My Most Perfect Baked Mac ‘N Cheese

May 11, 2010 by desiringvirtue

I am obsessed with Macaroni and Cheese. I like it in any form. Straight from the blue box or from a fancy Italian restaurant. You just can’t go wrong with its creamy, cheesy, goodness. It IS the ultimate comfort food-don’t even try to fight me on it.

When I am not making it from the blue box for lunch, I usually bake it for when we have company over. It gives it an air of formality and pairs well with a salad and bread. My favorite recipe? One that I have perfected over time from a Kraft recipe. The great thing about it is that you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry and fridge already. Additionally, you will not need any measuring utensils to make this perfect dish.

Jessalyn’s Most Perfect Baked Mac ‘N Cheese

Ingredients:

• One box Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese (whichever flavor you prefer)
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Milk
• Sour Cream
• 5 strips of cooked Bacon
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper
• Ritz Crackers
• Butter

Directions:

1. Make Macaroni and Cheese according to box directions. (Do not overcook noodles. Keep in mind that they will cook longer in the oven as well, so a little-too-hard noodles are better than a little-too-soft noodles.)
2. Mix in two big handfuls of cheddar cheese.
3. Add a splash of milk.
4. Add two big spoonfuls of sour cream (about 8 oz.).
5. Rip bacon into inch long pieces and add to mixture.
6. Mix in salt and pepper to taste.
7. Pour mixture into a greased, glass baking dish.
8. Sprinkle sparingly with pepper and cayenne pepper.
9. Crush Ritz Crackers over the top of Mac ‘N Cheese until the entire surface is covered.
10. Sprinkle again with cayenne pepper (mostly for looks….if you think this will be too hot you can substitute paprika at this point).
11. Melt a stick of butter.
12. Pour melted butter over Ritz topping.
13. Cover with tin foil.
14. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes or until edges are boiling.
15. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown.
16. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
17. Enjoy!

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