Velveeta Mac and Cheese is the ultimate classic, creamy, cheesy comfort food that is sure to be a hit with your entire family!
It’s no secret that our readers love Mac and Cheese. Taking a look at this blog, you’ll find Baked Mac and Cheese, Bacon Mac and Cheese, and even Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac and Cheese. However, one version not shared yet is this Velveeta Mac and Cheese.
Sabrina’s Velveeta Mac and Cheese
Boxed Mac and Cheese with Velveeta cheese is a dorm food staple. This homemade recipe elevates the Mac and Cheese meal to something everyone can enjoy. Instead of squeezing premade cheese from a sauce pouch, prepare homemade cheese sauce with milk, cubed cheese, and delicious seasonings. You’ll love the creamy texture and amazing flavor.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 24 ounce Velveeta cheese , cut into chunks
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Add pasta to a large pot of boiling water and cook 1 minute shy of the directions on the box.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water in case you need to thin the macaroni and cheese.
- Drain but don’t rinse the pasta, then add it back to the pot.
- Turn the heat onto medium heat.
- Stir in the milk, cheese, salt, white pepper, ground mustard, and paprika.
- Bring to a simmer and stir, cooking until the cheese sauce has thickened.
- If sauce thickens too much add ¼ cup of pasta water and stir to combine.
Nutrition
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Table of Contents
About This Recipe
This dish has quickly become a family favorite recipe for so many. It’s great for a busy weeknight dinner because you can make the pasta and creamy cheese sauce in under 20 minutes. Then serve it as-is or add breadcrumbs, bacon, or other toppings of your choosing to dress up the simple dish. This Velveeta version of Mac and Cheese might just become your favorite recipe.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Kitchen Knife: You won’t need a cheese grater, but you will need a knife to cut the Velveeta into cubes. Use a long kitchen knife for fast, accurate cuts.
- Large Pot: Grab your favorite pot for boiling pasta. Make sure it has plenty of room for the pasta and lots of water, without bubbling over.
- Large Spoon: Use a long handle spoon to stir your pasta to ensure it isn’t sticking together in the pan. The spoon just needs to be as long as the pot is tall, plus some extra so there is room for you hands.
- Strainer: Use a strainer that can hold 1 pound of pasta, which is typically 1 full box or 1 bag of pasta.
Can this be made ahead of time?
Yes, you can make your Velveeta Mac and Cheese ahead of time. Just prepare the recipe in its entirety, and let it cool. Cover it up and place it in the refrigerator. Reheat it over the stove to return it to that creamy texture. Add a splash of milk as needed, if your sauce is too thick or sticky.
What to Pair
The cheesy goodness of this recipe makes an excellent side dish to go with a comforting meal. You can set it out as a Holiday side dish and it will be a hit. You will also love serving it with your favorite crispy chicken recipes. The tender pasta and creamy cheese sauce pair perfectly with Fried Chicken or Crispy Chicken Tenders.
This recipe also pairs really well with barbecue. Include Velveeta Mac and Cheese for your next cookout. You can also create a barbecue in your kitchen with Oven Baked Barbecue Ribs, or Shredded Barbecue Chicken that you can serve by itself or on sandwiches. Bring in some Baked Beans, and Cole Slaw to go with it and you have a perfect barbecue meal!
How to Store
- Serve: After cooking Mac and Cheese, don’t leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: To keep it for later, you can cover the dish in plastic wrap or transfer it to an air-tight container. Leftovers can stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or over the stove, stirring frequently. Add a dash of milk if your reheated mac and cheese is too thick.
- Freeze: You can also freeze the recipe for 1-2 months.
Ideas to Serve
Spoon your Velveeta Mac and Cheese into a serving dish, a baking dish, or a large bowl when ready to serve. You can also place it into a slow cooker on the warm setting to keep it warm at a party. If you’re going for a different look, take out small ramekins and spoon the Velveeta Mac into individual ramekin servings for your guests. You could also serve it in small plastic bowls if you’re serving to kids, or just want to guarantee nothing gets broken.
If you like the look and flavor, you can sprinkle a dash of paprika over the top of the Mac and Cheese to give it a more sophisticated appearance. This works well whether you serve it in a serving dish or in a ramekin. A small sprinkling of fresh ground black pepper would also add a little extra to the dish, if you prefer that.
Frequent Ask Questions
Yes, you may be surprised, but you can quite easily freeze this classic comfort food meal. Store the Mac and Cheese in an airtight container and make sure it’s carefully sealed. Then it can stay good for 1-2 months. Reheat it on the stovetop or in a casserole dish in the oven when you’re ready to serve.
The main reason your recipe may become grainy is if the cheese curdles. Because of the dairy products, it is possible for it to curdle while you’re making the recipe. To keep your Mac and Cheese creamy, try turning down the heat. If the heat is too high, the fat and milk can cook out, leaving the cheese grainy. Keep the temperature low, and if you notice it getting grainy, add a little bit of butter to the sauce.
Variations
- Cheeses: You can add extra cheese to the cheese sauce mix to alter the flavor of Velveeta Mac and Cheese. Try American, mild or sharp cheddar, Pepper Jack, or Monterey Jack cheese. You can use either grated cheese or cut cubes from a block of cheese. After cooking the recipe, you can also add crumbles of blue cheese as a cheese topping, or sprinkle extra shredded cheese on top.
- Velveeta Shells: Elbow macaroni is a favorite pasta of choice for Mac and Cheese recipes. However, store-bought Velveeta is made with shell pasta. To make this homemade recipe more similar to that version, you can use pasta shells too. If you don’t have shells or macaroni, you can use another type of pasta shape, like bow-tie pasta, penne, or fusilli.
- Seasonings: You can also add seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, or red pepper flakes to the creamy sauce. Onion powder and garlic powder would especially make a great combo to add to this recipe.
- Broccoli Mac: Mac and cheese tastes great with a broccoli side. You could also add the broccoli florets directly into the pasta recipe. Mixing the broccoli florets with Mac and Cheese is a great way to get your kids eating vegetables.
- Cheeseburger Mac: Make a full meal out of Mac and Cheese by adding cooked ground beef into the mixture at the end. Then serve on plates or bowls along with a side salad or your favorite Roasted Vegetables to round out your meal.
- Add-Ins: There are a lot of additional ingredients you can add for more flavor and texture in this simple recipe. You can sprinkle crispy bacon on top for delicious Bacon Mac and Cheese. Top with crunchy breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, or crumbled potato chips for a nice texture change. To make the breadcrumbs more flavorful, you can toast breadcrumbs with butter before adding them to the recipe. You can also add green chiles, onions, or bell peppers.
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Photos used in previous versions of the post.
Super delicious! Very yummy and creamy. I found it very easy to make for my family at night <3
Glad to hear Davi and thanks for the five star review!