The one food that everyone in our home craves is my homemade macaroni and cheese. There is something extremely comforting about all that cheesy goodness that stretches from spiral to spiral as you dig into your plate and scoop out a mouthful. This year through my partnership with Hickory Farms, my irresistible homemade macaroni and cheese has received a first class upgrade! I can’t even begin to explain to you the difference the Hickory Farms line of cheese products made in my dish. But I can surely show you how to make this delicious macaroni and cheese recipe yourself.
It all started with what happens to be the Hickory Farms #1 seller, the Hickory Farms Summer Sausage and Cheese Gift Box. Having sampled everything that comes with it I can totally see why it’s the #1 gift. Since there is no wrong way to serve up Hickory Farms cheese, I decided to forgo the classic set up of cheese, sausage, mustards and crackers with a side of wine and dig deeper. I am always looking for new ways to recreate my own recipes and by the looks of the three select cheeses in this package, I knew this would be the perfect way to step up my homemade macaroni and cheese recipe.
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Using spiral macaroni allows the cheese to settle into the nooks and crannies of the spiral, adding to the gooeyness of the dish. In case you are wondering, that’s a stock pot and I loaded it with two pounds of macaroni.
You’ll want to use all three cheeses for a flavor combination that is out of this world! There is no skimping out on the Smoked Cheddar Blend, Farmhouse Cheddar and Smoked Gouda Blend.
Using a large mixing bowl, I grated the cheese as finely as possible to get the most out of it. Grating half of each package into the bowl – I may have sampled along the way.
By hand toss together the three cheeses to distribute them evenly throughout.
Take your drained pasta and add half of it directly into the mixing bowl with the cheese. Add about a half a cup of whole milk. Stir, stir, mix, mix, stir. Grate about three quarters of the remainder of each cheese block – depending on how cheesy you want your macaroni and cheese, directly into the bowl, add another half a cup of whole milk, and toss in the rest of your pasta. Stir, mix, stir, mix, until well blended.
Once thoroughly mixed move the macaroni and cheese into your baking dish. I used a disposable casserole tray for depth so that it would all fit in one, but you are welcome to divide it into two portions – which would be perfect for freezing half of what you make for dinner another time. Once in your baking dish, grate the remaining cheese directly on top of your dish.
Before placing your dish in the oven, be sure to loosely tent your dish so that the cheese neither burns nor sticks to the foil. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and cook your macaroni and cheese for about 30 minutes, just so that all the cheese at the bottom and in between melts just so.
If you happen to serve a delicious Hickory Farms GoldenHoney Ham, and happen to have some ham leftover, you can add it to your macaroni and cheese recipe the next day for a combination that is out of this world. Rough chop your ham and either mix it in or add it on top of your dish. It was like a brand new meal was reborn in the kitchen.
What is your go to comfort food for the holidays? This Macaroni and Cheese recipe is definitely mine. Check out what the rest of the #HickoryHolidayTeam is up to by searching that hashtag online!
- 10 oz. Hickory Farms Smoked Cheddar Blend
- 10 oz. Hickory Farms Farmhouse Cheddar
- 6 oz. Hickory Farms Smoked Gouda Blend
- 2 lbs spiral macaroni
- 1 cup whole milk
- salt
- Bring water to a boil in large stock pot.
- Add salt to water, and add macaroni - cook as directed on package
- Grate half of each cheese package into large mixing bowl
- Hand toss together the three cheeses to mix them evenly
- Strain pasta and add half of it directly into the mixing bowl with the cheese
- Add half a cup of whole milk and stir with a soft spatula
- Grate three quarters of the remainder of each cheese blocks directly into the bowl
- Add a half a cup of whole milk and the rest of the pasta, mix until well blended
- Place the macaroni and cheese into a baking dish
- Top with cheese by grating the remaining cheese directly to the dish
- Loosely tent the dish so that the cheese neither burns nor sticks to the foil
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese has melted
- Remove from oven and let it sit for 5 minutes. Serve hot and fresh!
- If you happen to serve a delicious Hickory Farms GoldenHoney Ham as well, be sure to add some to your macaroni and cheese either the day of or even as a leftover dish.
Comments (23)
Thank you very much. We love mac and cheese. Looks delicious.
(Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Recipe | Comfort Food for the Holidays) I am always looking for new recipes to try out for our family. This mac and cheese one sounds like a winner for us. Going to make it real soon.
I love mac & cheese. Gouda is one of my favorites. Occasionally I like diced ham in it. I rarely eat it because it’s so heavy, but made in small batches, it’s great.
I can not wait to try this, I love homemade mac & cheese.
We love mac and cheese at our house. Hickory Farms is also great. I can’t wait to try this great recipe for my family. Thank you so much for sharing
This looks absolutely amazing! And I really love that you utilized a pretty common Holiday gift basket to make this – now maybe I can compete with boyfriend’s Grandma. 😉
This looks very delicious! I love that the recipe is easy and won’t cost a lot to make for the
family, I love all the cheese you are adding in this recipe..
@tisonlyme143
I love this! Thanks for sharing!
Mac and cheese is easy to make and filling. A little goes a long way. I’d like to try hickory farm cheese.
Gouda, Havarti, cheddar, I love cheese. Most types. Not the blue or smelly cheeses. Pasta is like rice. You can pretty much add whatever you like to it and come up with a hearty meal.
Yes, yes, yes!!! I can totally do without the blue and smelly cheeses too.
I’m addicted to Mac & Cheese…. bad me… but oh sooooo good! Love using the SMOKED CHEESES! Never even thought of that! Thanks!
Ohhh this sounds wonderful and delicious! I love Macaroni and Cheese, but I have not used this Cheese before, I will have to try!
Thanks for the Post, Pictures, and the Recipe/How To!
I love smoked cheeses. I’m lucky enough to live in an area where farmers’ markets abound and there’s been a huge upsurge in farmers producing their own cheeses. Very definitely more-ish!
I love this! We really love Mac and Cheese! Thanks for sharing!
This sounds wonderful! I love macaroni and cheese, and my mom used to make it homemade. I must try this!!!
My family loved this recipe. What a great meal. Thank you so much for sharing
This recipe is great. My family loved it. They said it was the best they have ever had. Thank you so much for sharing
This recipe will be perfect for tonight. I can already smell it cooking! Im writing up the list of ingredients now.
Thank you for sharing this! It looks absolutely incredible! I cant wait to try it.
This really looks delicious, and I like how simple it seems to make. Im trying to decide whether to try it today or over the weekend. Either way, thank you for sharing it!
This recipe will be perfect for tomorrow. I really needed a new idea and this has me inspired. Thank you so much for sharing it!
My family would love this one. Thank you for sharing it! Im sure that I will be asked for seconds.