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The Savvy Age

food. family. diy.

Home » Recipes » Grandma’s Mac And Cheese Recipe

Grandma’s Mac And Cheese Recipe

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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 Old Fashioned Mac N Cheese recipe! Baked macaroni and cheese recipe that is quick and easy to make and bake. A family favorite! #Grandmasmacncheeserecipe #oldfashionedmanncheeserecipe #bakedmacaroniandcheeserecipe

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.

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

Shredded cheddar cheese, dabs of butter and macaroni elbows.

Approximately 3/4 of the macaroni should be covered.

Repeat two more times.

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

side view of macaroni and cheese glass baking dish.

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.

Mac n cheese glass dish in oven.

Is a safe bet the Mac 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 the dish is cooked fully when the milk is congealed. If you put a spoon into the mixture and see that the milk is still liquid, the dish 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.

Print Pin

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
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 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.
  • Layer the cheese squares and butter dots on top of the macaroni.
  • Approximately 3/4 of the macaroni should be covered.
  • Repeat two 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 bet the Mac 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 the dish is cooked fully when the milk is congealed. If you put a spoon into the mixture and see that the milk is still liquid, the dish 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)

The Savvy Age Filed Under: Comfort Food, Recipes, Side Dish, Thanksgiving 26 Comments

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Comments

  1. Bill Kasman says

    July 17, 2016 at 10:19 am

    I’ve never been a fan of macaroni cheese but this recipe sounds OK!

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 17, 2016 at 10:30 am

      Mac N Cheese isn’t a food group? 🙂

      Reply
  2. Anna Jeanine says

    July 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Sounds yummy! But I confess I am one of those cheaters who uses a cheese sauce. 🙂

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 17, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      I’m open to cheese sauce too 🙂

      Reply
  3. Alice Gerard says

    July 17, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Mmmm, I would add vegetables. Yummy. I love macaroni and cheese. Nice easy recipe. Love it!

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:56 am

      Absolutely, can easily add veggies or ham to the mix!

      Reply
  4. Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) says

    July 17, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    I wish I knew this recipe twenty years ago, when I used to make mac and cheese (the cheese sauce type) for my young son. I would definitely make it with the breadcrumbs.

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:55 am

      I am a fan of the breadcrumbs 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kyla Matton Osborne says

    July 17, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    It looks really yummy! The only time I usually make homemade mac and cheese is when I do it with tomato and meat sauce. But looking at your recipe, I’d sure love to try it out!

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Interesting, have not tried the tomato and meat sauce combo – ingredients for thought.

      Reply
  6. gracefulcoffee says

    July 17, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    YUM! I love mac n cheese 😀

    Blessings,
    Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:54 am

      I concur!

      Reply
  7. Martha DeMeo says

    July 17, 2016 at 8:24 pm

    You are making me hungry!! I love how you added step by step photos plus the video! I can almost taste this!

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:54 am

      It’s definitely a go to recipe 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kebba Buckley Button says

    July 17, 2016 at 10:57 pm

    This recipe sounds great! It would be a cinch to make it Gluten Free by using rice penne pasta or something similar. Yummm! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 8:53 am

      Great idea w the rice pasta!

      Reply
  9. tab says

    July 18, 2016 at 8:56 am

    Will visit – thanks!

    Reply
  10. Nikki G says

    July 18, 2016 at 4:17 pm

    My stomach is growling.
    🙂 gwingal

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 18, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  11. Cristina at Ava's Alphabet says

    July 21, 2016 at 11:49 pm

    There is no such thing as too much mac and cheese! This recipe looks delicious. Thank you for linking up to Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party this week.

    Reply
    • tab says

      July 22, 2016 at 8:32 am

      I concur 🙂

      Reply
  12. marilynlesniak says

    July 23, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe at the #RecipeSharingParty! I hope to see you next week. Pinned and Yummed. Please visit #OverTheMoon on Sunday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings for more sharing fun! Don’t forget to Comment your link #’s so I can be sure to visit and you get a chance to be featured!

    Reply
  13. lifesmoments16 says

    July 25, 2016 at 9:24 pm

    This looks like a delicious dinner option to make. I’m sure my kids would devour this.

    Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you again when we open our doors at 12 AM EST on Friday.

    Reply
  14. April J Harris (@apriljharris) says

    July 29, 2016 at 9:04 am

    Love easy vintage family recipes like this! What a great way to make mac and cheese the easy way! Stumbled and sharing. Thank you for bringing this recipe to the Hearth and Soul Hop.

    Reply
  15. swathi says

    July 31, 2016 at 12:03 pm

    Delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.

    Reply
  16. Helen Fern says

    August 11, 2016 at 9:32 am

    Looks really good! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned and tweeted!

    Reply

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