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Creamy Cozy Thermos Mac and Cheese Recipe Perfect for Easy School Lunch

creamy cozy thermos mac and cheese - featured image
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A simple, rich, and cheesy macaroni recipe designed to stay warm and creamy in a thermos, perfect for school lunches and cozy meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz elbow macaroni
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup small-curd cottage cheese
  • 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard powder (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 7–8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted and bubbling, whisk in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Stir constantly for about 1–2 minutes until it forms a smooth paste and smells nutty but doesn’t brown.
  3. Slowly pour in 2 cups whole milk, whisking constantly to combine. Keep whisking until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5–7 minutes.
  4. Stir in ½ cup small-curd cottage cheese. Use a whisk or hand blender to break up the curds until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  5. Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted. Add ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon mustard powder if using. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  6. Add the drained macaroni back into the saucepan and stir gently to coat every noodle with the creamy cheese sauce.
  7. Preheat your thermos by filling it with boiling water for a few minutes, then empty. Immediately pack the warm mac and cheese into the thermos, sealing it tightly to keep the heat locked in.
  8. Close the thermos and pack it in the lunchbox. The mac and cheese should stay warm and creamy for 4–6 hours.

Notes

Do not overcook pasta; slightly undercooked pasta works best to avoid mushiness in the thermos. Preheat the thermos with boiling water before filling to retain heat longer. Use freshly shredded cheese for best melt and texture. If sauce thickens too much while sitting, stir and add a splash of warm milk at lunchtime.

Nutrition

Keywords: mac and cheese, thermos lunch, school lunch, creamy mac and cheese, easy mac and cheese, cozy meal, kid-friendly lunch

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/creamy-cozy-thermos-mac-and-cheese-recipe-perfect-for-easy-school-lunch/