[su_note note_color=”#FFFFFF”]// This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Skinner® pasta. //[/su_note]
Y'all know that my family loves pasta, right? Like, L O V E S pasta.
We eat it two to three times a week and it's my go to dish for when friends come over or I need to drop a meal off at someone's house.
My Kid's Favorite Mac-n-Cheese featuring Skinner Pasta
To me, pasta means love. Pasta means caring. Pasta means friendship.
Because you know what? Just like friendship, pasta can be fun, it can be uncomplicated, and it makes people smile.
I love making my kid's favorite mac-n-cheese (featuring ) for my littles to share with their friends during play dates.
It's so cute when they realize that they're getting a comfort food favorite and they light up with huge smiles.
They don't know that it makes me smile too, because I'm sharing one of my best recipes using anything shaped like their home state makes my proud little Texans happy!
My Kid's Favorite Mac-n-Cheese
A fun and cheesy version of this comfort food staple featuring cute Texas shaped pasta and roasted tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup flour
- 5 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 6 1/2 cups combination of grated cheeses like sharp cheddar, Gouda, and Parmesan
- 1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
- 1 lb Skinner's Texas Shaped Pasta
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk.
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Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
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Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add palmful of salt to boiling water. Add Skinner's Texas Shaped Pasta; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions. Drain well.
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Add hot milk SLOWLY to flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
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Remove from heat and stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, sliced tomatoes, and the cheeses. Set cheese sauce aside.
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Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce. Then pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Bake 30 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and serve.
Why Skinner?
Why do I prefer to use this dish?
Because it's budget-friendly, the #1 pasta in Texas, tastes great, is easy to cook, and has always turned out just right when I make it.
Did you also know that Skinner's most popular pasta products have earned Non-GMO Project Verification and are enriched?
Plus, you can choose from a wide variety of pasta products: spaghetti, fettuccine, elbows, and penne.
They also have non-traditional options like the Texas shape, dumplings, and fideo mediano.
I think that this makes them ideal for dishes to share and for weeknight meals with the family.
Be sure to visit for a variety of Skinner pasta products and recipe ideas.
Carrie R says
What a fun shape for pasta! 🙂 Love that you added grape tomatoes to your homemade mac & cheese.
Doria Miyata Murphy says
This looks so absolutely delicious! I’m going to have to try your recipe with gf pasta <3
Growing Up Gabel says
That pasta is SO FUN!! And I love the tomatoes in the mac and cheese. What a great addition!
Lani // Life Anchored says
This sounds so yummy and I love the Texas shaped pasta!
Brooke @ Blushing Noir says
My kids would love the shapes! So fun!!!
Jessica Holoka says
I love that Texas shaped pasta exists in the world. And girl, you had me at homemade mac’n’cheese! Where’s my fork???
Lisa Marie Heath says
You are making me crave some mac n cheese!
Ashley says
Ooh, I haven’t made homemade mac n’ cheese for SO long! This needs to change immediately
Eugenia says
MMM!! I need to make this now!!
loveforlacquer says
Pasta FTW! This looks amazing!