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Easy One-Pot Halloween Mac and Cheese Graveyard

Halloween Mac and Cheese Graveyard - featured image
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A spooky, one-pot mac and cheese recipe featuring a creamy cheddar sauce, green food coloring, and pretzel stick headstones with Ritz cracker ‘dirt’ for a fun Halloween dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
  • 2–3 drops green food coloring (gel preferred)
  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
  • 1 cup pretzel sticks, broken
  • Olive oil for brushing

Instructions

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water. Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente (about 5 minutes). Drain, reserving 1 cup of starchy pasta water, and set pasta aside.
  2. In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until light blonde and nutty.
  3. Slowly pour in milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add garlic powder, Dijon mustard, celery salt, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (3-4 minutes). Add reserved pasta water if too thick.
  4. Reduce heat to low. Gradually add shredded cheddar and mozzarella, stirring gently until melted and smooth. Do not boil.
  5. Add cooked macaroni back into the pot and stir to coat. Add green food coloring and stir until evenly colored.
  6. While pasta simmers, break pretzel sticks into tombstone shapes. Lightly brush one side with olive oil and dip in melted butter or sprinkle with extra cheese. Place on a baking sheet.
  7. Transfer cheesy pasta to a serving dish or cast-iron skillet. Press pretzel headstones into the pasta at an angle. Sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers around the base as ‘dirt’.
  8. Serve immediately while hot and crunchy.

Notes

Shred your own cheese to avoid anti-caking agents that cause graininess. Keep heat low after adding cheese to prevent breaking. Pretzel headstones should be added right before serving to maintain crunch. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 days; reheat with a splash of milk.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween, mac and cheese, one-pot meal, kids dinner, spooky food, comfort food, easy recipe, graveyard theme

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/easy-one-pot-halloween-mac-and-cheese-graveyard/