Hometown Buffet Macaroni & Cheese (Copycat)

Submitted by The Spice Guru

"My reverse-engineered recipe for Hometown Buffet's "Creamy Macaroni and Cheese", as requested by a "fan". Recipe may be doubled and baked in a 9" x 13" baking dish."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• MACARONI

• 3 quarts boiling water (unsalted)
• 2 cups dry elbow macaroni

• CHEESE SAUCE

• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1⁄3 cups skim milk (or 50% milk with 50% water)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon white pepper
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch garlic powder
• 0.5 (8 ounce) jar Cheez Whiz or (15 ounce) jar Cheez Whiz
• 8 ounces shredded medium cheddar
• 2 tablespoons powdered parmesan cheese

• CHEESE TOPPING

• 1⁄3 cup shredded medium cheddar

directions

1. BOIL 3 quarts salt-free water in a 4-quart pot; ADD 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni; SCRAPE bottom immediately with a wire whisk to avoid sticking; BOIL macaroni for 8-10 minutes.
2. POUR macaroni into colander in sink (remove all pasta from bottom of pot); RINSE macaroni and pot with cold water; ALLOW to drain.
3. RETURN empty pot to a new burner stovetop over medium-low heat; ADD 2 tablespoons margarine and allow to melt, then add 1 1/3 cups skim milk (or 50% milk with 50% water), 1/8 teaspoon white pepper, 1 pinch cayenne pepper, and 1 pinch garlic powder.
4. RAISE heat to medium until heated; ADD the contents of one (8 ounce) jar Cheez-Whiz (or half the contents of one 15-ounce jar), scraping all contents from jar using a flexible spatula; ADD 8 ounces shredded medium cheddar cheese.
5. WHISK mixture often without letting mixture boil, until thickened and glossy in appearance.
6. ADD rinsed drained macaroni; FOLD mixture together until well-blended.
7. POUR mixture into greased 8 x 8 baking dish.
8. BAKE at 300°F for 15 minutes.
9. REMOVE from oven with oven mitts; SPRINKLE top with 1/3 cup shredded medium cheddar cheese; ALLOW to set just long enough for the cheese to melt.
10. SERVE and enjoy.

Reviews

[Outta Here]

A great "in-a-hurry" mac 'n cheese. Very creamy texture and nice flavor. Made for Spring 2013 PAC game.

 

[GingerlyJ]

I liked the creamy texture. The only thing I added was a combo of butter, breadcrumbs and romano cheese over the top