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

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.