National Macaroni Day | Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
I need to add an addendum to my statement in my National French Fries Day post. In there, I said that my favorite cuisines were, in order, Italian, Cuban, and French Fries. I’d like to add Macaroni and Cheese as my #4. I will take macaroni and cheese any way I can get it. Even if a mac ‘n cheese is subpar, I’ll still finish it off. Call me crazy, because I totally am.
In fact, I made a joke/not so much a joke to my husband the other night that if I were going to open a restaurant, I would open a mac ‘n cheese shack. It probably wouldn’t ever be a joint that would make me filthy rich, but I would be bringing mounds of the good mac ‘n cheese stuff to the masses. It would be National Macaroni Day every day! And I would make all kinds of mac ‘n cheese too, obviously. Burger macaroni, taco macaroni, buffalo, the list goes on..and on.. I can see it now.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I think I’ll create multiples of macaroni recipes next year when I have more time.
Today, I have a classic macaroni and cheese that’s creamy and rich and just cheesy enough that you get your fill, but can still taste all of the other components. This is an excellent go-to macaroni dish because, for God’s sake, you should just throw out the kraft mac ‘n cheese in a box products NOW! Make this, and make your life easier and less processed.
Now tell me: Which mac ‘n cheese flavors would you like to see me make? Sound off in the comments below.
Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
- 1-1.5 cups noodles
- 1/4 cup margarine or butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 375*F.
- Cook noodles as directed and drain.
- In another pot, stir together and cook the margarine, onion, salt and pepper over medium heat until onion is slightly tender.
- Blend the flour in the pot with the margarine and onion. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. *It's very important to continue to stir constantly. It's easy to mess this part up and think the mixture is done before it actually is. But, this step should take between 5-10 minutes and result in a more liquid substance than when you first started.*
- Remove from heat and stir in milk. Return to heat and heat to boiling. Once the mixture starts to boil, stir constantly for a full minute. Then, remove from heat again. Stir in cheese cubes until melted.
- Place cooked noodles in an ungreased casserole dish. Stir cheese sauce into noodles. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
- For an added bonus, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top!
My whole family LOVES macaroni and cheese! The creamier the better, I can’t wait to try this recipe!
They sure do have some crazy national days out there. I guess a Mac and Cheese day is as good as any. I haven’t eaten Mac and Cheese in many years. I miss it sometimes.
Love me some mac and cheese. I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
This sounds wonderful, and I wouldn’t mind celebrating the day with that at all. However, there’s always going to be a spot in my life for the blue box. I grew up on the stuff, so it’s full of memories.
This looks really tasty,I have not had mac and cheese for the longest time.
Heck yeah! I never need an excuse to make mac n cheese, but now I have a great one.
I love mac and cheese! I pinned this and think I’ll make it for dinner tonight!
I think with the ability to make mac’n’cheese is so many different ways, that there is bound to be a “flavor” for everybody. I would totally visit a mac’n’cheese shack.
National Macaroni Day? This needs to be celebrated immediately! How did I almost miss that?
Oh yum! That looks sooo delicious! Mine never turns out when I make it. The cheese just never melts the way I want it too! I love to add some ranch to my mac and cheese!
Oh yum! That looks sooo delicious! Mine never turns out when I make it. The cheese just never melts the way I want it too! I love to add some ranch to my mac and cheese!
Your photos make the lowly mac n’cheese look so creamy and yummy. All the flavors sound good, but how about some gummy bear mac n’cheese to take care of two holidays.
Mmm…I love how the cheese seems to ooze off the noodles. I’ll be trying this, for sure!
Mac n cheese is just one of those favorite and most loved comfort foods. We have it often. Probably TOO often! It’s my husband’s favorite thing in the world.
I have a similar recipe and it is our FAVORITE!!! My husband and one-year-old both are obsessed! Thanks so much for sharing!! Now I want to make it for dinner! 🙂
I love mac and cheese! We have a place in the mall about 2hrs away that serves nothing but different types of mac and cheese. I made a butternut squash one in the fall that was so yummy! http://yumeating.com/gorgonzola-butternut-squash-mac-cheese/
Omg this looks heavenly!
Did someone say Macaroni and Cheese!! This should be a food group.
You’re speaking my language.
So mac and cheese has a special place in my heart. My Grandma made the best. Still to this day, I have never found another like hers. She sadly passed with the recipe in her brain. We have all tried to recreate it multiple times, never to succeed. This sounds like a great version!
That mac and cheese looks so delicious! My favorite is the homemade kind my aunt makes. I don’t know how she does it but we get it at Christmas and it is SOOOOO good!
Macaroni and cheese is my absolute weakness. This looks SO delicious (and like the perfect comfort food.)
There is nothing as comforting as a big, piping hot bowl of gooey mac and cheese!!! Now I’m hungry!
I love Macaroni and Cheese! That looks and sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.
I love Mac & Cheese. I have been contemplating making it from scratch. Thanks for the recipe.
Homemade mac n cheese is soooooooo much better than the box! This one looks very cheesy!
Mac and cheese is definitely one of my fave treats!
My daughter’s favorite food is mac and cheese. I’ve come up with a pretty good recipe, but yours looks just as yummy!
This looks very delicious. My son still loves to eat mac and cheese
This looks soooo good! I make some dang good mac and cheese, but I will have to give this a try! My daughter is addicted to mac and cheese. 🙂
Kris
FEED MEEEE! This looks amazing. COOK FOR ME J LO
BRING ME SOME MANGOES AND PERHAPS I WILL!
You just made my day! Just before I came across your blog post, I was thinking of what to make for dinner. Now its final. Mac and Cheese it is. Thank you for sharing.
How did I not know this was a thing! Mac and Cheese is my favorite, this looks amazing!
Ohhh you could do a Macaroni bar where people put their own toppings on and pay by weight. 🙂 I definitely want to make this. I have never made it homemade for some reason. I want a Buffalo Mac’n’cheese recipe!
You got it! ….next year, lol.
Mac n cheese is a great addition to any meal. Yumm.
That does look nice and delicious. Mac and Cheese is a perfect comfort food.
Yum, I love mac n’ cheese! I have yet to make it from scratch for my little ones.
This is my sons and my husband’s favorite dish. I love finding and trying different recipes and I will try this one next. Looks delicious!
I crave a good macaroni and cheese dish. This looks amazing!
That mac and cheese looks amazing. I wish I could reach through the screen and grab it!
We are a huge macaroni-and-cheese loving family. My mouth is watering just looking at this!
I love baked mac and cheese! We have a family recipe that includes a bit of wine and tomatoes.
You can never go wrong with macaroni and cheese! Your recipe looks absolutely delicious!
Your macaroni and cheese recipe looks total delish! We will give it a try! I think most kids wish every day was macaroni day! lol
Mac n Cheese is one of my top 5 fav dishes. How did I not know there was a national day for it?!
I think every day should be macaroni day! I love it! Yours looks super tasty too!
Now THIS mac and cheese looks the best!! I’ll have to make it this way and see how everyone likes it.
There is a National Everything Day wow I cant keep up…National Macaroni Day sounds great! Your pic looks amazing too!
I loved mac n cheese when I was a kid. I can’t eat it now and it’s one of the things I miss the most. What a yummy recipe.
I haven’t had mac n cheese in forever! The boxed stuff is just gross! Making it yourself has to be a HUGE improvement!
Baked mac ‘n cheese is a family favorite. We’ll have to try this recipe out!