Kraft Dinner is an upgrade on a classic that can be prepared quickly and enjoyed immediately. It’s made with Kraft Blue Box Macaroni and Cheese along with a few extra ingredients like garlic and onion powder, evaporated milk, and a pinch of chili powder with extra melted cheese melted to make it even creamier for all to enjoy.
Grandma’s Kraft Dinner is a childhood favorite that is easy to make and easy to enjoy. Made with box macaroni and cheese with a few extra special ingredients.
Ingredients
- 2 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese *the original blue box one, don’t buy any of the funny noodle ones
- 1/2 cup of Evaporated Milk
- 2 tablespoons of Heavy Whipping Cream
- 8 tablespoons of Butter
- 2 Cheese Sauce Packets from the boxes
- 1 teaspoon of Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of White Pepper
- Pinch of Chili Powder
- 1 to 2 cups of grated American Cheese (purchase a chunk from the deli, then grate, I prefer Land O’ Lakes American Cheese)
- 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers (about 12 crackers) + one tablespoon of Butter *this is optional and can be omitted
- Black Pepper for serving
Instructions
- Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil, then boil the Kraft noodles according to the package directions. When they are done cooking, do not rinse, but drain and add back to the still hot pot.
- While the noodles boil, add the 8 tablespoons of butter and the evaporated milk to a saucepan and warm this on the stove on very low heat. Add the onion and garlic powders, white pepper, and a pinch of chili powder. Stir while the butter melts.
- Add in the two packets of cheese sauce mix from the box to the saucepan and whisk until dissolved.
- Add in the heavy cream to the saucepan and stir.
- When the noodles are drained and added back to the pot, add the cheese sauce mixture from the saucepan and combine well.
- Grate the American cheese and mix almost all of it into the mac and cheese while reserving a little for the top.
- Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and toss the crackers with the butter.
- Place the mac and cheese into a pie plate or other small baking dish, top with the remaining cheese, and sprinkle the cracker crumbs across the top. If you want to get fancy, add a sprinkle of dried parsley. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375 degrees until the crackers are golden brown.
- Serve immediately with a sprinkle of black pepper.