Everyone deserves a lazy day to stay home and do nothing… and this Lazy Day Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is the perfect thing for a day of binge-watching and naps.
It’s the easiest comfort food ever. Dump uncooked noodles into a baking dish with cheddar cheese soup, shredded cheddar, and some milk. Then bake it for an hour. If you’re feeling extra, crush some potato chips, sprinkle them on top, and bake another ten minutes.
That’s it. Genuine, homemade macaroni and cheese. And you barely had to do anything!
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What’s Different About This Mac and Cheese Recipe?
We all know it’s easy to open a box and make the old standard macaroni and cheese. But sometimes you want all the creaminess of homemade mac and cheese, but just don’t have the desire to cook.
This recipe is my go-to when I’m feeling lazy but want something that has all the comfort food feels. It’s a dump recipe–you dump in the ingredients, mix them up, and bake it for about an hour. That’s it!
So yeah, you have to wait an hour for it to bake, but trust me… it’s SO worth it!
Can I Make This Ahead?
Yes!
I love this mac and cheese recipe on lazy days, but I also like making it for potlucks and other events. You can mix it up, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator up to 24 hours ahead. The next day, bake as usual.
Can the Recipe Be Doubled or Tripled?
If the recipe is doubled, it comes out delicious. Use a 9″ x 13″ pan to accommodate the extra ingredients. You may need to increase the baking time slightly if the mac and cheese is in a smaller pan.
Tripling the recipe doesn’t seem to work as well. An alternative is to make 2 batches, each in a separate pan. This ensures that your mac and cheese cooks evenly and correctly while still providing enough for a crowd, or for a smaller group with bigger appetites.
How Can I Vary This Recipe?
- For a spicier version, substitute Campbell’s Nacho Cheese Soup for cheddar cheese soup and add in 1/4 cup chopped jalepeno peppers
- Create Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese by mixing a cup of shredded chicken into the mac and cheese mixture before baking, then top with drizzles of buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. Crumble some blue cheese on top for full flavor
- Smoked cheddar mac and cheese is delicious with 1/4 – 1/2 pound of crumbled crispy bacon and a tablespoon of Liquid Smoke added into the mac and cheese mixture before baking. Crumble more bacon on top for added gusto.
- Try mixing in different ingredients to make a one-dish meal: chopped broccoli, peas, pimentos, cubed ham or chicken, or leftover steak.
- You can also crush crackers, corn flakes, tortilla chips, cheese puffs, or pretzels to top off your mac and cheese. Or forgo the toppings entirely and enjoy it as-is!
Print
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
Whisk together macaroni, soup, cheddar cheese, milk, and salt. Pour into a greased 9 x 9 inch baking dish.
- Cover and bake in preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour.
- Remove foil and sprinkle crushed chips over mac and cheese.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Looking for More Comfort Food?
- Instead of opening a can, try making Sloppy Joe Sandwiches from scratch
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast makes a delicious Sunday dinner
- A basket of Baking Powder Biscuits makes any meal better
- Don’t have the time for oven baking? Try our stovetop Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
Lazy Day Mac and Cheese
Difficulty: Easy6
servings5
minutes1
hour10
minutes1
hour15
minutesLazy Day Baked Mac and Cheese recipe is the perfect comfort food for a day of binge-watching and naps.
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
1- 10.75 oz. can cheddar cheese soup
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 3/4 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup crushed potato chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Whisk together macaroni, soup, cheddar cheese, milk, and salt. Pour into a greased 9″ x 9″ baking dish.
- Cover and bake in preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour.
- Remove foil and sprinkle crushed chips over mac and cheese.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.
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