Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese
If you’re looking for a delicious, homemade easy baked macaroni and cheese recipe, this is it. I have been making this for my family for years. It’s a recipe I came up with on my own. After all, what does macaroni and cheese have in it? Well, macaroni, cheese, butter, milk, salt and pepper.
It’s so simple to make and I get asked over and over to make it. It’s a favorite at potlucks, holidays, you name it and it’s also one of the least expensive dishes you can make, that feeds a crew! There’s really no way you can mess this one up. I would suggest that you might want to double the recipe, though. It disappears…fast!!
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Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of macaroni noodles.
A stick of butter
1 cup milk (I use skim)
2 cups of Colby Jack cheese (about 4 handfuls of Colby Jack cheese. Save a little out to put on top)
salt & pepper to taste
Let’s Make It!
Make the macaroni using the directions on the bag. You will be using a whole bag for this recipe. I boil the noodles for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Once it’s done, drain the noodles in a colander.
Slice the whole stick of butter and place it in the casserole dish.
Pour the drained noodles into the casserole and mix them up with the butter. You want the noodles to be hot, as this will help melt the butter.
Grab roughly 4 handfuls of cheese. I don’t do an exact measurement for this. It just depends on how cheesy you like it. Four happens to be a good number for us. Start mixing it all together by stirring.
Next, add the cup of milk and stir a little more until it’s well mixed. This is where I salt and pepper to taste.
When you get it mixed well, level it out, if needed. Take another handful (or so) of cheese and sprinkle it on top.
Cover it with foil and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes.
That’s it!! Homemade Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese! When it comes out of the oven, you’ll have this creamy, cheesy, delicious comfort food that will have the family saying, “Make this again, Mom!!”
If you break the prices down, this recipe cost about $5.00 to make (depending on where you live.) It’s very inexpensive when your feedings 10-12 people.
Be sure to check out other easy, frugal recipes like Sweet and Sour Meatloaf and my tried and true Cheap and Easy Slow Cooker Meals.
- 16 oz. bag of macaroni noodles.
- Stick of butter
- 2 cups of Colby Jack cheese. (Or about 4 handfuls. Save a little out to put on top)
- 1 cup milk (I use skim)
- salt & pepper to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Cook macaroni noodles according to directions on the package.
- When they're done, drain.
- Slice stick of butter into casserole.
- Pour the drained noodles into the casserole and mix them up with the butter.
- Add cheese and mix well.
- Add 1 cup of milk and stir a little more until well mixed.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Take remaining cheese and sprinkle on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes
- Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes
- Take out of oven and wait about 10 minutes to serve.
Tip: This recipe is so versatile. You can throw in some shredded or diced chicken to make a complete meal. (Do that when your mixing it up and before you bake it). If you’re watching calories, you can cut a few by using skim milk and reduced fat cheese and it still taste as good. Also you can change up the kind of cheese you use. My family and I have always preferred the Colby Jack. Doesn’t seem to be as oily as regular cheddar and it melts very well.
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