Kid-Friendly Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

recipe

Your family will be very pleased with this gooey baked mac and cheese (and peas!).

Print Recipe

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Gather Baking Equipment

Dry measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Liquid measuring cup

8-inch square glass baking dish

Rubber spatula

Aluminum foil

Oven mitts

Cooling rack

Prepare Ingredients

2 cups

elbow macaroni (8 ounces)

1 cup

shredded mild cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

8–10 thin slices

deli American cheese, torn into small pieces (4 ounces)

1 tablespoon

cornstarch

½ teaspoon

dry mustard

½ teaspoon

salt

2 cups

water

1 cup

milk

½ cup

frozen peas (optional)

Start Baking!

1

2 cups

elbow macaroni (8 ounces)

1 cup

shredded mild cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

8-10 thin slices

deli American cheese, torn into small pieces (4 ounces)

1 tablespoon

cornstarch

½ teaspoon

dry mustard

½ teaspoon

salt

HEAT AND MIX: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. In 8-inch square glass baking dish, toss together macaroni, cheddar, American cheese, cornstarch, mustard, and salt.

2

2 cups

water

1 cup

milk

ADD LIQUID: Pour water and milk over macaroni mixture.

3

BAKE: Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake until macaroni is tender, about 35 minutes. Use oven mitts to remove baking dish from oven and place on cooling rack.

4

½ cup

frozen peas (optional)

STIR: Uncover and carefully stir mixture together until it looks creamy (dish will be hot!), about 1 minute. Stir in peas (if using). Let cool for 10 minutes. Stir again before serving.

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Food for Thought

Fun Fact: Where Does Mac and Cheese Come From?

Macaroni and cheese was born in Italy. Since Italy is the land of pasta, that’s not very surprising . . . But did you know that an American president was the first to bring mac and cheese here? Yup. In the 1800s Thomas Jefferson tried macaroni and cheese on a trip to Europe and brought a hand-written recipe back to the White House.