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5 from 1 vote

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Keyword: comfort foods, creamy, easy, family-friendly, kid-friendly, mac + cheese, mac and cheese, side, side dish, stovetop, velveeta
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 128kcal
Author: Shanika

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
US Customary - Metric

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!

Notes

  • 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