American cheese provides the creaminess you are looking for, and when reheating the mac n' cheese add a little bit of milk.

What happens if you add more butter to mac and cheese? ›

The result will be a bowl of mac and cheese that is so rich and creamy that you may even forget that it came from a box. If you're worried about leaving out the milk entirely, then you can simply lessen the amount of milk the box calls for and up the amount of butter, which should give you a similar result.

Why is my homemade mac and cheese bland? ›

If your mac and cheese tastes bland, it's either because it's under-seasoned, you didn't use flavorful cheese, or you didn't use enough cheese. Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it.

Why does my homemade mac and cheese have no flavor? ›

Not salting the pasta water

And great pasta begins with water that's been heavily salted. We're talking ocean water levels of salt. Not adding salt to your water leads to bland, tasteless noodles. This, in turn, leads to a finished product that is flavorless even after adding the cheese sauce.

Can I use yogurt instead of milk for mac and cheese? ›

Finally, using a plain yogurt is one of the best options for replacing milk in kraft mac and cheese! A plain whole milk yogurt or a greek yogurt would work well. Mix it in the same way you'd mix in sour cream, until it is well incorporated. This may have a slightly tangier flavor, but that is a personal preference.

What is the best melting cheese for macaroni and cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

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.

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

Do you need milk or butter for mac and cheese? ›

One way to make boxed mac and cheese much richer is to ditch the milk and add extra butter. The box instructions will most likely call for both milk and butter, but, as it turns out, the milk is unnecessary — as long as you add enough butter, of course.

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