This is our old-fashioned version of the family Mac n Cheese recipe. Old School. Old Fashioned. Call it either but we call it yummy!
This is how we always had our macaroni and cheese growing up and continues now. It wasn’t until much later in life when I was exlporing cooking books and cooking shows that I actually realized that many people make macaroni and cheese with a cheese sauce.
However that is precisely what I like about this homemade mac and cheese recipe is that the doesn’t use a cheese sauce. This recipe is easy, quick and flexible.
Ingredients For Grandma’s Mac n Cheese Recipe
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
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 For Grandma’s Mac n Cheese Recipe
- 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.
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 to the block cheese.
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.
The Old Time Favorite by Grandma Mac N Cheese Recipehttps://thesavvyage.com/grandmas-favorite-mac-cheese-recipe/
Posted by The Savvy Age on Sunday, July 17, 2016
Bill Kasman says
I’ve never been a fan of macaroni cheese but this recipe sounds OK!
tab says
Mac N Cheese isn’t a food group? 🙂
Anna Jeanine says
Sounds yummy! But I confess I am one of those cheaters who uses a cheese sauce. 🙂
tab says
I’m open to cheese sauce too 🙂
Alice Gerard says
Mmmm, I would add vegetables. Yummy. I love macaroni and cheese. Nice easy recipe. Love it!
tab says
Absolutely, can easily add veggies or ham to the mix!
Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden) says
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.
tab says
I am a fan of the breadcrumbs 🙂
Kyla Matton Osborne says
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!
tab says
Interesting, have not tried the tomato and meat sauce combo – ingredients for thought.
gracefulcoffee says
YUM! I love mac n cheese 😀
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
tab says
I concur!
Martha DeMeo says
You are making me hungry!! I love how you added step by step photos plus the video! I can almost taste this!
tab says
It’s definitely a go to recipe 🙂
Kebba Buckley Button says
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!
tab says
Great idea w the rice pasta!
tab says
Will visit – thanks!
Nikki G says
My stomach is growling.
🙂 gwingal
tab says
Thanks for visiting!
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet says
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.
tab says
I concur 🙂
marilynlesniak says
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!
lifesmoments16 says
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.
April J Harris (@apriljharris) says
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.
swathi says
Delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning and tweeting.
Helen Fern says
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!