Copycat Cracker Barrel Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
Tender noodles in a creamy, white cheese sauce topped with a crunchy cracker topping and baked until bubbly. This recipe reminds me of the comforting mac and cheese at the Cracker Barrel!
Equipment
- 2.5 qt Baking dish
Ingredients
- 16 oz. Cellentani noodles cooked
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 2 1/2 cups Whole milk or half & half
- 8 oz. Monterey jack cheese shredded
- 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese shredded
For the cracker topping:
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter melted
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers about 30 crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Cook noodles according to package instructions, set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large saucepan* heat butter over medium heat until melted. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until combined, let the mixture cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- Reduce heat to low and gently mix in the milk, a 1/2 cup at a time. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Continue to whisk until the mixture begins to thicken, 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle in the shredded cheese and stir until melted completely.
- Remove from the heat and add in the cooked pasta, mix to combine. Transfer to a greased 2.5 quart baking dish, spread out evenly.
- In a mixing bowl combine the melted butter and crushed crackers. Evenly sprinkle the cracker mixture over the pasta.
- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Remove from the oven and serve immediately!
Notes
*Any shape of pasta will work for this recipe, a tube or shell shape is recommended to catch the cheese sauce.
*Use a large saucepan (3-4 quarts) for the cheese sauce so there is enough room to mix in the cooked pasta.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servingCalories: 452kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 19gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 788mgPotassium: 253mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 690IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 416mgIron: 1mg