I'm having a party, and for the "kids menu" I want to have a batch of mac & cheese, however I don't want to be making it during the party. Has anyone ever pre-made "traditional boxed mac & cheese"...say 3 hours before they intend to serve it? I'd like to make it at say 2pm and serve it at 5pm. Could I do this in a crock-pot or a casserole dish?
I have recipes for "from scratch" mac & cheese, but with a host of kids here, I'd rather just do the traditional boxed m&c which I think everyone would eat without a fuss (my DD included!).
I'm concerned that making it ahead of time will cause it to get dried out or icky?
I would avoid reheating in the casserole or crock pot, as it will dry out. You can reheat the boxed mac and cheese by adding about 1/4 cup milk and some shredded cheddar. Not too much cheddar, maybe a half a cup. Reheat 3-4 minutes at 80%. Test and see if it is hot or warm enough. Heat more if necessary. Have fun!
My grandchildren prefer boxed mac and cheese. Often there is some left over which they heat in the microwave. It seems a bit dry to me. I think the noodles absorb more of the milk over time. I would add more milk at the beginning so it's will still be moist when you reheat it.
They also like Stouffer's frozen mac and cheese perhaps as much as the boxed kind. Stouffer's has a family sized frozen product that is reasonably priced. I heat it in the microwave but it can be heated in the oven. It's more moist than the boxed kind and holds up well for a couple of hours or when kept overnight in frig. Just reheat it in mirowave or the oven.
Blech. That stuff is barely edible when just prepared.
I would look for recipes to bake or make in the crockpot for sure!
I think Stouffer's makes a family size mac n cheese. You can pop it in the oven and pull it out when you're ready.
There was a crockpot mac & cheese recipe floating around Facebook that a lot of my friends with little kids said was great. I know it involved butter and a brick of cream cheese plus cheddar. You can probably find it on line. I see others on line that include the cheddar cheese soup and eggs, with some reviews that say the eggs didn't hold up well over time.
I'd be surprised if the kids didn't eat it - you could always leave an empty box of the Kraft stuff on the counter and fool them!
I make a "grown up" mac and cheese with white sauce, Fontina and Parmesan cheese with whole wheat pasta, topped with buttered bread crumbs and wheat germ, and do it in a casserole dish - it works out great. I make it ahead and just reheat it, but if I can't bake ahead, I just make the pasta and coat it with some butter so it doesn't stick, pre-grate the cheese, and pre-make the white sauce, refrigerate it all, then quickly assemble it in 2-3 layers just before baking. I think if you use real cheese, it keeps fine - not sure about the processed cheese in the box. I suppose you could experiment ahead of time.
If you do box Mac and cheese, I would do one as an experiment beforehand and see if it can stay ok in a crockpot for 3 hrs. You may want to try adding some American cheese slices to it when the noodles are super hot. My son much prefers it with the added cheese. But I would try it first before the party day.
We don't prefer reheated boxed mac and cheese in our house. I make homemade up to a day in advance and bake it - it's fine every time. I also like the idea of the Stouffer's frozen though, that's probably what I would do in this case.
I would think a crockpot on low would keep
It warm.
Not experienced at that so take it for what it's worth.
FYI, you say everyone will eat it, but my kids don't eat boxed mac and cheese. My oldest says, "where's the cheese mom?"
My mom likes the frozen Trader's Joes Mac and Cheese. I'd do something you can throw in the oven without fear of it drying out.
I would not do anything 'fancy' just stick to the boxed type.
I'm sure the kids would be fine if it is pre-made . You could also boiled the noodles and wait to add the powder cheese and milk/butter when they arrive.
I would avoid casserole (from experience with picky party kids) because it could get to dried out and hard. The crock pot is great.
We make it and save the left overs all the time. I add a tiny bit of milk and heat it in the microwave. You can also make it then cover it with foil and put it in a low temp oven to keep it warm. It might dry out a tiny bit but if you just make it a little bit runny then it won't be yucky.
Yes, making Kraft Mac & Cheese will definitely get dry and disgusting - I had some left over once and heated it up. I only did this once - blah. How about a mac & cheese in the crock pot? Put it on in the morning and it will be waiting for you, hot & fresh, when ready to eat.
I agree with KM. Get a family size frozen one and pull it out when your ready for it. I think almost every single mac n cheese I've made dries out after it sits for some minutes and looses it's creamy taste. Good luck.
I make it in the morning and put it in thermoses for lunch (about 3 hours later). I think you could probably keep it in a crockpot on low.
I would cook the noodles just to al dente and then rinse in cold water, and toss with a teaspoon of canola oil per box. Then refrigerate the noodles until you are ready to make the sauce.
That night, just make the sauce and add the noodles (if they stick at all a tiny amount of water will un stick them).
Good luck!
