Where to find powdered cheese to recreate boxed macaroni and cheese

Do you consider macaroni and cheese a side dish, or is it a meal?

The American staple has many iterations, but for many of us, there’s one that takes us back in time — and it involves powdered cheese. The smell alone evokes childhood memories of comfort food eaten in warm kitchens.

While boxed mac and cheese can’t compare to homemade macaroni and cheese, it can hit the spot when you’re looking for a quick, easy and cheesy fix. If you’re missing that taste of the past, you can recreate it at home, powdered cheese packet and all.

Watch this video to see how you can recreate store-bought boxed macaroni and cheese. 

Powdered cheese

Powdered cheese might sound like a scary, chemical-packed concoction — but for many brands, it’s actual cheese in a dehydrated form. It’s not commonly seen in stores, so the easiest way to buy it is by shopping online. This is the one I use.

It’s not just for macaroni and cheese, either. Cheese powder can be enjoyed:

• Sprinkled on popcorn. 
• On a baked potato.
• In cheese sauces. 
• In soups. 
• Sprinkled on steamed vegetables. 
• For homemade Doritos. 

Powdered cheese is also shelf-stable and has a much longer shelf life than cheeses stored in your fridge.

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Homemade boxed mac and cheese

To make a no-drain, macaroni and cheese, you’ll need:

• 1 box of elbow macaroni. 
• 4 tbsp. butter. 
• 1 cup milk. 
• Seasonings of your choice, such as paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper.
• 1 cups of powdered cheese.

Combine a pound of macaroni with about four cups of water and bring it to a boil. You want the water to just cover all of the pasta, so consider using a wider pot rather than a taller one.

Once boiling, follow the cook time directions on the box and stir the pasta as it cooks.

There will be a little liquid in the pot when the timer is done, but that’s what you want. The starchy water will help bring the sauce together.

Pour in the milk and butter and stir until the butter is melted. Stir in the seasoning, then pour in the cheese, turn down the heat, and stir until well combined.

Enjoy it as is, or pair it with some protein and vegetables and dig in.