Better than “Blue Box” Macaroni and Cheese

By Dave | | No Comments | Recipes

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese for your Camping Trip or Entertainment Event

We’re going to show you how to make some awesome, easy macaroni and cheese that can be heated up on the campfire, grill or in the oven of your travel trailer/RV. This is also a good one for large parties. The recipe can be scaled up or down to the size of your family or entertainment event. You won’t see exact measurements. Its so easy, it can be done by feel and taste. Take advantage of the easy preparation at home before you load your camper up for the weekend.

Ingredients for Super Easy Macaroni and Cheese

  • Pasta noodle of your choice
    • We used 2 boxes of Rotelle (note the blue box) for this batch, but have used Penne and Elbows in the past
  • Butter
    • About 2 Tablespoons per box of pasta
    • We tried some fancy garlic butter we picked up at Sam’s Club last week
  • Flour
    • About 2 Tablespoons per box of pasta
  • Milk
    • About 2 cups per box of pasta
  • Salt & Pepper
    • To Taste

Get the Pasta Going

  1. Fill your sauce pan with water
  2. Turn the stove on high
  3. Wait until the water is boiling
  4. Add pasta to boiling water
  5. Cook pasta according to instructions (usually 7-10 minutes)
  6. Drain pasta and set aside
boil pasta for macaroni and cheese
Bring water to a boil for pasta

Make the Cheese Sauce

  1. Get a large stock pot/dutch oven/whatever you have that you’ll be able to mix your pasta in
  2. Set heat on medium-ish
  3. Add butter
  4. Wait for butter to partially melt
  5. Add flour
  6. Wait for flour and butter to combine
  7. Gradually stir in milk (to accelerate process, heat milk in microwave for about 2 minutes)
  8. Wait for mixture to thicken
  9. Gradually stir in cheese (1/2 cup at a time)
  10. Wait for cheese sauce to thicken
melting butter
Butter melting in sauce pan
mix butter and flour
Mixing butter and flour
cheese mixture
Starting the Cheese Mixture
thickening of cheese
Make sure the cheese is thick

Create the Macaroni and Cheese Masterpiece

  1. Add pasta directly to cheese sauce mixture
  2. Stir with large spoon until all pasta is covered in cheese

adding pasta
Add the pasta
mac and cheese
Prepared Mac & Cheese

Prep Macaroni and Cheese for Camping/Event

  1. Pre-Grease appropriate size storage container (we used Pam)
  2. Move macaroni and cheese from pot to storage container
  3. Cover with aluminum foil (or plastic wrap)
  4. Store in refrigerator until ready to server
    • Tip: Letting the macaroni and cheese sit in the fridge for 24-48 hours improves the taste during the reheat, so make this on Wednesday or Thursday for a weekend event for improved results
  5. Clean up your cooking mess
pre-greased pan
Transfer to pre-greased disposable pan
mac and cheese ready for storage
Put it in the fridge
dirty kitchen
Don’t forget to clean up – or forget it and just go fishing

Tip: We separated and simplified the reheat instructions below, so this is all you have to remember/print for the day of your camping trip/event. Print/write down the 5 steps below and you’re good for getting your macaroni and cheese ready to go.

Serve Macaroni and Cheese

  1. Remove macaroni and cheese from fridge (storage location)
  2. Preheat oven to 425
  3. Reheat macaroni and cheese uncovered for about 15-20 minutes until top begins to brown
  4. Check for warmth throughout all layers
  5. Remove from oven, and serve

Checkout more delicious recipes – Click Here