Let me first start out by saying, this recipe is NOT a Fit Foodie recipe. It's definitely an indulgent meal that is by no means healthy. However, it is delicious and every now and then it’s okay to indulge in foods like this! This was one of my Thanksgiving sides, but you could make this for any holiday or special occasion where you need to bring a side. My family devoured this side dish laterally within minutes, there was not even a noodle left. I think that means it was a hit! So, here you go. Warning, you will be asked to bring this to every event if you make it! 

Baked Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 16 oz corkscrew pasta (cellantani)
• 12 oz top the tator dip (or sour cream)
• 1 stick of butter melted with pasta
• reserve 1 cup of the pasta water
• salt (to taste)
• 8 oz gouda cheese (block)
• 8 oz cheddar cheese (block)
• 8 oz gruyere cheese (block)
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 3 tablespoons butter melted
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2-3 cups whole milk
• 1 pint heavy cream
• salad supreme seasoning (about a tablespoon or more to taste, garlic powder, pepper, onion powder, cayenne, paprika, lemon pepper)
• 1.5 cups crushed Cheez-its

DIRECTIONS: Boil your pasta in water, and make sure to salt it. Once the pasta is done, strain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and set aside. 

While the pasta is cooking, shred/grate your cheeses! Do NOT buy store bought cheeses for this recipe (except the mozzarella) Get Ready for an arm workout and shred it up! O

Mix the cooked pasta with 1 stick of butter and 12 oz Top the Tator Dip, or sour cream. 

In a saucepan, melt 3 T butter and add 3 T flour to make a roux. Cook out the flour until golden brown. Slowly stir in your milk and heavy cream. Stir until evenly mixed. Next add all of your seasonings. The key to this recipe is the salad supreme seasoning. The rest of the seasonings can be to your own liking. Add in about half of the cheese and stir until it is all fully melted. 

Pour your cheese sauce over your pasta and stir until fully coated. In an oven safe pan, layer 1/2 of the cheesy pasta. Then add the mozzarella cheese. Top with more cheesy pasta. Top that with the grated cheese blend. Bake in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted. Broil for 2 minutes to get the cheese crispy. Crush your Cheez-its and top over the Macaroni. Do this AFTER you have baked and broiled it, or else the Cheez-its will just burn, and we don't want that. 

Serve and enjoy! 10/10 highly recommend this recipe!