If you’ve ever tried Trader Joe’s (Dine) Mac & Cheese in the frozen section, then you’re going to flip for this copycat recipe which recreates the dish perfectly!
Trader Joe’s boxed macaroni and cheese is one of the few pre-packaged items I buy.
It doesn’t contain any “junk”, my kids absolutely love it (it will probably be my son’s staple food this year at Georgetown) and it’s good to keep on hand for those times when there’s no food in the house (hey, it happens–well, I may be exaggerating just a wee bit!)
However, I had no idea that Trader Joe’s Diner Mac & Cheese was a treasure just waiting to be discovered, only one aisle over, in the freezer section! I don’t recall who it was, but a friend was talking about the TJ’s frozen mac and cheese as if it was the best thing she’d ever eaten in her entire life, so naturally, I was curious. The next time I was at Trader Joe’s, I examined the ingredients and nutrition label, and although the ingredients looked good, the super high calorie and fat content only confirmed what I was thinking: it was going to be fantastic! I decided that my husband and I would share a box, just this one time, and took that baby home.
After sticking it in the microwave for a few minutes, the texture of the sauce was perfectly smooth, and it really looked appetizing, despite being a pre-made meal. One bite, and I understood why my friend had been raving about this Trader Joe’s Diner Mac and Cheese! I honestly couldn’t believe a frozen meal could taste this phenomenal! Well, if you read my blog regularly, you’ll know what I was thinking the very next minute, “Could I recreate this from scratch?” The answer is “yes”, and because all the ingredients are actual items which one can aquire from a grocery store (instead of a chemistry lab), it was actually quite easy, which means you can make it too, especially if you are nowhere near a Trader Joe’s!
However, a word of advice: I would not advise buying already grated packages of cheese–
1. The quality of cheese is sub-par in any of these cheeses.
2. There are additives to keep the cheese from clumping which are unneccessary.
PLEASE NOTE: the following recipe will make enough cheese sauce for about 2 lbs of pasta. Because the cheese sauce freezes perfectly, it’s worth making a larger batch and freezing half for another time. To make less sauce, halve the sauce recipe.
Trader Joe’s (Diner)
Mac & Cheese Copycat Recipe
Recipe created by Christina Conte
makes about 4 1/2 cups of sauce, enough for 2 lbs of pasta (see note above)
Ingredients
- 2 oz (1/4 cup) butter
- 3 oz (a little less than 1/2 cup) all-purpose flour
- 4 oz good quality white Cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 oz good quality Havarti cheese, grated
- 2 oz good quality Gouda cheese, grated
- 1 oz good quality Swiss cheese, grated
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 24 oz milk (3 cups) whole milk
- white pepper
- nutmeg
- 1 lb good quality elbow pasta (made in Italy)
Start by putting a large pot of water on to boil the pasta-make sure to salt it well.
Now, start making the cheese sauce, but if the pasta water comes to a boil before you add the cheese to the sauce you are making, turn it down.
Melt the butter in a medium sized pan over medium heat, then add the flour and stir well. Continue to cook while stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, but do not let it brown. (Cooking the flour well is important because the sauce will have a “raw-flour” taste if it isn’t cooked long enough.)
Have the milk closeby in a jug that is easy to pour from, and add a little drop of milk. The milk should sizzle and steam immediately, if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little. Once the milk does sizzle, begin adding a little at a time, and stirring quickly to keep the sauce smooth.
The secret to not having lumps in white sauce is to gradually increase the amount of milk you add each time; if you add too much at once, especially early on, chances are you will end up with lumpy sauce (which is completely reparable with an immersion blender!)
Start with about 2 tablespoons of milk, then 2 more, then a little more each time.
Once the sauce begins to form, you can add more milk each time. Just make sure all the milk has been absorbed after each addition, before adding more.
Once the sauce is finished, add salt, nutmeg and white pepper to taste, and lower the heat.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have just made a Besciamella sauce (White Sauce/Bechamel Sauce) which you can use as a base for many soups and cream sauce recipes!
This is a good consistency, if yours is too thick, add a little more milk, but remember, it will thicken as it cools.
At this point, add the pasta to the boiling water and stir well; stir the white sauce, too, so it doesn’t stick. Now, add the grated cheeses to the white sauce, and stir until it is melted, adjusting the heat if necessary. Stir constantly or it will stick.
When the pasta is ready (al dente), drain and return to the pot. Add HALF of the cheese sauce, if you made the full recipe.
Serve hot!
If you want to gild the lily, you can put this in a casserole dish and top with breadcrumbs and put it under the broiler for a lovely, crunchy topping. Who am I kidding? As if anyone is going to wait any longer than they have to-to eat this sea of cheese-laden noodle ecstasy!
Put the extra sauce in a jar or container to cool, then place in the freezer and use within two to three weeks.
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- 2 oz (1/4 cup) butter
- 3 oz (a little less than ½ cup) all-purpose flour
- 4 oz good quality white Cheddar cheese, grated
- 3 oz good quality Havarti cheese, grated
- 2 oz good quality Gouda cheese, grated
- 1 oz good quality Swiss cheese, grated
- ¾ tsp salt
- 24 oz milk (3 cups) whole milk
- white pepper
- nutmeg
- 1 lb good quality elbow pasta (I like De Cecco)
- Start by putting a large pot of water on to boil the pasta-make sure to salt it well.
- Now, start making the cheese sauce, but if the pasta water comes to a boil before you add the cheese to the sauce you are making, turn it down.
- Melt the butter in a medium sized pan over medium heat, then add the flour and stir well.
- Continue to cook while stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes, but do not let it brown. (Cooking the flour well is important because the sauce will have a “raw-flour” taste if it isn’t cooked long enough.)
- Have the milk close by in a jug that is easy to pour from, and add a little drop of milk. The milk should sizzle and steam immediately, if it doesn’t, turn up the heat a little. Once the milk does sizzle, begin adding a little at a time, and stirring quickly to keep the sauce smooth. The secret to not having lumps in white sauce is to gradually increase the amount of milk you add each time; if you add too much at once, especially early on, chances are you will end up with lumpy sauce (which is completely reparable with an immersion blender)!
- Start with about 2 tablespoons of milk, then 2 more, then a little more each time. Once the sauce begins to form, you can add more milk each time. Just make sure all the milk has been absorbed after each addition, before adding more.
- Once the sauce is finished, add salt, nutmeg and white pepper to taste, and lower the heat.
- At this point, add the pasta to the boiling water. Stir well, and stir the white sauce, too, so it doesn’t stick. Now, add the grated cheeses to the white sauce, and stir until it is melted, adjusting the heat if necessary. Stir constantly or it will stick.
- When the pasta is ready (al dente), drain and return to the pot and stir in the HALF of the cheese sauce; serve hot.
- Put the other half of the cheese sauce in a quart jar and freeze.
Dawna
wrote on
Will gluten free pasta work in this recipe? You always have the most delicious recipes and I’m hoping maybe some can be converted to gluten free!
Christina
wrote on
Absolutely, Dawna! In fact I just bought the cheese to make this and am making some for a gf friend with gf pasta! If you look at my Instagram story, you’ll see my pile of cheese!! Great minds think alike! Enjoy!
Mama Chef
wrote on
This is my absolute favorite mac n cheese recipe. I’m so grateful for it — and so is my daughter! :)
Christina
wrote on
You’ve made my day! Thank you Mama Chef!!
Jessica
wrote on
I’m not a cook and never know what to do when not given an exact measurement –my mom even bought me measuring spoons for a dash, a pinch, and a smidge! Would you please provide a recommendation on the amount of white pepper and nutmeg to use rather than just to taste? I love Teader Joe’s mac n cheese and don’t want to mess this recipe up. Thanks in advance!
Christina
wrote on
Hi Jessica, I understand what you’re saying, basically that you don’t feel confident in deciding how much to put in, right? Well, rest assured, you won’t mess up the recipe unless you you add a ridiculous amount of white pepper or nutmeg (as in a teaspoon of each). Here’s a compromise, how about adding 3 shakes of white pepper and 2 shakes of nutmeg (I’m assuming you have shakers of the spices?) to start off with. Once you taste the sauce when it’s ready (before adding the pasta), see if you taste the white pepper or nutmeg. If it tastes good to you, leave it as is, if you don’t taste one or the other or both, then add a shake (or 2 or 3) more. You can even omit both of them as it won’t ruin the recipe, but I feel it just adds to it to add a little of each spice. When you cook more, you learn just like anything else, then you’ll feel more comfortable in adding the amount you like to start off with. You can always add more, but can’t take it away, so always start with very little and add as you go. :) Hope this helps!
Jessica
wrote on
Yes, it does! Thanks!
Christina
wrote on
Awesome!! You’re going to love this dish!!
Gabriel Johnson
wrote on
CC Where do u buys the good quality cheese from and also the pasta.
Christina
wrote on
Hi Gabriel, not sure where you live, but in LA there are many options, however, I usually buy most of my cheese from Trader Joe’s and Costco. I buy De Cecco pasta many different places, from my local Italian shop to Amazon. Hope this helps!
Kristina
wrote on
I made this last night and it was perfect, exactly what I was craving. Thank you!
Christina
wrote on
Fabulous, Kristina! So funny because I just made it two nights ago! :) Thanks so much for coming back to let me know, I appreciate it! Happy New Year!
Ashley Ortega
wrote on
How many people does this feed? I’m trying to make enough for 10 people. Thanks!
Christina
wrote on
Hi Ashley, as noted, the cheese sauce is enough for 2 lbs of pasta which is definitely enough for 10 people (you may have leftovers unless everyone is a big eater). Enjoy!
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[…] In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the butter and add the flour, constantly stirring. Keep stirring and do not allow to brown, but cook for about 4 to 5 minutes (or else the flour will taste raw in the sauce). Add the milk a little at a time, incorporating it into the flour mixture each time until a sauce begins to form. For more detailed instructions click HERE. […]
Lunches: Ten Kid Friendly Meals Ready in Under Ten Minutes – frugal edmonton mama
wrote on
[…] use this recipe altered a bit, for the cheese, I usually just whatever type we have on hand (shredded mozza and […]
Jamie Lewis
wrote on
I made this tonight and it was wonderful. But if you’re feeding it to kiddos, they don’t like the nutmeg taste and turned their nose to it, So, I eliminated the nutmeg and they ate it up. Thanks for sharing!
Christina
wrote on
Great! Love to hear it, although the nutmeg shouldn’t really be that strong that your kids could taste it (unless they’re super tasters)! Thanks for letting me know :)
Swiss Chard Stems with Provolone White Sauce and a Crunchy Breadcrumb Topping
wrote on
[…] each time until a smooth and creamy consistency is reached (you can find more detailed directions here). Add the provolone and stir until melted; add the salt, pepper and nutmeg to […]
Janet
wrote on
I know this an old post but your cheese sauce is white and Trade Joe’s sauce isn’t white is it because you use white cheddar and they maybe use yellow?
Not sure anyone will answer this but worth a try.
Thank you,
Janet
Christina
wrote on
I try to answer all my comments/questions, Janet! :) Yes, you are correct, I’m sure TJ’s Diner Mac and Cheese has yellow cheddar, and I simply used white. You can definitely substitute yellow cheddar if you want the yellow color. It’s delicious! Let me know if you try it! CC
Anne Marie
wrote on
We LOVE Trader Joe’s Mac-n-Cheese and so glad to have found this recipe! I wonder if you might have advice on reheating if you do freeze in a casserole dish? I am thinking of making this for my daughters 6th birthday and wanted to do it ahead of time, therefore the need to freeze and reheat. THANK YOU!
Christina
wrote on
Hi Anne Marie, I’m happy you found my recipe, too! I have only frozen the cheese sauce and then reheated it in a pot and added freshly cooked pasta, so I’m not certain about freezing it already made, however, given how delicious the TJ’s mac and cheese is and they just specify to heat in the microwave, that may be the best option! Do you have time to do a test batch? Let me know your outcome and happy birthday to your daughter! :) CC
sue/the view from great island
wrote on
Christina I totally agree with you about this mac and cheese — but in my case I dare not buy it too often, I can’t control myself! Your photos are amazing, I love this post!
Christina
wrote on
I know what you mean, Sue! Thank you! CC
apuginthekitchen.com
wrote on
Love mac and cheese, never tried Trader Joe’s but your version sure looks delicious!
Christina Conte
wrote on
The four different cheeses give it a fabulous flavor! You should try it! ;) CC
Zoe
wrote on
Hi Christina,
This gourmet style mac n cheese reminds me a lot of Paula Deen’s ultimate mac n cheese recipe. I see lots of good quality used in your mac n cheese… Who says mac n cheese is junk food??? Yours is definitely NOT!
Zoe
Christina Conte
wrote on
Absolutely, Zoe! Only the best ingredients, for the best results! Thank you so much!! CC
Susan Lester
wrote on
Yum, Christina! Before all the government budget cuts, John used to travel all the time – this was one of the things I treated myself to occasionally when he was gone. And, you’re right, it’s hard to believe it’s pre-made!
I will surely try your copycat version.
Christina Conte
wrote on
I would have done the same, Susan, but I only just discovered it recently! So happy you’re going to try it! Let me know what you think, since you are a TJ’s Mac & Cheese aficionado! :) CC