Velveeta Mac and Cheese

Making homemade mac and cheese with Velveeta is an American tradition. We’ve all had the Velveeta shells and cheese sold in the blue box. It’s a comforting, simple to make meal that kids and adults go back to time and time again because it’s just so good. 

Making macaroni and cheese with Velveeta and sharp cheddar gives this dish the perfect flavor, texture, and mouthfeel. You’ll feel like a kid again while eating this dish! 

Want more Macaroni and Cheese goodness? Try my Broccoli Mac and Cheese or my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. Homemade Hamburger Helper is another cheesy macaroni dish that the family will love too! 

Short on time? My Stovetop Mac and Cheese recipe is ready in under 20 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. It’s Homemade. When you cook convenience foods from scratch you have much more control over what goes into them. Aside from the Velveeta, which is a processed American cheese, the ingredients here are fresh, flavorful, and customizable. 
2. Super Cheesy. Just look at that ooey-gooey cheesy plate! Velveeta is a specialty American Cheese product that melts so well into an uber creamy sauce for our macaroni noodles. We’re also adding cheddar cheese to give it some variety and interest. 
3. Simple Ingredients. There are a lot of recipes out there for mac and cheese with fancy, expensive cheeses. And while there are definitely things I like about a “different” mac and cheese, sometimes a classic is really what I want. 
4. It’s Easy to Make. We’re making a quick cheese sauce, combining it with cooked pasta, and popping it in the oven. It’s really easy! 

Ingredients Needed

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Elbow Macaroni: This is the traditional and best pasta for making mac and cheese. You can substitute other short pasta varieties if you prefer. 
• Butter and Flour: we’ll be making a simple cheese sauce that starts with a very light roux for thickening. 
• Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder and dry mustard powder give the mac and cheese the perfect flavor. This combination of seasonings creates a homey, slow cooked feel. 
• Milk: Allow your milk to come to room temperature before adding in it, this will give you a creamier sauce and make things easier. Any type of milk can be used. 
• Velveeta: Take a half pound of Velveeta and cut it into small cubes so that it melts easier. 
• Sharp Cheddar: Our second cheese! I much prefer buying cheddar in a block and shredding it myself. You get better flavor and freshness this way, and there aren’t any added ingredients. 
• Breadcrumbs and Butter: We’ll mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and more cheese to create a crunchy topping for our baked mac and cheese with velveeta. You can  use any type of breadcrumbs you have on hand, or crushed ritz crackers.

How to Make Homemade Velveeta Mac and Cheese

1. Prep: Preheat the oven and cook macaroni according to the package directions. 
2. Make Roux: While the pasta is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Cook while stirring for 1-2 minutes. Add the seasonings: Onion, garlic, and mustard powder. Stir until combined. 
3. Make Sauce: Gradually add in the milk while whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 2 minutes, until sauce thickens slightly. 
4. Add Velveeta: Stir in the Veelveeta cheese, cook and stir until it’s melted in to the sauce. Remove from heat. 
5. Add Cheddar: Stir in the grated cheddar cheese until it’s completely melted. 
6. Add Macaroni: Stir the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce.

1. Get Ready to Bake: Add the cheesy macaroni to a casserole dish. You can use any shape two quart casserole. 
2. Make Topping: In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with butter and sprinkle them over the macaroni. Sprinkle it with cheddar cheese. 
3. Bake: Bake as directed, or until the edges are bubbly and the top is golden. 
4. Garnish: For a pop of color, garnish with fresh parsley before serving. 

Recipe Tips

Add the Cheese Gradually: The cheese will meet easier and more smoothly if you add it in a handful at a time, rather than all at once. Make sure to stir until the cheese melts into the sauce fully.

Use Fresh Cheddar: Freshly grated cheddar has so much more flavor than pre-shredded cheese. Use a box grater to simply grate a block of cheese. It’s less expensive this way too!

Season to Taste: Cheddar and Velveeta are already salty, so I don’t add additional salt to this recipe. You can add a bit depending on your personal taste.

Did you know that you can turn Velveeta cheese into a decadent chocolate fudge? It’s true!

How to Serve Velveeta Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is generally considered a side dish, so serve it along with your favorite meats. It would go especially well with Instant Pot Ribs or Grilled BBQ Chicken in the summertime. Serve it with Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken or Instant Pot Chicken Tenders for a simple weeknight dinner. 

Enjoy Velveeta mac and cheese as a main dish too, adding some veggies to make it a well-rounded vegetarian meal. A simple Tossed Green Salad or Roasted Brussels Sprouts would be delicious.

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