If you’ve never eaten mac and cheese between two slices of bread you haven’t quite lived. This grilled cheese is loaded with the most delicious mac and cheese imaginable!
For real, is there anything more horrendously beautiful?! 😂 To be fair I’m ‘that guy’ that usually has garlic bread, or some sort of bread to scoop up my mac and cheese, so this 100% makes sense to me. For those of you screaming ‘MAKE IT MAKE SENSE’ just follow me…
Best Mac and Cheese
The mac and cheese itself is indeed the star of the show, so it’s important to present it in its best form. Sure, you could use store bought mac and cheese, but today we’re making it from scratch. Mainly because it’s too easy and delicious not to.
To spruce up a regular mac and cheese I like to add 2 game changing ingredients:
- Bacon – Crispy bits of bacon running through a mac and cheese, need I really justify this?
- Hot Sauce – Adds a gentle kick of heat and works beautifully with the cheese!
How to make quick make and cheese
Because this is a small portion and you’re not baking it or anything, it’s a pretty quick process. You essentially want to make a roux (flour and butter) and slowly whisk in milk. Once this has thickened just stir through seasoning and cheese. Simples!
What cheese to use?
I usually go for a 50/50 combo of cheddar and mozzarella. The mozzarella really helps keep everything in tact so it doesn’t spill out in the sandwich. It also adds that glorious cheese pull we all came here for. You can in reality use any cheese you fancy though!
Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese
Alright, here’s where things get fun. Once you’ve made the mac and cheese place it one side and grab some bread and butter. Butter one side of each slice and whack the mac and cheese in the middle.
Best bread to use?
You want fairly large and thick slices, just so the bread doesn’t collapse into the mac and cheese. I usually go for a nice Sourdough.
I recommend frying the grilled cheese over a medium heat. This will allow the bread to crispy up nicely, whilst heating through the mac and cheese.
Can I make this with leftover mac and cheese?
Yes! This is perfect to make with leftover mac and cheese. I recommend bringing it to room temp first before placing in the sandwich. If it’s straight from the fridge it might not heat right through in the pan.
Crisp/Chip Recommendation: You want a nice sturdy chip like a Dorito to scoop up any mac and cheese that falls out. Cool Original work nicely.
Side Recommendation: Try dunking this in a Tomato Soup or serve with Creamy Coleslaw!
And there we have it! All my tips and tricks for the perfect grilled mac and cheese sandwich. Let’s tuck into the full recipe shall we?!
How to make Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese (Full Recipe & Video)
Mac and Cheese Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- Large Frying Pan & Wooden Spoon
- Whisk
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
- Medium Pot & Colander (for pasta)
- Cheese Grater
Ingredients
- 6 large slices of Sourdough Bread, (or bread of choice)
- 3.5oz / 100g Dried Macaroni
- 1 cup / 100g Cheese (see notes)
- 1 cup / 250ml Milk, at room temp
- 4-6 single rashers of Streaky Bacon, diced
- 1 tbsp Butter, plus more to spread
- 1 tbsp Flour
- 1 tsp Hot Sauce, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pop your macaroni is salted boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain when needed.
- In a large pan begin frying your bacon over medium heat. Once crispy, melt in 1 tbsp butter (remove excess bacon fat if necessary, a tsp or so will add flavour, any more starts turning the sauce greasy). Stir in 1 tbsp flour to form a paste then gradually start pouring in 1cup/250ml milk, whisking as you go to ensure no lumps form.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add in hot sauce, garlic powder and salt & pepper (all to taste). Turn heat to very low and stir in your pasta.
- At this point either pour pasta into a side bowl and wipe out pan ready for the grilled cheese, or leave in pan and use a second pan.
- Spread one side of each or your slices of bread and face butter-side-down on a chopping board. Spoon in mac and cheese, top with bread then spread again with butter.
- Transfer sandwiches to frying pan and fry each side over medium heat until golden crispy and gooey in the middle.
Quick Demo
Notes
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition:
For another carb loaded sandwich check out my Spaghetti Grilled Cheese!
For more similar recipes check out these beauties:
- Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese
- Pizza Grilled Cheese
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
- Chili Cheese Dog Grilled Cheese
Wow! What a lot of yummy, cheesy goodness this is!!
Thanks Vicky!
This makes PERFECT sense to me! To adapt a Friends quote, “Mac and cheese? Good. Grilled cheese? Good. Mac and cheese grilled cheese?!? GOOOOOOOOOD!” 😀
hahaha I love that!!
Omg! A sandwich does not get more decadent than mac & cheese grilled cheese! This is so fun, especially during these weird times when we need ALL the comfort food. Thanks for sharing!
It’s definitely weird and wonderful! 🤣
Woah – super decadent and delicious!
Absolutely! 🙂
Now that is what I call an epic grilled cheese. Such a great idea to add mac and cheese to it.
Thanks Dannii 🙂