Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is also a great dish to make ahead of time and freeze for later. Freezer-friendly macaroni and cheese typically involves using a sauce that is made with a combination of cheese, butter, milk, and flour. The macaroni is cooked and then tossed with the sauce and baked. Once the macaroni and cheese is cooked, it can be cooled and then frozen in an airtight container. When you are ready to eat it, simply thaw it in the refrigerator or at room temperature and then reheat it in the oven or microwave.
Let's cook with our recipes!
FREEZABLE MACARONI AND CHEESE
This recipe for the kid-friendly pasta bake lets you freeze individual portions and bake them off whenever you need them.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Time 1h40m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water 1 to 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain, rinse with cool water, and return to pot.
- Meanwhile, heat 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour; cook, whisking, 1 minute. Add milk, cayenne, nutmeg, and 2 teaspoons salt; bring to a simmer. Cook, whisking, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in cheeses until smooth. Pour over pasta; toss to coat. Divide among baking dishes.
- Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter; toss with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over pasta. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; freeze up to 3 months.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place frozen dishes on a baking sheet; remove plastic. Cover with foil. Bake until bubbling, 60 to 70 minutes for large dishes, 40 to 50 minutes for small. Remove foil; continue baking until golden, 5 to 10 minutes more.
MACARONI AND CHEESE- FREEZER FRIENDLY
Make and share this Macaroni and Cheese- Freezer Friendly recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Munchkin Mama
Categories Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a heavy saucepan. Stir in flour until combined. Next add milk. Let cook until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring often. Finally add in bouillon.
- Add the softened cream cheese and the shredded cheddar to the white sauce. Cook and stir until cheeses are melted.
- Drain pasta and combine with cheese sauce.
- Melt butter and add to crushed crackers.
- Transfer pasta to a greased casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 375 for about 30 minutes until the edges are bubbly.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 586.7, Fat 35.3, SaturatedFat 21.5, Cholesterol 102.4, Sodium 628, Carbohydrate 46.5, Fiber 1.7, Sugar 1.3, Protein 20.8
FREEZER CHILI MACARONI
This quick pasta dish, cooked all in one pan, will be a real family pleaser. For an Italian version, substitute 1 tsp. Italian herb seasoning for the chili powder, use Italian style stewed tomatoes and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese for the Monterey Jack cheese. Serve with crusty rolls.
Provided by Olha7397
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 55m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook chicken with garlic over medium high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, oregano and cumin. Bring to a boil. Stir in macaroni and green beans; bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until the pasta and beans are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If freezing, see "to freeze" section below, otherwise proceed with Step 3.
- Serve sprinkled with cheese.
- TO FREEZE: Let pasta mixture cool. Spoon into freezer containers, seal, date and label. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- TO SERVE: Thaw in microwave or in refrigerator overnight. Reheat in baking dish at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Proceed with Step 3, above. Serves 4.
- The Freezer Cookbook.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 408.9, Fat 11.7, SaturatedFat 6.1, Cholesterol 91, Sodium 1011.8, Carbohydrate 37.2, Fiber 5.1, Sugar 10.1, Protein 39.8
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will ensure that your macaroni and cheese is delicious and flavorful, even after freezing.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This will prevent it from becoming mushy when it is reheated.
- Use a flavorful cheese sauce. A good cheese sauce is the key to a great macaroni and cheese. Use a blend of cheeses that you like, and make sure to season it well.
- Freeze the macaroni and cheese in individual portions. This will make it easy to reheat just what you need.
- Thaw the macaroni and cheese overnight in the refrigerator. This will help it to reheat evenly.
- Reheat the macaroni and cheese in a preheated oven. This will help it to warm through evenly without drying out.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. By following these tips, you can make a delicious macaroni and cheese that can be frozen and reheated later. This is a great way to save time and money, and it is also a great way to enjoy a delicious meal on a busy weeknight.
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