Take your Cast-Iron Mac n Cheese to a whole new level by cooking it on the grill over your campfire.
Cast Iron Mac n Cheese
While we think Mac n Cheese is a North American dish mostly due to a brand name version in a box, the United Kingdom also claims this dish as their own, calling it simply, macaroni cheese. This recipe was born while camping. I had it on the agenda and had packed all the ingredients, knowing it would be on the menu one day while enjoying a weekend away!
I added Old Bay Spice, cheddar cheese and smoked gouda cheese.
Toasted Breadcrumbs
If you don’t enjoy toasted breadcrumbs on mac n cheese, leave them off! We enjoy the light crunch they offer against the creaminess of the sauce.
To save time you can toast your breadcrumbs at home before you leave for camping. Store in a plastic zip up baggie. Grating the cheese and keeping in a plastic bag is also a time and dish saver.
Cast-Iron mac n cheese doesn’t get the broiler treatment to crisp up the top while camping, however toasting the breadcrumbs first offers the crispy bits we crave.
If you aren’t able to get the breadcrumbs toasted in advance, simply toast the bread crumbs in a pan over medium-high heat before sprinkling on top.
Mac n Cheese Leftovers
When we make this recipe for a crowd there are not leftovers. When we make it just for our family there are leftovers and we are a family who loves leftovers!
If making this while camping, you can butter a pie iron, add a good block of cold mac n cheese, even a little extra shredded cheese if there is any, and cook over a fire. It becomes crunchy on the outside and remains soft and gooey on the inside.
PRO TIPS:
Whether you are going to try this recipe at home, or while out camping, here are a few tips you help you on your way!
- Toast breadcrumbs in advance.
- Use whole milk and light warm first.
- Any combination of cheese works, grate in advance.
- Use butter, not margarine.
Other Camping Recipes we love and recommend!
- Baked Beans. Great for a crowd or as a side to meals.
- Campfire Baked Brie. This could be my dinner every night.
- Sausage Tin Foil Dinner. I grew up camping and eat this meal. It’s one of my favourites.
If you made this recipe tag Wanda Baker on Instagram and hashtag it #bakersbeans or #wandabaker
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs toasted
- 450-500 grams box macaroni
- 3 tbsp butter + extra to grease pan
- 3 tbsp flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 tsp old bay spice
- 2 cups medium cheddar shredded
- 1.5 cups smoked Gouda cheese shredded
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Take milk out of the cooler or fridge to let come to room temperature or lightly warm in a microwave.
- Cook pasta 1-2 minutes less than what it says on the box. Strain, put back in pot, add a little butter, mix and set aside to cool.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add flour to the butter and start whisking. Let the flour cook out for at least 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in one cup of milk. Once thickened add in the remaining 2 cups. Keep your heat down as you do not want it to boil.
- Slowly add in handfuls of the cheese, stirring (not whisking) after each addition until all the cheese is mixed in. Stir in a pinch of salt, pepper and old bay seasoning. Turn the heat off.
- Using your fingers take some butter and rub it all over the bottom and insides of the cast-iron pan, or alternately spray with cooking oil.
- Add cooked macaroni to cast-iron pan. Pour in cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Top with bread crumbs and if you have extra, sprinkle on grated Gouda.
- Cover with tin foil and place right on campfire grate or barbecue over low flame or indirect heat.
- Let cook for 20-30 minutes until bubbling. It should form a nice brown (not burnt) crust on the bottom. Everyone fights over these bits!
Using old bay spice in mac n cheese is brilliant!
Now this was a fun recipe to make camping and soooo easy. Thanks for sharing!
Dang this was good. I’ve never added a smoked cheese to my mac n cheese before and this was so yummy!