I have a good excuse for this one. The Southern Daughter and her merry band of friends have just left to go back to college, taking all their noisiness and messiness with them and the house is quiet. TOO quiet. They are a super-charged ray of sunshine when they are here, and when they first burst through the door I am so incredibly delighted to see them I will say yes to just about anything they ask me for. And this time? They asked if I would be able to figure out how to make them grilled macaroni and cheese sandwiches.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Macaroni and cheese meets the grilled cheese sandwich in this naughty combo of two favorite treats!” quote=”Macaroni and cheese meets the grilled cheese sandwich in this naughty combo of two favorite treats!”]And since I was helplessly caught in the tractor beam of my sheer happiness to see them, I said “Of COURSE I can!,” and the next thing I knew I was actually making grilled macaroni and cheese sandwiches. And while a pack of ravenous college kids who have been living on cafeteria food for weeks might not be the most discriminating of critics, they seemed pretty deliriously happy while they were munching away. They were actually quiet for about 90 seconds or so.
Please excuse the blurry Iphone photo…when I see them all together in my kitchen I get weak in the knees and lose all my photographic skills.
Meanwhile, back at the sandwich, when they first suggested this particular dish I thought that a voracious college student would be the only candidate for eating this. But then I started making it…two slices of soft Pullman bread with a creamy stovetop version of mac and cheese ladled into the center, and then grilled until the bread was golden and crunchy. The Southern husband sidled into the kitchen wanting to know if I was making any extra. And I started thinking to myself that this sandwich might not be half-bad.
It wasn’t half-bad. It was actually pretty dang delicious. As is always the case whenever I make macaroni and cheese anything, so not sure why I was ever doubtful in the first place. So there you have it…my tuition dollars at work! Now I have to dream up something delicious enough to entice them to come home on spring break…
Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwiches
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 sandwiches
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For Macaroni and Cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup flour
- Salt
- 4 cups whole milk
- 3/4 pound macaroni (elbows, small shells, etc)
- 4 cups shredded cheddar
For Sandwiches
- 8 slices soft bread
- Soft butter
Instructions
Macaroni and Cheese (if you use your own, make sure it is a creamy version – the baked kind doesn’t work as well for these sandwiches)
- Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until flour is slightly brown, about 3-5 minutes
- Pour in milk, whisking constantly until mixture is smooth. Stir until boiling and then reduce heat to low. Simmer until mixture thickens a little, about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta until al dente, drain and return to pot. Remove sauce from heat, whisk in cheese and stir until cheese is melted. Add pasta and stir to coat. This will make a little more mac and cheese than you need for the sandwiches, but there’s nothing better than leftover m&c!
Sandwiches
- Heat an electric griddle to medium high, or place a large skillet over medium high heat on the stovetop.
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with butter. Place four slices butter-side down and top with a generous amount of mac and cheese (about 1/2 to 3/4 cups). Top with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
- Carefully place on griddle or skillet and cook until first side is golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Flip carefully and cook until second side is golden.
- Remove, cut in half if you like (this works best with a serrated knife) and serve immediately.
Jessica Alba says
I made a Grilled Macaroni and Cheese sandwich after shooting one of the Fantastic Four scenes , and I gotta say guys it was delicious!! Especially when my husband Cash added extra cheese. Yummy!! #It’sAlwaysGoodToHaveCelebritiesShareTheir411
nicole says
Oh yum! I had this at a tiny bistro with super creamy tomato soup to dip in, it was amazing!
Tomato soup to dip it in is GENIUS!
Katie says
I make a sandwich similar to this for my boyfriend. He requests it on super special occasions. In my version, I include pulled pork and use mayo on the bread instead of butter. It’s SO good. I highly suggest it!
Kate says
Wow – that does sound A-MAZING! Will have to try it. :)
ruthie says
How about a Spaghetti Bolognese (ooh, or Fettuccine Alfredo) panini on French bread with garlic butter??? ;)
Unfortunately, when I make mac and cheese, there’s never enough left to do this. We like our mac and cheese pretty much smooth and almost too creamy. One of the few cheesy things like that we eat, so no guilt. ;)
Thanks to SD & Co. for the concept.
Joanne says
Hmmm maybe I’ll make myself this to congratulate myself after my qualifying exam tomorrow (to admit me as a candidate for getting a PhD…officially). Sounds pretty much like heaven.
Reeni says
I’m totally jealous! They look so deliriously happy! I would be too indulging in such wonderful comfort food. Those rock.
Candice@NotesFromABroad says
With a daughter in school, my cooking requests were more dietetic .. she and her friends were always talking about calories. This would have sent them into hysterics lol
Now my son … he would have gobbled down at least two and asked for more. So would his friends. They were already fans of my pasta, this would have sealed their love for my cooking for life !
Now they all do their own cooking .. how sad is that ? :(
Kate says
I bet if you make them mac and cheese sandwiches they will stop doing their own cooking, at least for the day! :)
judithq says
Ahhh ! I remember when my son came home from College with his friends…so i can identify with the ‘weak in the knees’ 9 he is now 46 – the time goes f.a.s.t. s savour all these moments…girls are darling !
Kate says
I know, I can’t believe how time flies…wasn’t she just in kindergarten?? :)
Debby says
Sounds yummy… where’s the bacon? :) I’m a carnivore… needs bacon or ham chunks. When I was a kid growing up all my friends used to come over to see what my Mom was cooking, sometimes they would be “home” before me. You are soooo that kinda Mom. Kinda makes you a rockstar! Happy Sunday!
Kate says
Ha! I’m getting that same bacon question on my Facebook page…guess I will just have to make them again! Happy Sunday to you too. :)
Karen Nelson says
Looks pretty tasty Kate! Comfort food.
So.. you should ask the Southern Daughter and friends
what they would like next.. see what they come up with.. could be interesting!
Cute little ladies … ps.. I love iPhone photos!! Happy Sunday and Hugs from CA!
Kate says
Oh, I won’t even have to ask – they are full of ideas! Happy Sunday back to you. :)