3 Ways to Dress Up Annie's Mac & Cheese

In partnership with Annie's Homegrown Every kid and grown up alike can agree that mac and cheese is a comfort food staple. From quick lunches on the go to a dressed-up family night dinner, this creamy, cheesy dish fits any mood or meal. We crafted a few unique ways to transform our personal favorite, Annie’s, into a whole new dish. LUNCHTIME CLASSIC Serves: 3 to 4 Tuna casserole is old school, but there’s a reason it’s also a classic that’s lasted through the ages. Try out this new wave recipe that takes the same delicious tuna, pasta, and peas combination with some extra flavor (and vegetables to boot). Ingredients ½ cup corn – fresh or frozen ½ cup green peas – fresh or frozen ¼ cup yellow onion – diced 1 can tuna drained ¼ cup panko bread crumbs 1 box Annie’s Classic Mac and Cheese, cooked Instructions 1. Prepare box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese according to instructions. 2. Preheat oven to 325°F. 3. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. 4. Stir the sauteed onions, tuna, peas, and corn into the pasta. Heat until warmed through, about 2 minutes. 5. Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a medium-size casserole dish. 6. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add in bread crumbs, stirring constantly to toast until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes. Pour over the mac and cheese. 7. Bake for 14-15 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy! FAMILY STYLE MEDITERRANEAN Serves: 3 to 4 Missing a taste of the Mediterranean? This recipe combines fresh tomatoes, baby spinach, and your favorite sausage with a touch of feta – a dish everyone at the table is sure to love. Ingredients ½ package of your choice of sausage – sliced into ¼ inch pieces 1 garlic clove – minced ½ bag of fresh baby spinach 1 fresh tomato – diced ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 1 box prepared Annie’s White Cheddar Mac and Cheese Instructions 1. Prepare box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese according to instructions. 2. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. 3. Add sausage to the pan, cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. 4. Add tomatoes and spinach to pan, cooking until soft. 5. Add cooked mixture to mac and cheese. Sprinkle with feta. Serve warm + enjoy! SPICED UP Serves: 3 to 4 This spicy combination is for the big kids – especially the grown-ups who are still kids at heart. Steal your kid’s favorite crunchy cheese snack (we won't tell!) and combine them with some fresh jalapenos to heat up your mac and cheese. Mixed with sizzled bacon, a little green onion, and topped with a cool avocado, this out-of-the-box take will leave you reaching for the milk. Ingredients ½ pound bacon 1 jalapeno – seeded and diced ⅛ cup green onion – diced ½ cup crunchy cheese snack 1 Avocado 1 box prepared Annie’s Cheddar Mac and Cheese Instructions 1. Prepare box of Annie’s Mac and Cheese according to instructions. 2. Preheat oven to 400ºF. 3. In a large sauté pan, cook bacon until crispy and all of the fat has been rendered. Remove bacon from pan and place on paper-towel-lined plates to drain, and, once cool, crumble. Remove about half of the rendered fat from the pan. 4. Add jalapeños to empty pan and cook for 4-5 minutes. 5. Add in green onions and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat. 6. Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a medium-size casserole dish. Add crumbled bacon, jalapeños and green onions. Mix to coat. 7. Top with crunchy cheese snack. Cook in the oven for 5 minutes 8. Top with avocado. Serve warm and enjoy! Take your mac & cheese recipe to the next level with one of these delicious dinners for the family.