All Grown up Mac and Cheesy |
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Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes |
Ready In: 60 Minutes Servings: 12 |
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My family's favorite comfort food! I must warn you, this is extremely cheesy and we find it highly addictive. Not a diet food! Kids and grown ups alike love this dish, and it is extremely flexible. I use whatever cheese I happen to have in stock. Great way to use up cheese that has been in the fridge just a bit too long. We love it with sauteed onions and bacon, but this step is optional. Ingredients:
4 cups rotini pasta or 4 cups plain old macaroni or 4 cups pasta shells or 4 cups bow tie pasta |
1 (10 ounce) can campbell's cheddar cheese soup (my preferred brand) |
2 cups cubed cheddar cheese (any type you like, really any type you have on hand) or 2 cups colby (any type you like, really any type you have on hand) or 2 cups mozzarella cheese (any type you like, really any type you have on hand) or 2 cups gouda cheese (any type you like, really any type you have on hand) or 2 cups havarti cheese (any type you like, really any type you have on hand) |
1 cup velveeta cheese, cut into cubes |
1 cup 2% low-fat milk |
1 cup 15% cream |
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard |
1 teaspoon pepper (or more to taste) |
3 dashes tabasco sauce (add more or less to your taste) (optional) |
1 teaspoon dried parsley or 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, finely chopped |
1 large onion, sauteed in |
1 teaspoon butter (optional) |
1 cup bacon, precooked and crumbled (optional) |
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (for topping) |
1 cup breadcrumbs (for topping) |
Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside, leaving it in the pot.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3. In a saucepan, combine cheese soup, cubed cheeses, Velveeta cheese, milk, and cream.
4. Heat on medium-low until all cheeses are melted. Sauce should stick nicely to the spoon, without running off too easily. If you find the sauce too thick, add more milk. If you find the sauce too thin, add more Velveeta.
5. Add ground mustard, pepper and Tabasco sauce (if using). Measurements are approximate. Add more or less according to your taste. Stir thoroughly.
6. Add parsley to the sauce.
7. Pour sauce over the pasta noodles and blend together.
8. * If you are using the onions and/or bacon pieces, blend those ingredients in with the pasta and cheese sauce now.
9. Pour pasta and cheese mixture into large casserole dishes. No need to grease the casseroles. Use casserole dishes that will allow your mac and cheese to be 3 inches deep. I use my two largest casserole dishes for this.
10. Sprinkle tops with bread crumbs and additional pepper if desired.
11. Cover tops with shredded cheese.
12. Loosely tent the casseroles with foil, so that they are covered, but not touching the cheese topping.
13. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.
14. Remove foil and increase heat to 450 degrees. Bake or broil for an additional 10 minutes to get a nice crunchy/cheesy topping.
15. Serve and enjoy!
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