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Real Food Mac N Cheese :: Compare to Kraft Mac N Cheese In Convenience & Kid Friendly Taste!

February 15, 2015

Real Food Mac N Cheese :: Compare to Kraft Mac N Cheese In Convenience & Kid Friendly Taste!
She was about 3 when it first started.

She came home from preschool one day and told me that the little boy she was playing kitchen with at school made her “mac n cheese”, and she wanted to know what that was.

That weekend we got out some real cheese, butter, a little raw milk and I showed her how to make it. I had no clue what I was doing, but what I did know was that the blue box of mac n cheese was nothing more than noodles, cheese, butter, and milk…so why couldn’t I replicate that with real ingredients?

Real Food Mac N Cheese :: Compare to Kraft Mac N Cheese In Convenience & Kid Friendly Taste!
It was just as convenient as the box I remember growing up with, and while she would have been totally happy about eating it sans the yellow color, I decided to let her do a few shakes of turmeric to the pot to watch it magically turn yellow, and she was geeked.

As Chloe has gotten older and noticed the blue boxes of mac n cheese at the store (with very targeted character shapes to her age might I add), I have spent some time showing her why I choose to make it the way we do at home – never underestimate what a 5 year old can understand. I wrote out the list of ingredients we use in ours and she can read every single ingredient. She stood speechless in the market isle when I asked her if she could figure out what the ingredients in the blue box were – complete with asking me what yellow 5 was. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand that color from a plant is more desirable to put in your body than petroleum based colors (ie the same petroleum you put in your car).

Real Food Mac N Cheese :: Compare to Kraft Mac N Cheese In Convenience & Kid Friendly Taste!
So grab a pot and boil some water – you’re about 10 minutes away from serving your kiddos mac n cheese. And this kind is the real deal 😉

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Print Recipe
5 from 4 votes

Real Food Mac N Cheese

I promise this tastes close enough to that blue box your kids might be familiar with.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten-free macaroni and cheese, gluten-free macaroni and cheese recipe, homemade gluten-free macaroni and cheese
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Renee - www.raisinggenerationnourished.com

Ingredients

  • 2 cups gluten free noodles THIS is the kind I get from our local market
  • 2 TB butter
  • 1 cup raw cheese shredded
  • ¼ cup raw milk sour cream, or coconut milk
  • Sea salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional ¼ ish tsp turmeric for yellow color

Instructions

  • Boil the noodles until bite tender, drain, and return to the pot.
  • Stir in the rest of the ingredients to the pot of cooked noodles, and combine well so the cheese melts.
  • To reheat leftovers add a splash of water or milk to the pan before heating.

I usually serve small bowls of mac n cheese for lunch with a piece of fruit, and salads on the side (I promise they will love this Ranch dressing – it tastes just like the kind from the store without the junky oils and soy!). If you want to pack leftovers in the school lunch thermos, just reheat the next day with a splash of water!

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21 Comments

  • Reply kaye winn February 16, 2015 at 11:09 am

    if you use the butter with a little flour to make a light rue then add the milk you will get a white sauce, then add the cheese to melt, you will get a much creamier sauce. that’s what we like anyway. you might need to use a little more milk

  • Reply Emily @ Recipes to Nourish February 19, 2015 at 2:08 pm

    I love homemade mac n’ cheese … it’s total comfort food for me 🙂 Yum! Have it pinned.

  • Reply Rachel @ day2dayjoys February 19, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    5 stars
    I am REALLY in the mood for this, especially after being in the house for 4 days straight (“snow day” week here).

  • Reply Krystal February 19, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Isn’t it amazing how well they soak up the information. I always tell my little one as it is. She’s such a show off she goes to school and tells everyone off for eating junk..lol Thanks for sharing I’ll be making this soon!

  • Reply Jessica February 19, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    5 stars
    Jonah has been loving this since his dental work yesterday. Yeah for mac and cheese! 😀

  • Reply linda spiker February 19, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe looks delicious! Love the option to use sour cream!

  • Reply Raine Saunders February 19, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    This looks delicious Renee, I love cheese so much and this is one of the best ways to enjoy it! Such a wonderful, real food way to make this classic favorite (and avoid toxic chemicals, additives, and preservatives). Comfort food indeed! 🙂

  • Reply Megan Stevens February 19, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    This is my favorite post of yours. I love how you start by telling a story. You made me laugh with “and she wanted to know what that was.” That reminds me of my own childhood (and the first time I had chocolate cake at a neighbor’s)… and also what it is like to be a mama and watch our kids experience life. Such a lovely unfolding to the beautiful recipe itself. 🙂

  • Reply Libby February 19, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    My kids would love this! A far cry from KD!

  • Reply Chloe @ How We Flourish February 20, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    This looks AMAZING. Mac and cheese is one of my favorite meals ever.

  • Reply Rachel February 20, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Wow! Haven’t had mac n’ cheese in year, looks delish. 🙂

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  • Reply Sarah December 14, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this and holy smokes is it good! Thank you, Renee!

  • Reply April May 16, 2016 at 9:01 am

    This looks delish. I can’t stand the taste of boxed mac anymore 🙂

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