Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes

I will never forget his reaction when I put the bowl down in front of him and he took his first bite. His face lit up with glee and he immediately turned to the business of shoveling huge spoonfuls of Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes into his mouth, as fast as he possibly could. HELLO solid food....

And when the bowl was empty, he thrust his hands together and desperately starting signing "MORE" over and over again. He was only about 6 months old.

Teaching my kids basic sign language before they could talk was one of the best things I ever did. It empowered them because they could still communicate with us and it was a lot less frustrating for everyone. Apparently, kids comprehend at least 100 words before they can actually verbalize them, so signing is a great way for kids to express themselves. And having the ability to ask for more of this delicious macaroni and cheese was pretty darn empowering!

This Macaroni cheese and tomatoes was not only my son’s very first real solid food (aside from pablum), it was my daughter's and likely mine as well. And when I need comfort, this is exactly what I yearn for. And although I've been making it for myself and my kids for years, it's still waaay better if my mom makes it! But isn't everything so much better when your Mom makes it?

I recently reconnected with an old friend from elementary school and out of the blue she said she still remembered my Mom's old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese! And while I'm sure there are other people out there who make it this way, I've never actually come across anyone that does.

It's so simple, yet so amazing! And this Old Fashioned Date Nut Loaf  is another one of those simple, yet amazing recipes that my family has been making for generations. What I love most about these recipes is that they are made with real ingredients - the same ingredients that have been around for generations. 

🥘 3 Ingredients

It doesn't get much easier than 3 ingredients: elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes and cheddar cheese! It actually blows me away that three little ingredients can be so delicious!

Read More about Smart Pasta HERE

💭What cheese is best for making for mac & cheese?

Sharp cheddar is best, in my opinion. However, I use low-fat sharp cheddar to bring down the calories and fat content. My kids don't even notice. But if you are using a lower fat cheese, you just need to make sure that you watch it closely in the oven, as low-fat cheese will burn much faster than regular cheese.

⏲️ Baking time

This tomato mac and cheese has a baking time of 3-5 minutes because I only put it in the oven to melt the cheese. And although I used a casserole dish to pretty up the photos, I usually just bake it in the same pot I cook the macaroni in on the stove top (just make sure your pot is oven safe!~) or I use my Dutch oven. I love that it's a one-pot meal and so quick to make! 

I hope you get as much comfort from it as we do!

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5 from 4 votes

📋 Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes Recipe

This old fashioned baked Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes is made 3 simple ingredients - macaroni, cheddar cheese and tomatoes. It's real food and comfort food at its finest!

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American, Canadian

Keyword cheese, Mac and cheese, macaroni, tomatoes

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 576kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 375 g -box of uncooked elbow macaroni I use Smart pasta (see post)
• **2 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
• 28 oz -can diced tomatoes * you can substitute stewed tomatoes
• 500 g - package of sharp/old cheddar cheese, grated * add more (or less) to your liking

Instructions

• Cook elbow macaroni as per instructions. * I add some olive oil to prevent it from sticking, but that's optional. Drain macaroni through colander.
  
• Return to pot or casserole dish and add tomatoes.
  
• Mix tomatoes into macaroni.
  
• Heat oven to broil (500 degrees F) and top with shredded cheese.
• Bake macaroni and cheese with tomatoes on middle rack under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned (to your preference). * I put a cookie sheet underneath to prevent spills from dripping down. * Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
  
• Serve hot.
  

Notes

 

💭What cheese is best for making for mac & cheese?

Sharp cheddar is best, but I use low-fat sharp cheddar to bring down the calories and fat content. My kids don't even notice. But if you are using a lower fat cheese, you just need to make sure that you watch it closely in the oven, as low-fat cheese will burn much faster than regular cheese.

💭Can I freeze this recipe?

I have frozen it many times and it still tastes great! Although, obviously it's much better fresh. But because there isn't any milk in it, like many mac and cheese recipes, this one freezes quite well. 

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Nutrition Facts

📋 Macaroni and Cheese with Tomatoes Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 576 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Fat 29g45%

Saturated Fat 18g113%

Cholesterol 88mg29%

Sodium 712mg31%

Potassium 465mg13%

Carbohydrates 53g18%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 31g62%

Vitamin A 990IU20%

Vitamin C 12.3mg15%

Calcium 667mg67%

Iron 4.1mg23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 712mg | Potassium: 465mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 12.3mg | Calcium: 667mg | Iron: 4.1mg

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