Naturally Ella

Quick “Box” Mac and Cheese

// 17 Comments

 

Friends don’t let friends eat mac and cheese out of a box and since I consider you my friends, I’m not letting you eat mac and cheese out of a box.

There’s no reason.  Really.  You can make a simple, gooey version of mac and cheese in the same amount of time it would take you to make that box crap (I’m sorry but I’ve yet to find a one that taste good- I need some real cheese.)

Plus, this version is amazingly adaptable.  You can play with add-ins (like broccoli!), cheeses (some white cheese would be delicious!), or multiple to make as much quick mac and cheese as you need.

Even better- if you are like me you always have pasta in your cupboard, and milk/butter/cheese is your refrigerator.  You can’t go wrong!

Quick “Box” Mac and Cheese
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Vegetarian Main Course
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • 6 ounces pasta
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¾ cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • pinch salt and pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions
  1. Prepare pasta according to box (or how you normally do it!) Drain and set aside.
  2. In a small pan, heat butter over medium-low heat until melted. Whisk in flour and let cook for 1-2 minutes. Whisk in milk, salt, pepper, and garlic. Continue to whisk until the mixture begins to thicken (1-2 more minutes). Once thickened, remove from oven and mix in cheese, continuing to whisk until melted (if the cheese sauce seems too thick, add a little more milk.) Stir into pasta and serve
  3. Great additions include broccoli, onions, squash (or any other type of favorite vegetable you can think of!)

 

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  • Tanya

    MMMMMMM that looks good! I laugh because my girls (4 and 2) have only had boxed mac ‘n cheese once in there life. And the one time they had it was at a resturant!! How sad is that, that a resturant would proudly serve boxed mac ‘n cheese? I think the stuff is revolting and refuse to eat it or make it. Like most things it’s just as easy to make it from scratch and it tastes way way way better!

  • http://www.healthyfoodforliving.com Lauren

    I concur about the superiority of homemade mac & cheese! There are so many options for different recipes, but sometimes a basic version is the best. I haven’t bought a boxed mac & cheese in ages, and probably never will again!

  • http://fooddoodles.wordpress.com/ Heidi @ Food Doodles

    Awesome! I remember having boxed mac and cheese as a kid… but I think the only time my kids have had it, I believe my mother in law bought it as a gift for them because it had funny pasta shapes. We cooked it up and then threw it out because the taste was disgusting. We actually quite regularly make homemade mac and cheese but I don’t feel bad because at least it’s not from a box.
    “Friends don’t let friends eat mac and cheese out of a box” Love it!!

  • http://cookieandkate.com Cookie and Kate

    Confession: I have a weakness for Annie’s mac and cheese, from the box. It’s one of the few things I’ll eat from a box. I never found an easy enough recipe for homemade, but I’ll try yours the next time I’m craving some cheesy pasta.

    P.s. I adore my mac and cheese with a giant side of steamed broccoli, red pepper and zucchini. Just doesn’t get better than that.

  • http://homemadechocolatier.wordpress.com Rachel

    this is beyond amazing. i just made it for lunch- added some mustard seasoning with green onions. oh my gracious. thank you so much!

    • erin

      I’m glad you liked it!

  • http://www.pinchofyum.com Lindsay @ PinchofYum

    Ok, wow. I want to make this for breakfast. I’ve always wondered about making a smooth cheese sauce with shredded cheese and now that I know it works, I will be making this within the week! YUM.

  • http://themartinblog.com/food Stephanie

    I like this recipe. Most people bake their mac and cheese, and I just don’t dig that. I have yet to find the “perfect” stove-top recipe. Maybe this is it!

  • Kat

    Love it,love it,love it!
    Different to my mum and sister,I never used to like Mac’n'Cheese out of the box. But browsing your blog,I came across this gorgeous recipe and immediately knew I had to give it a try. What shall I say? You saved my life! Now,I finally understand why Mac’n'Cheese is loved by so many people out there…
    And since you posted the recipe on my birthday,I regard it as MINE! ;D

  • http://www.simplyalicia.com Alicia D.

    I just found your blog via a picture of your black bean and guac burrito. I am so excited about finding your blog. I try so hard to cook naturally but struggle to find yummy recipes to do so. This recipe looks awesome.

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  • http://morrowsunshine.blogspot.com Kim

    I just found this recipe on TasteSpotting and will be making it tonight! Thank you SO much for keeping it simple. I’m cooking to please a a picky hubby, an 11-month-old baby, and myself (who eats just about anything). I wanted a recipe that doesn’t over-complicate things will all of the ways to “spice” it up, and this is perfect. I’ll be adding broccoli and ham to this because, for my husband, he always has to have his meat. :)

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  • http://atasteofmadness.blogspot.ca/ ATasteofMadness

    This sounds simply delicious! I love simple recipes because I can add to it, and modify it. But there is no way I’d add to this one, it looks perfect the way it is!

  • Kaitlyn M

    I just made this, and it was sooo good! I cut back a little bit on the garlic powder, and I used a little extra cheese, and it tastes awesome! I read somewhere about freezing the leftover macaroni in little silicon muffin cups to just pop it in the microwave whenever I want it, so I’m definitely going to try it! Thanks for the recipe : )