Description
Spooky, cheesy, and utterly delicious Halloween Monster Mac and Cheese! This vibrant dish is perfect for a ghoulish party or a fun family dinner, sure to delight monsters of all ages.
Ingredients
1 lb elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk, warmed
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Green and purple food coloring (optional, for monster effect)
Black olive pieces or edible candy eyes, for decoration
Instructions
1. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
2. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, to form a roux.
3. Gradually whisk in warm milk until smooth; cook, whisking, until thickened, 5–7 minutes.
4. Stir in Dijon, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper.
5. Reduce heat to low; add cheddar and Monterey Jack, stirring until completely melted and smooth.
6. (Optional) Divide the cheese sauce between two bowls; tint one green and the other purple with food coloring.
7. Add cooked macaroni to the sauce(s); stir to coat evenly.
8. Serve hot, garnished with black olive pieces or edible candy eyes for a monster look.
Notes
For an extra ghoulish touch, serve in a carved pumpkin bowl.
Mix up the cheeses—Gruyère or Colby Jack are great alternatives.
Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of milk to loosen.
Always a Halloween crowd-pleaser!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Dinner, Halloween
- Method: Stovetop, Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg