Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Copycat Recipe (2024)

Introduction: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Copycat Recipe

About: I'm a single full time working mom, food enthusiast, and recipe day-dreamer! Try out my instructables! They are super easy to follow, have tons of photos, and are always delicious!! More About MaddieJ3 »

When I was a kid, I loved when my mother grabbed that classic blue box of Kraft and made me a steaming bowl of mac & cheese. Now as a mother, I find myself making a box now and then for my kids. Macaroni & cheese is a comfort food down to the bones. As an adult, my home-made mac & cheese usually consists of a blend of fresh grated cheeses, usually at least 3 or 4. Cheddar, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Gouda, Swiss...oh how the list goes on and on. I love the unique flavors that all these cheeses bring to the dinner table and palette! However, sometimes I crave that good ol' boxed flavor my kids love. I strongly believe it is important to show my kids how to make food on their own, without following a box. It makes cooking real. So, I decided to make my own Kraft Macaroni & Cheese! It's creamy, cheesy, and child approved. Get your inner child ready, It's about to be blown away!

Ingredients:

Step 1: Cook the Macaroni

Cook your macaroni. It's simple, I know you can do it!

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil
  • Pour in your macaroni
  • Boil for 11 minutes

I used elbow macaroni, but you can use whatever kind of pasta you want. Do you have a bag of fun shaped pasta in the back of your pantry? You know, that overpriced pack of pasta you bought from your niece's fundraiser last year? Have some fun and use silly shapes! Just make sure to boil the pasta as long as the package suggests. Or maybe a few minutes more. Everyone knows your mom was busy and over boiled your mac & cheese on accident. And it was AMAZING that way!

Step 2: Get the Ingredients Ready

While your pasta is cooking, you will want to get your other ingredients ready to go! Why make this a whole step? Great question and simple answer! As a parent you know that when your kid is hungry, they are literally DYING OF STARVATION! If they have to wait an extra 2 minutes because you didn't follow this step, it is possible they may die. If you love your child, and want them to see another day, make sure you get the darn stuff ready!

  • Take a stick of butter and cut it in half
  • Cut the half stick of butter (which is 1/4 cup or 4 Tbs) into chunks.
  • Measure out the milk
  • Take out the cheese and have a measuring spoon ready

Please note, it is important to cut up the butter into pieces. If you do not, it will take longer for it to fully melt. This extra cooking time could possibly result in the starvation of your child. ;)

Step 3: Drain the Macaroni

Ok guys, this is probably the hardest part. CAREFULLY drain the hot water from your pasta. Make sure to give it a gently shake in the strainer. The water likes to stick around inside the noodles and we do NOT want any extra water! It will take away from the cheesy, creamy taste!

Return the drained pasta to the cooking pot.

Step 4: Make It Cheesy!

Okay, I lied. This step requires a little more thought than the last. But I am 100% confident you can do it!

  • Add the butter to the drained macaroni and stir constantly until melted
  • Add the milk and stir until combined
  • Add the powdered cheese until fully distributed.

For traditional Kraft Macaroni & Cheese add 3 Tbs of the cheese. For the Cheddar Explosion version, add 4 Tbs.

You can add all the ingredients at the same time if you wish. I personally find that if you follow the steps, it works a lot better. You get a quicker and more even mac & cheese. Trust me, I'm a blue box expert! ;)

Step 5: Let Your Inner Child Eat!

Scoop some of that yummy macaroni into a bowl and enjoy! Or just eat it out of the pot if nobody's looking..I won't judge you! Just make sure to eat a spoonful before you give the bowl to your child. You know, just to make sure it's safe ;)

If you liked this recipe, check out my other Copycat recipes!!

  • Homemade SpaghettiO's
  • Red Lobster Coconut Shrimp
  • Olive Garden Garlic Wine Chicken
  • McDonalds Egg McMuffin
  • Bang Bang (Rock) Shrimp

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Copycat Recipe (5)

Runner Up in the
Pasta Challenge

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Copycat Recipe (6)

Participated in the
Copycat Recipes Contest 2017

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Copycat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Kraft macaroni and cheese? ›

PASTA (ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR [WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON (FERROUS SULFATE), THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, GLYCEROL MONOSTEARATE), CHEESE SAUCE MIX (WHEY, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, MILK, MILKFAT, PALM OIL, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SALT, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MALTODEXTRIN, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% ...

Why is Kraft mac and cheese different now? ›

In 2016, Kraft quietly changed its recipe, removing artificial preservatives and dyes and replacing the latter with paprika, annatto and turmeric. The company even sold 50 million boxes of its new recipe before cleverly announcing the change in a marketing campaign.

What is the lawsuit against Kraft mac and cheese? ›

The $5 million lawsuit claimed the Kraft Heinz Food Company misled the public about the time it takes to prepare Velveeta microwavable mac and cheese cups. According to court records, a West Palm Beach-based law firm filed the lawsuit on behalf of a woman from Hialeah, Florida, on Nov. 18.

What seasonings to add to Kraft mac and cheese? ›

Ree loves to boost the flavor of her homemade macaroni and cheese with dried mustard, cayenne pepper, paprika, and thyme, and you can do the same with boxed mac and cheese. Just add one or more of the spices to the pot along with the powdered cheese, milk, and butter, whisking to combine.

What pasta is used in Kraft Mac and Cheese? ›

The pasta is also different; elbow macaroni replaces the thin, straight macaroni supplied as part of the "Original Recipe." The Homestyle form is the newest form of Kraft Mac & Cheese.

What was the original mac and cheese? ›

Cheese and pasta casseroles were recorded in the 14th century in the Italian cookbook Liber de Coquina, which featured a dish of Parmesan cheese and pasta. A cheese and pasta casserole known as makerouns, was recorded in the 14th-century medieval English cookbook the Forme of Cury.

What is Kraft macaroni changing its name to? ›

Now, Kraft is answering the question of how Americans (at least) should address this pasta product, officially slimming it down to the shorthand. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese's "new" name is officially "Kraft Mac & Cheese." And the grocery store staple is getting a logo and packaging update to boot.

What do people in Canada call Kraft mac and cheese? ›

When I lived in Canada, we didn't call macaroni and cheese “Mac and Cheese.” Instead, we called it “Kraft Dinner.” In other words, we referred to the particular brand. I had thought it was identical to Americans' Mac and Cheese produced by Kraft Foods.

What is the new name for Kraft mac and cheese? ›

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is changing its name after 85 years. The household staple is now called Kraft Mac & Cheese, which is “meant to reflect the way fans organically talk about the brand,” the company announced Wednesday. Packaging featuring the new name will hit shelves in August.

What countries have banned Kraft mac and cheese? ›

Although allowed by the FDA, yellow 5 is banned in Norway and Austria and yellow 6 banned in Norway and Finland. Kraft's UK version of mac and cheese – Cheesey Pasta – famously contains neither. It's better for parents and children that mac and cheese will not contain stuff that might harm them.

What is unhealthy about Kraft mac and cheese? ›

The ABSOLUTE MINIMUM you need to know, in 50 words or less: Boxed mac and cheese is high in phthalates because of plastic involved in processing, plus fat content. Phthalates are definitely a cause for concern, especially for infants and expecting females, but threshold doses aren't known.

What is the mac and cheese scandal? ›

The lawsuit alleged that the Kraft Heinz Food Company violated federal law by saying the mac and cheese cups take 3½ minutes to prepare, arguing that the time limit does not include the time it takes to remove the lid, add water and stir in the cheese sauce. A Miami district judge tossed the lawsuit.

Why put nutmeg in mac and cheese? ›

Both nutmeg and cayenne pepper have warm flavors and, together, add a nice sweet and peppery undertone to the dish. If you love spicy mac and cheese, you can even add a dash of hot sauce on top of the nutmeg and cayenne.

What was Kraft's mascots name? ›

The Cheesasaurus Rex was the mascot of the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese product. He was introduced in 1991, and was kept all the way until the late-2000s.

How to make Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What are the ingredients in Kraft Easy Mac? ›

Enriched Macaroni Product (Wheat Flour, Glyceryl Monostearate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate [Iron], Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid); Cheese Sauce Mix (Whey, Milk, Corn Syrup Solids, Milkfat, Palm Oil, Milk Protein Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Milkfat, Salt, Maltodextrin, Contains ...

What are the ingredients in Kraft not cheese? ›

Kraft x NotCo Plant Based Provolone Cheese Slices Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Modified Food Starch, Chickpea Protein, Maltodextrin, Contains Less than 2% of Salt, Carrageenan, Sorbic Acid as a Preservative, Natural Flavor, Lactic Acid, Pumpkin Concentrate (color). Allergens: There is coconut oil in all 3.

What are the raw ingredients in macaroni? ›

Macaroni is made from Fine semolina (Suji), Wheat flour, Milk solid is the main ingredients in pasta.

Does Kraft mac and cheese have MSG? ›

It's also important to note that generally, people do not report symptoms of headache when consuming non-Asian sources of MSG, such as in Doritos, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Lipton Soup mix despite all of these foods containing MSG.

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