Crispy Cheez-It® Cheezy Ranch Mac & Cheese
If you like your mac extra cheezy, this Ranch mac & cheese recipe is for you. It’s topped with a toasty Cheez-It® crust, and packed with melty, cheezy Ranch flavor for the ultimate mac experience.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Servings: 7
Author: Hidden Valley
- 1 lb. macaroni, shells or ziti macaroni, shells or ziti
- 5 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided unsalted butter, divided
- 3 tbsp. flour flour
- 2 cups whole milk whole milk
- 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese grated sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Hidden Valley® Cheesy Ranch Dressing Hidden Valley® Cheesy Ranch Dressing
- ⅓ cup crushed Cheez-It® crackers crushed Cheez-It® crackers
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs panko breadcrumbs
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package directions until al dente. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly until fully incorporated, about one minute. Gradually add in the milk, stirring until the sauce is smooth and has thickened, about 5–8 minutes.
Stir in the cheddar cheese and the Cheezy Ranch dressing until the cheese has melted and you have a smooth sauce. Toss with the noodles and arrange in a buttered 13x9-inch baking dish.
Mix together Cheez-Its and breadcrumbs and sprinkle evenly over the top. Dot with the remaining butter. Bake for 20 minutes, until crumbs are golden and crispy. Serve hot.