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Delicious Copycat Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese served in a bowl.

Cracker Barrel Macaroni and Cheese

A creamy, comforting homemade version of Cracker Barrel’s famous macaroni and cheese that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Dairy
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
  • 2 cups whole milk Warm slightly for better blending
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly shredded Shred your own for better melting
Seasonings and Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt Plus additional for pasta water
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten Helps set the macaroni
Other Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons butter For mixing and greasing the dish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the macaroni in salted boiling water until just barely tender, then drain.
Mixing
  1. In a large bowl, mix the hot macaroni with the butter until melted.
  2. Add salt, pepper, milk, and shredded cheddar to the macaroni and stir until the cheese starts to melt.
  3. Slowly pour a little of the warm macaroni mixture into the beaten eggs while stirring to temper the eggs.
  4. Pour the egg mixture back into the bowl and stir well.
Baking
  1. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until set and lightly golden on top.
  2. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving to thicken.

Notes

For extra creaminess, replace half a cup of milk with half and half. You can also add 2 tablespoons of sour cream for tang, sprinkle buttered breadcrumbs on top for a crust, or mix in chopped cooked chicken or ham to make it a complete meal.