Ritzy Ranch Mac ’n’ Cheese

Name: Ritzy Ranch Mac ’n’ Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: Cooking Spray; 2 c. lightly crushed Ritz or other buttery round crackers; 2 tbsp. powdered Ranch dressing mix; 8 tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided; 1 lb. elbow macaroni or other short pasta; Kosher salt; 1 small yellow onion, grated; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 c. all-purpose flour; 4 c. whole milk; 12 oz. sharp yellow Cheddar, grated (about 3 cups); 12 oz. Monterey Jack, grated (about 3 cups)

These super simple pantry upgrades will have folks begging for the recipe.

By Dawn PerryPublished: Jun 20, 2021

1 Rating

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Hector Sanchez

Yields:

8 serving(s)

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr

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Ingredients

Cooking Spray
2 cups lightly crushed Ritz or other buttery round crackers
2 Tbsp. powdered Ranch dressing mix
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1 lb. elbow macaroni or other short pasta
Kosher salt
1 small yellow onion, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
12 oz. sharp yellow Cheddar, grated (about 3 cups)
12 oz. Monterey Jack, grated (about 3 cups)

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch or other 3-quart baking dish. Combine cracker crumbs and Ranch mix in a bowl. Microwave 4 tablespoons butter in a bowl until melted; pour over cracker mixture and toss to coat.
2. Step 2Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes less than package directions for al dente (noodles will continue to cook in oven, so don’t worry if they seem underdone). Drain; reserve pot.
3. Step 3Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in reserved pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until a film starts to form on bottom of pot, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, whisking until smooth after each addition.
4. Step 4Bring sauce to a simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened and smooth, 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually add cheeses, whisking until melted after each addition. Season with salt. Stir in noodles (sauce will thicken in oven). Transfer to prepared pan. Top with cracker mixture.
5. Step 5Bake until cheese is bubbly and crumbs are golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.