My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese

My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with creamy, velvety cheese that takes you right back to those cozy, nostalgic nights. It’s irresistibly rich and perfect for satisfying your cravings for a classic, delicious blast from the past. Gluten-free Option.

As a true mac n’ cheese lover, I’m excited to share My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese it's about to become your new go-to. It’s got all the creamy, cheesy goodness you crave, but without the artificial powder + overcooked noodles. Instead, you get perfectly cooked pasta enveloped in a smooth, velvety cheese sauce, with a few spices thrown in to elevate the flavor.

I've tried nearly every mac and cheese variation out there, and sometimes you just crave a classic, ultra-cheesy version with simple ingredients that's perfect for both kids + adults. Plus it's ready in only 25 minutes and perfect as a weeknight dinner or as a side dish!

This Velveeta Mac and Cheese hits all the right notes—it’s just like the comforting, creamy version you remember, and it’s versatile enough to be made gluten-free or jazzed up! If you are looking for more cheesy inspo try my Baked White Mac + Cheese with Bacon, Velveeta Copycat Broccoli Mac, Smoked Baked Mac + Cheese, and of course this decadent Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese next!

What is Velveeta Cheese?

Basically, Velveeta cheese is an American cheese product made by the Kraft Foods company and it consists of a blend of cheese and dairy products. In addition, it contains emulsifying salt which causes the cheddar to hold together and retain it's smoothness when melted and also helps with the product's shelf life.

Why Should You Make My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese?

• It’s absolutely delicious with an ultra-creamy texture! The Velveeta ensures a smooth, velvety cheese sauce.
• The perfect side or main meal
• Easy weeknight meal--Simple preparation + minimal ingredients
• A crowd-pleasing combination that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
• Family-friendly (Well, everyone in my family seems to love it, Haha.)

How To Make My Childhood Velveeta Mac + Cheese

Alright, here's how it goes ---- Boil a pot of salted water + cook your pasta according to the package directions. Drain and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking, then set aside.

Melt some butter in a big pot over medium-high heat. Add in salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and smoked paprika, and give it a stir. Slowly pour in milk and half-and-half, stirring for a couple of minutes. Turn the heat down to medium-low, mix in cubed Velveeta and cheddar cheese, and stir until it's all melty + smooth. Toss in your cooked pasta, mix everything together, and serve up that cheesy goodness!

Velveeta Mac + Cheese Ingredients

MAC + CHEESE:

• Shortcut pasta. I like to use medium shells, elbow pasta, or Lumache pasta.
• Unsalted butter. Adds richness and flavor to the cheese sauce.
• Almond milk. Unsweetened (You can also sub with whole milk; just omit the half and half and sub with the whole milk also)
• Half and half. This adds a nice thick rich creaminess.
• Spices + seasonings. Sea salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper + onion powder.
• Velveeta cheese. Cubed (You can find this at your local grocer or via my Amazon Shop)
• Cheddar cheese. Freshly grated or shredded is best.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS DISH!

Here, I've curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with My Childhood Velveeta Mac + Cheese recipe. Everything from my fave cast iron pans, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Choosing Your Perfect Pasta

You can use any type of pasta that you like in this Velveeta Mac + Cheese recipe. That is what makes this recipe so adaptable!

I love using classic macaroni because it does a beautiful job of embracing and holding onto the cheesy sauce. But any of these pasta varieties would work for this dish -

• Shells
• Penne
• Spirals
• Pappardelle
• Tagliatelle
• Fettuccine
• Ravioli or gnocchi would also go wonderfully with this sauce combo!

I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that longer varieties of pasta are fully manageable and fully coated. You can also use gluten-free pasta, whole-wheat pasta, or even zoodles for a low-carb option!

What Can I Add to This Velveeta Mac and Cheese?

Sometimes like to add some extra texture to creamy dishes like this Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe. While the ingredients in this creamy dish are perfect as is, I wanted to share a few more ideas of ingredients that you can add in case you make this recipe more than once and want to switch things up!

Other ingredient ideas include:

• Kale or spinach
• Candied bacon
• Broccolini or broccoli
• Crispy sage leaves
• Mushrooms
• Herb roasted tomatoes
• Roasted chickpeas
• Beans (White beans, etc.)
• Top with homemade croutons for a nice crunch
• Seafood (like shrimp, salmon, lobster, etc.)
• Sausage or beef
• Shredded chicken or baked chicken
• Panko breadcrumbs

What To Eat + Serve Velveeta Mac and Cheese With?

When it comes to most pasta dishes (including this Velveeta Mac and Cheese dish), I often enjoy them with a side of bread of some sort. Most times, I make my own homemade Garlic Bread, however, you can choose to spruce things up with many other options such as:

• A delicious salad-- Try Quinoa Salad or Best Buffalo Chickpea Kale Salad
• A steak, prk or lamb dinner.
• Greens like asparagus or brussels sprouts
• Alongside a classic tomato soup
• Grilled veggies
• Crispy chicken
• Texas Toast Garlic Bread
• Serve as part of a table spread!

Here's the thing. This Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe is so luxurious and flavorful that you can honestly enjoy it all by itself. Seriously, the cheesy creamy sauce with the classic macaroni elbows is everything! So, feel free to dig in and savor every single bite. It's a dish that stands tall on its own!

Is Velveeta Mac + Cheese Real Cheese?

Velveeta isn’t exactly what you'd call “real cheese” in the traditional sense. It's a processed cheese product made from a mix of cheeses, milk, and some extra ingredients to give it that super creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It's perfect for mac and cheese because it melts so smoothly.

My Childhood Velveeta Mac + Cheese Q + A's

More Of My Favorite Mac + Cheese Recipes

If you are a fan of this My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe then you will also love these cheesy recipes for the entire family:

• Ultimate Vegan Mac + Cheese
• Easy KFC Mac + Cheese Bowl
• The BEST Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
• Stovetop Southern Mac and Cheese
• Easy Vegan Pumpkin Mac + Cheese
• Baked Vegan Buffalo Mac + Cheese

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese

August 20, 2024 •

By Shanika

No ratings yet

My Childhood Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with creamy, velvety cheese that takes you right back to those cozy, nostalgic nights. It’s irresistibly rich and perfect for satisfying your cravings for a classic, delicious blast from the past. Gluten-free Option.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 25 minutes mins

Serves: 6 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

MAC + CHEESE:

• 8 ounces shortcut pasta (I like to use medium shells, elbow pasta, or Lumache pasta)
• 2 Tbsps unsalted butter
• ½ cup Almond milk, unsweetened (You can also sub with whole milk; just omit the half and half and sub with the whole milk also)
• ¼ cup half and half
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed (You can find this at your local grocer or via my Amazon Shop)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

BOIL THE PASTA:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a pinch of salt and add shells, elbow pasta, or Lumache pasta and cook according to packaging, about 8-10 minutes in most cases. Once cooked, drain, and lightly toss in olive oil (to prevent sticking together), cool and set aside.

MAKE THE MAC + CHEESE:

• In a large dutch pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat, add butter and let it melt. Once melted, add the salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and smoked paprika, stirring to combine.
• Slowly pour in the milk and half + half, stirring frequently, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add in the cubed Velveeta cheese and cheddar cheese, stirring (using a wood spoon or spatula) until fully melted and smooth, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add in the cooled pasta and stir together until well coated, combined, and creamy!
• Serve immediately with your favorite side and main dishes.
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheated when ready to serve. To re-heat, add each serving to the oven, microwave, or stovetop until warmed through. 
• VELVEETA BROCCOLI MAC + CHEESE: To make another Velveeta classic, check out my Copycat Broccoli Mac + Cheese recipe!

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 351mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 424IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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