Cheez it Mac and Cheese

Cheez It Mac and Cheese is the most amazingly creamy pasta dish topped with your favorite cracker snack! This homemade mac and cheese will soon become a favorite.

This Cheez-it Mac & Cheese perfectly combines creamy, seasoned cheese sauce with the crunchy cheddar snack crackers we all love.

Begin by cooking the noodles of your choice to al dente. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet. When the butter is melted, add the seasoned flour.

Stir for about a minute until you no longer see the flour. At that point, increase the heat to medium and slowly add the milk, while stirring. Once all of the milk has been added, continue to stir until it is fully smooth then add the cheddar.

Lower the heat to low and stir until the sauce is smooth and even.

At this point, remove from heat and stir in the cooked noodles. Also add in 1 cup of the crushed Cheez-its. Transfer the whole mixture into a greased 9×13 pan. Top with the remaining 2 cups of Cheez-its. Bake for 30 minutes and then serve immediately.

Ingredients for Cheez It Mac and Cheese

• Pasta– I used shells for this dish; however, any pasta of your choice will work just fine
• Butter– I always like to use olive oil or plant based butter, but whatever you prefer will work fine in this recipe.
• Seasoned Flour– I used this one, it adds more flavor to the pasta bake than regular all purpose flour.
• Milk
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese– you will need shredded cheese for this recipe. Freshly shredded will melt the best, but pre-shredded cheese will be fine if that is what you happen to have on hand.
• Hot Sauce-I love some Texas Pete, and that is what I used in this recipe. Any hot sauce that happens to be your favorite will do. But do note, even if you are not a spicy/heat lover, the hot sauce really helps to accentuate the flavors of the cheese in this dish so do not skip it. It will not make the dish “hot or spicy” at all, but just help enhance the flavors. If you do like it hot, add a little more!
• Cheez Its– This recipe calls for traditional Cheez Its; however, you can really use whatever Cheez It variety happens to be your favorite, or that you happen to have on hand. Extra Toasted, White Cheddar or Hot & Spicy would all be amazing in this recipe as well.

What to Serve with Cheez It Mac and Cheese

• These easy Cranberry Glazed Meatballs, made as sliders or served as a side dish would be a nice protein based side for this pasta dish.
• Italian Roast Vegetables

Cheez It Mac & Cheese

Anne

Creamy, cheesy mac & cheese topped with crispy cheez it crackers

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Equipment

• oven

Ingredients

  

• 1 16 ounce box pasta
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup seasoned flour
• 2 cups milk
• 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 3 cups Cheez it Crackers, crushed, divided

Instructions

 

• Cook the pasta as directed and drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the seasoned flour and whisk until fully combined, 1-2 minutes.
• Slowly add the milk. Increase the heat to medium and stir until smooth. Cook for several minutes until thick and bubbly.
• Lower the heat to low. Add the cheese and hot sauce and stir until smooth.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the noodles and 1 cup of the crushed Cheez Its. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13 pan.
• Top with the remaining crushed Cheez Its.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 30 minutes.

Notes

We made this recipe with “original” Cheez Its; however, white cheddar, hot and spicy, extra toasted, or whatever your favor flavor is will work just as well.

Keyword cheez it, cheez it mac and cheese, mac and cheese