Every Canadian kid, past and present, is familiar with Kraft Dinner. It’s what we all call boxed macaroni and cheese! Here’s an homemade version that tastes even better than the original!

I think every kid in Canada – especially those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s – is more than familiar with the taste and smell of Kraft Dinner. My siblings and I must have had it at least once a week for lunch. We lived close enough to the school to come home for lunch, and mom would serve this up with chicken nuggets. Nowadays, I prefer to make my own; here’s my Homemade Kraft Dinner recipe.
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DO YOU PUT KETCHUP ON YOUR KRAFT DINNER? FANCY SOME BREAD WITH JAM?
In my family, there were three ways to eat Kraft Dinner. The first, which I think was the most common, was with ketchup on top. I used to eat it like that, but then I found a better way. The second way is just plain, of course. And it’s good plain; I’ve had it plain many times.
The third way – which is probably only MY way, because it might seem to be a little odd to most people – is with a slice of bread that has been buttered and smeared with strawberry jam. If that jam was homemade, it was even better! Oh my God, Dear Reader, the jam and the cheese is so good together. Before you screw up your nose at me, please give it a try. Just one bite, please! I think you’ll change your mind.

A BABYSITTER RUINED MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF KRAFT DINNER!
To be perfectly honest, it’s only the past year or so that I’ve been able to eat macaroni again. I used to love it, but this one time we had a babysitter from hell and the result was a complete dislike of macaroni.
I remember it so well, which is a miracle, because my memory is horrible. But, this particular day stands out so well in my mind. It was summer and our parents were going to be taking a shopping day in Barrie with their friends, George and Marilyn. We were living in Stayner at the time, which is a small town in Northern Ontario which is close to Collingwood and Wasaga Beach.
Marilyn had already arranged a babysitter for Matthew and Jonathan, so my brother and I were asked to go to their house. The babysitter’s name was Michelle. Michelle spent the whole afternoon on the couch and talking on the phone. And while she held that telephone receiver in one hand, her other hand held her back to back smoldering cigarettes.

THIS STORY GETS WORSE!
She stopped talking long enough to make us Kraft Dinner. I was always very acutely aware of hygiene practices and I vividly remember her not washing her hands and I also remember her smoking the whole time she boiled the macaroni and stirred in the powdered cheese, butter, and milk.
And I also remember her placing bowls of Kraft Dinner in front of us before she headed back to the couch and the phone. I took one taste and spit it back into my bowl. It was salty and the macaroni was still very hard. I questioned her about it and she told me that she liked her Kraft Dinner crunchy. She didn’t offer to fix it or to prepare anything else, so we all sat there waiting for our parents to come home and rescue us.
It took me years to enjoy macaroni again. I would eat it, but I could never get quite used to the texture. In contrast to Michelle’s crunchy macaroni, I found “cooked” macaroni to be slimy on the inside. Eventually, I learned to cook macaroni myself and was able to eat it once more.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECIPE
The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.
- Macaroni – Please be sure to undercook the pasta just slightly. Once you add it to the cheese mixture, it will cook just a little bit more, so it will be perfect.
- Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, do not use the full amount of salt listed below. Cut it back to half that amount. In the end, you can taste and re-season if needed.
- Cream – Use 35% cream to get the most creamy cheese sauce. Milk will work too if you don’t have cream, but it won’t be as rich.
- Seasoning Salt – It is a blend of salt, herbs, and spices. You can find it in almost any grocery store. It really does make a huge difference in the flavour of this pasta!
- Ground Black Pepper
- Turmeric – Turmeric has a warm, homey taste, and helps to make Homemade Kraft Dinner more orange.
- Cheddar Cheese – An old cheddar cheese packs the best flavour in this recipe. Obviously, try to use the orange cheese to get a deeper colour – just like the original Kraft Dinner in a box!

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KRAFT DINNER
This is super easy! Let me tell you how to make it. Start by cooking the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Remember to undercook the pasta just slightly so that it’s not overcooked when you add it to the hot cheese sauce. So, in a large skillet, over medium heat, add the butter and heavy cream. Melt the butter into the cream.
Add the seasoning salt, white pepper, and turmeric. Whisk into the cream and butter mixture until well incorporated. Next, add the cheese. Stir the cheese into the cream until fully melted. Finally, add the cooked and drained pasta to the cheese and cream sauce. Toss everything together until the ingredients are well combined and the sauce is evenly distributed. Remove from heat. Serve immediately.
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HOMEMADE ALLOWS FOR MORE CHEESE OPTIONS TOO!
Homemade Kraft Dinner is so much better than the Kraft Dinner you buy in the box. It tastes fresher, cheesier, less processed, and just better! The homemade version is richer and allows you to modify ingredients to suit your preferences. For example, you can change the cheese – use Colby Jack, Gouda or Havarti.
But, no matter what type of cheese you use for your version of Homemade Kraft Dinner, please promise me that you’ll try it with a slice of bread that has been buttered and topped with a smear of strawberry jam. You only need to take one bite, but you simply must try it! Enjoy!

Do You Like This Recipe?
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Homemade Kraft Dinner
Ingredients
- 450 grams macaroni, cooked according to package instructions, drained, and set aside
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 4 cups cheddar cheese, grated
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the butter and heavy cream. Melt the butter into the cream.
- Add the seasoning salt, white pepper, and turmeric. Whisk into the cream and butter mixture until well incorporated.
- Next, add the cheese. Stir the cheese into the cream until fully melted.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the cheese and cream sauce. Toss everything together until the ingredients are well combined and the sauce is evenly distributed.
- Remove from heat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Harriet says
I don’t often make mac and cheese, but I’ll be sure to try this the next time I do! It looks delicious.
Danielle says
I don’t know why but every time I see a Kraft Dinner like this, I get super excited. Maybe it’s the memories or maybe it just looks too good… Either way, I promise that the next time I make this dinner I will try it with bread topped with strawberry jam! 🙂
Catherine says
Everyone in my house loves mac n cheese and I confess some nights, Kraft is just so easy to throw together but I usually serve it alongside something else. It’s a bit of guilty pleasure for us but I have to make it from scratch sometime. Yours looks absolutely perfect- creamy and thick. So good!!
Colleen says
I did have to have a good laugh at your bread and strawberry jam comment. I haven’t tried it with Kraft dinner, but I always loved toast with Cheez Whiz on it with strawberry or raspberry jam spread over that! Yum! You must try it. Even on crackers it’s delicious! And yes..people turned up their noses at that too! I had planned on Mac and cheese tonight, so your recipe has come at a good time.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Ha! Thank you, Colleen! I have had toast with Cheez Whiz and jam on it many, many times and I love it! I don’t have Cheez Whiz very often now, but I will still eat toast with cream cheese and jam too!
Anne Lawton says
This looks delicious! I don’t know about bread and jelly, but will give it a try!
Lo says
This is macaroni and cheese… Kraft dinner is a brand name of macaroni and cheese. It says it right on the box. Like what? This is the most ridiculously named recipe on the internet I’m sure of it. Macaroni and cheese.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Hi there! I think you would be hard-pressed to find many Canadians who refer to boxed, store-bought mac and cheese as mac and cheese. It was, and is, known as Kraft Dinner. Have a pleasant day!
Debbie says
Yikes hon—chill!!😂😂 Much bigger things in life to worry about than the name of this recipe!
Lili says
If you grew up in Canada it’s almost always called Kraft Dinner, not Macaroni and Cheese (even though that’s what it is… No one much actually says that when Kraft Dinner rolls off the tongue far more easily). It’s like calling a tissue a Kleenex. Sorry if you’re from somewhere else but calling an entire nation of people ridiculous for having a colloquial way to reference one of the nation’s most beloved quick cook processed foods we all grew up with is far more ridiculous than the name of this recipe… A name that makes perfect sense to me!
Cici says
Well said ✌️
Susan says
Tsk tsk tsk
KD is what it is!
Mac & Cheese is a whole new level!
The KD cheese powder makes all the difference.
Add this to your homemade Mac & cheese and you got KD flavour Mmmmmm
Elizabeth says
May I cut this recipe in half ??
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Yes, for sure!