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Make Ahead Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love a good mac and cheese?! It’s the ultimate comfort food. But sometimes after a hard day when the craving hits, I don’t have it in me to actually cook. That’s what’s so awesome about this Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese! It’s ready to go whenever you need it.

I suggest making several of these recipes at once. That way, it’s the same amount of work, but you’ll have several in the freezer ready for whenever that mac and cheese craving hits. a baking dish with cheesy baked macaroni and cheese in it and one scoop missing while a blue plate is filled with macaroni and cheese nearby with a fork on the side of the plate. The text reads "Make Ahead Mac and Cheese" #makeahead #freezermeals101 #macandcheese All of my kids love macaroni and cheese which is another reason that I like having some of these in the freezer ready to go.

Around here, we eat mac and cheese as a meal (with loads of hot sauce!), but you can also serve this as a side dish.

Make-Ahead Mac and Cheese Recipe:

  • 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded 
  • 1 1/2 cups macaroni noodles, cooked
  • 5 Tbsp. butter 
  • 3 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper

Assembly instructions:

  1. In a large skillet, melt 3 Tbsp. butter.
  2. Add the flour and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned.
  3. Pour in the milk and whisk.
  4. Add the salt and pepper and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble.
  5. Slowly stir in both types of cheese (saving a little bit of the cheese to sprinkle on top later) and the last 2 Tablespoons of butter, then whisk until smooth and melted.
  6. Add the noodles once the cheeses have melted and mixed well. 
  7. Pour into a foil baking dish or a large resealable freezer bag. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. If using a foil dish, top with two layers of aluminum foil. If using a freezer bag, remove excess air and seal.
  8. Freeze.

collage of steps to putting together mac and cheese freezer meal and baking it

Cooking instructions:

  1. Take tray or bag out of the freezer. Thaw.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°.
  3. Bake in an oven-safe baking dish for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. Serve and enjoy! 

Check out some of our other make-ahead pasta dishes:

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake

close up of chicken and broccoli Alfredo bake with cheese on top Irresistible Chicken Pasta Bakeclose up of chicken pasta bake garnished with herbs

Instant Pot Pizza Casseroleclose up of pizza casserole with with cheese on top

Make Ahead Mac and Cheese Recipe
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese
Servings: 4
Calories: 767 kcal
Ingredients
  • 8 oz. cheddar cheese shredded
  • 8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups macaroni noodles cooked
  • 5 Tbsp. butter
  • 3 Tbsp. flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
Instructions
Assembly instructions:
  1. In a large skillet, melt 3 Tbsp. butter.

  2. Add the flour and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned.

  3. Pour in the milk and whisk.

  4. Add the salt and pepper and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble.

  5. Slowly stir in both types of cheese (saving a little bit of the cheese to sprinkle on top later) and the last 2 Tablespoons of butter, then whisk until smooth and melted.

  6. Add the noodles once the cheeses have melted and mixed well.

  7. Pour into a foil baking dish or a large resealable freezer bag. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. If using a foil dish, top with two layers of aluminum foil. If using a freezer bag, remove excess air and seal.

  8. Freeze.
Cooking instructions:
  1. Take tray or bag out of the freezer. Thaw.

  2. Preheat oven to 350°.

  3. Bake in an oven safe baking dish for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

  4. Serve and enjoy!