Our household is pretty busy right now … both The Saint & I work full-time outside our home, both of our boys are avid baseballs players (which = 4 or 5 nights at the ball field!), school just started and the holidays are just around the corner … YIKES! Sound familiar?
If your family is anything like ours, our time together on week nights is limited. So, I am always looking for entrees and side dishes that are tasty and easy! In order to make dinner time a little more “homemade” and a little less “pre-made”, try this quick fix to add just a few extra ingredients to pre-packaged/pre-made food!
Like today’s {taste this} … my almost homemade baked mac & cheese!!
Looks fancy, tastes awesome and is so darn easy!!
Prepare a box of mac & cheese (the kind with pasta and a pouch of cheese sauce) according to the box directions – I use Kraft made with 2% milk mac & cheese or even our local grocery store brand. Pour the mac & cheese into a baking dish (8×8 or similar size) prepared with non-stick spray. Sprinkle the top with a handful of bread crumbs – panko or Italian seasoned are our family’s favorite – and then top with 1/4 cup of your favorite shredded cheese!
Bake until the mac and cheese is bubbly and the cheese is melted! I like the cheese toasty and crispy and brown 
This can easily be adapted to your family’s tastes: add broccoli, crispy bacon, ham or even a can of rotel (drained) to the macaroni before you pour it in the baking dish!
If you need another easy “almost homemade” side dish, have you tried our oven roasted green beans? It’s The Bugs’ favorite way to eat veggies!
This project or recipe was shared at the blogs on my Link page!
if only you could taste a picture…is that weird? maybe a little weird, lol.
good luck on your kitten shopping, can’t wait to see pictures of your new one when you get it!
Wow! So easy but so yummy looking!
Ooooh this looks so good, and this an awesome but busy time of year! Thank you for sharing
hugs, Tanya
What a great easy recipe. I’ll be needing it this fall!
This looks delicious AND easy! We sure have plenty of boxes in our pantry
I’d love for you to share with my readers if you get the chance – enjoy your weekend! http://www.momontimeout.com/2012/08/taking-timeout-thursday-no44.html
Oh my I love that crunchy topping, my favorite part about mac and cheese! Yes, this time of year, life gets suddenly crazy, love to have a great go-to recipe!
We use the blue box of mac and cheese all the time…next time it’s getting this yummy topping added to it:-) Looks great!!!
GAH this is GREAT! I will never make mac n cheese the way I used to!!!
-Jacque @theDIYvillage.com
This looks delicious and sounds so simple. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing!
Looks great! I love the baked kind but don’t always have the time to make it the way I like it from scratch. Thanks for sharing at this week’s party.
Simple and super tasty! The added crunch of the breadcrumbs goes so well with mac n cheese!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Yum-o! Thanks for linking up to our Pretty Things party. Hope to see you back next week!
Oh my goodness, it’s ooey gooey goodness! That looks absolutely amazing! I found you over at Uncommon’s link party. So glad I did.
Looks delicious – and easy! Yum!
Stopping by from DIY by Design’s Sizzle into Summer party.
That is my kind of recipe! I love the fact you start with the box mix, because let’s admit the truth: If I needed to make it from scratch, it wasn’t going to happen!
Thanks for sharing!
Mmmmm your Mac&Cheese looks absolutely delicious! Is there anything better?!!! YUM!
That is a really good idea! Thanks for linking!