Description
Hearty Camping Mac and Cheese delivers comfort straight from campfire to plate, blending outdoor adventure with creamy pasta perfection. Mountain wilderness meets cheesy goodness, promising you a soul-warming meal that makes wilderness dining deliciously memorable.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) elbow macaroni
- 8 ounces (226 grams) prepared alfredo sauce
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) parmesan cheese, grated
- 0.25 cup (60 ml) mozzarella cheese
Dairy and Liquid Components:
- 0.5 cup (120 ml) half and half or whole milk
Seasoning:
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, choosing elbow macaroni, shells, or cavatappi. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water to halt cooking and prevent clumping.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend Alfredo sauce, shredded cheeses, and half-and-half until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper, ensuring pasta is thoroughly coated.
- Spray mini aluminum pie tins or one large aluminum dish with nonstick cooking spray. Distribute mac and cheese mixture evenly among containers.
- Cover each tin tightly with aluminum foil, spraying the food-contact side with nonstick spray. Seal edges completely to prevent leakage.
- Refrigerate mac and cheese in a sealed plastic bag within the cooler until mealtime.
- Prepare campfire, allowing flames to reduce to hot, glowing coals. Position cooking rack 2 inches above coals.
- Place prepared mac and cheese tins on the rack, rotating every few minutes to ensure uniform heating. Cook for 8-10 minutes until cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Remove from heat, let cool briefly, and serve directly from aluminum tins.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Clumping by rinsing with cold water immediately after cooking, which stops the cooking process and separates the noodles effectively.
- Customize Cheese Blend by mixing different varieties like sharp cheddar, monterey jack, or gruyere to create a more complex and rich flavor profile.
- Make Ahead Friendly by preparing the mac and cheese mixture at home and storing in sealed containers, which saves time and reduces campsite cooking complexity.
- Dietary Modifications can include using gluten-free pasta, lactose-free cheese, or plant-based alternatives for those with specific dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 484
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 754 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg