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The best Cheez-It Macaroni and Cheese recipe that will blow your mind!  It’s perfectly creamy, cheesy and unique because of the crunchy cheez-it topping baked right on top. 

The best Cheez-It Macaroni and Cheese recipe that will blow your mind! It's perfectly creamy, cheesy and unique because of the crunchy cheez-it topping baked right on top.

This Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese is one of my favorite mac and cheese recipes and I saved the best for last here in my childhood food favorites week!  I really hope you all enjoyed all of the recipes this week – I know I have enjoyed eating them!  This one I’m sharing today is a double whammy childhood favorite:  mac & cheese (which I was completely obsessed with as a child and had a friend remind me of said obsession this week)… and Cheez-Its!  I literally ate them like it was my job growing up.  Even when I moved out on my own, I had a consistent stash of them in my pantry.  I like to tell my husband “they’re for something I’m gonna make” when really I have no intention of doing anything but binge-eating them straight out of the box.  So, I combined my love of Cheez-its and Mac ‘n Cheese together in this Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese recipe today.

Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. Creamy mac & cheese dinner topped with cheez-it topping instead of bread crumbs. Great dinner, lunch, or potluck idea.

Several summers ago, I went to this hole-in-the-wall restaurant for lunch with some friends here in Rochester.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw “Cheez-it Mac & Cheese” on the menu!  I think that was the fastest decision I ever made at a restaurant when it came to what I was going to order.  The mac & cheese was awesome (obviously that was not in question), and I thought that was just genius to incorporate my beloved cheese crackers into a macaroni and cheese dish.  That restaurant has since closed down, and I made it my mission to recreate the cheesy goodness at home so I didn’t have to go without it the rest of my life.  Like mac & cheese NEEDS more cheese added to the top….I know, but trust me – this Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese is unbelievably good!

Cheez-it topped Macaroni and Cheese Recipe. Creamy mac & cheese dinner topped with crunchy cheez-it topping instead of bread crumbs. Great dinner, lunch, or potluck idea.

This mac & cheese is not overly creamy and has just the right amount of cheese and milk. It is baked to perfection while the crunch of the Cheez-Its adds a nice crisp topping and was a delicious alternative to using bread crumbs on top.  You will never go back to bread crumbs! 🙂

(Here’s what I posted the last 4 days:  Frosted Animal Sugar CookiesHomemade SpaghettiOsOreo Peanut Butter Swirl White Chocolate Fudge, Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats.)  Have a great weekend!

Creamy Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese recipe topped with cheez-its instead of bread crumbs. Easy dinner, lunch, or potluck meal!

Cheez-it Macaroni and Cheese
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8-10
 
The best Cheez-It Macaroni and Cheese recipe! It's perfectly creamy, cheesy and unique because of the crunchy cheez-it topping baked right on top.
Ingredients
  • 1 16 ounce box shells (or your pasta of choice)
  • ½ cup butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 cups Cheez-It crackers, crushed
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions (you will be baking it later).
  2. Drain pasta and set aside.
  3. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute or until mixture is smooth.
  4. Increase heat to medium; gradually whisk in 2 cups milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
  5. Stir in cheese, stirring until cheese is melted.
  6. Remove pan from heat.
  7. Stir pasta and ground black pepper into cheese mixture; spoon into a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish or a 3-quart casserole dish.
  8. Spread crushed Cheez-It crackers evenly on top.
  9. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Enjoy!

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