Grandma’s Macaroni and Cheese
I found grandma’s macaroni and cheese recipe in her old recipe box. It’s a classic dish that puts a spin on the traditional homemade approach by using vintage convenience ingredients.
My grandma loved to take advantage of all the “new” convenience foods available after World War II and this recipe is a prime example of that fondness. No matter your cooking skill, you can make homemade macaroni and cheese from scratch using this recipe!
Most traditional homemade macaroni and cheese recipes use a flour, milk and butter blend to create the sauce. Melted cheese in that sauce tops the pasta.
My grandma’s macaroni and cheese recipe bypasses that step. She goes straight to the convenience of processed cheese that comes in a box. She even notes that on the handwritten recipe card.
I found grandma’s macaroni and cheese recipe in her old recipe box. It’s a classic dish that puts a spin on the traditional homemade approach by using vintage convenience ingredients.
True to my grandma’s cooking style, this recipe is super simple. There’s three steps in the process, if you don’t count measuring ingredients as one.
She only used three ingredients in this recipe, can’t argue with that simplicity!
Variations:
I added the bacon bits to grandma’s original recipe. It just seemed like the thing to do!
You could add diced ham and some green peas to make this a full meal.
Make It a Meal:
Grandma’s macaroni and cheese acts as a main dish or a side, whichever suits your purposes. Serve it beside: Green bean and red onion salad, roast chicken or pea and peanut salad.
Of course, you can do like we did, and just eat the macaroni and cheese all by it’s happy self. I mean, what can be wrong about the creamy, cheesy goodness of pasta slathered in cheese sauce and topped with bacon?
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Recipe Steps in Photos:
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- Collect Ingredients
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- Measure Macaroni
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- Boil Macaroni
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- Drain Macaroni
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- Measure Milk
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- Measure Cheese
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- Heat Milk and Cheese
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- Melt Cheese into Milk
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- Measure Bacon
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- Top Mac & Cheese with Bacon
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- Serve
The index card with grandma’s macaroni and cheese recipe in her proper, 4th grade teacher handwriting.
I love that she describes the cheese as “that comes in the big rectangular box”. I’m also giggling at her instruction to stir the macaroni in a figure eight motion with a wooden spoon.
Such specific instructions!
Grandma’s Vintage Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients:
Shell macaroni, evaporated milk, cheese, bacon bits
Recipe Directions:
Measure ingredients. Prepare macaroni in boiling water. Drain. Melt cheese into milk. Combine macaroni and cheese. Top with bacon.
Grandma's Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
My grandma's shortcut homemade macaroni and cheese, enough to feed the whole tribe!
Ingredients
- 12 oz Evaporated Milk
- 2 lb Cheese Velveeta / processed
- 7 cup Macaroni Shells
- 6 oz Bacon Bits 2 cups
Instructions
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Measure ingredients.
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In a large pan, boil water and prepare macaroni shells according to package instructions. Stirring pasta in figure eight motion.
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Drain pasta.
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In a medium pan, place the evaporated milk and cubed processed cheese.
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Heat cheese and milk over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
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When cheese is melted into milk, pour over pasta. Stir.
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Top with bacon bits.
Recipe Notes
This recipe makes a huge pan of creamy goodness, enough to feed the whole tribe!
Since grandma’s recipe was intended to be used to feed a crew of hungry farm hands, it makes a huge pan full of macaroni and cheese. I’ve modified the recipe to feed a more modern family, with just six servings.
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
My grandma's recipe, recalculated for a regular family!
Ingredients
- 3 ounce Evaporated Milk
- 1/2 pound Cheese
- 1 3/4 cup Shell Pasta dried
- 1/2 cup Bacon Bits
Instructions
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Measure ingredients.
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In medium pan, boil water and prepare shell pasta following the instructions on the package. Stir the pasta in a figure eight motion to avoid sticking.
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Drain pasta.
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Place milk and cheese in a small saucepan.
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Heat milk and cheese over low heat, make sure to stir frequently to avoid scorching the milk to the bottom of the pan.
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Pour melted cheese over pasta. Stir to combine.
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Top with bacon bits and serve.
Approximate Nutritional Information:
Servings Per Recipe: 6, Amount Per Serving: Calories: 282, Fat: 14g, Cholesterol: 44g, Sodium: 829mg, Carbs: 24g, Protein: 15g
(please remember these are approximate and will vary slightly based on your ingredient selections.)
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