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Baked mac and cheese with tomatoes

The best grilled cheese you’ve ever had runs head-long into your tomato soup and BOOM. You get baked mac and cheese with tomatoes. One of the best comfort foods (and the maybe the best macaroni and cheese) gets yet another transformation into this southern classic. 

baked mac and cheese with tomatoes in a skillet with a spoon taking out a scoop

A couple of years ago, a reader asked me if I had a recipe for macaroni and cheese with tomatoes. I thought she meant macaroni and tomatoes (minus the cheese) which I know well. But she was insistent that no–there was an actual real version of macaroni and cheese that had tomatoes in it and that it was pretty doggone amazing.

I had my doubts.

Until I made it for myself. And now I realize I might be a borderline hard-headed idiot for not making it sooner.

The secret is using stewed tomatoes. Write that down. STEWED. Not diced, not chili-ready, not with basil and oregano. Stewed tomatoes are so good on their own–they’ve been cooked down with celery, onion and seasonings and have a slow-cooked flavor straight out of the can. (You can make homemade stewed tomatoes, but who has time for that? Me. Either.)

They might be my new food love.

a skillet of mac and cheese with tomatoes with bread crumbs on top and two plates in the background

Make your baked mac and cheese with tomatoes in a large skillet and add your tomatoes as the sauce thickens (before you add the cheese) and bake it all up together. For something fresh, you could add some cooked chicken to the party for a one-dish dinner or some of your favorite vegetables like peas or broccoli.

And just try not to fall in love with those tomatoes. And the macaroni. And the cheese. And the crunchy bread crumbs…it’s just one more way to love something that’s already amazing.

How long to bake a doubled version

A doubled version of this recipe will fit easily into a 9×13 baking dish. Just bake it until the center is hot and the edges bubble–about 30 minutes should do it.

As long as you don’t put the mac and cheese into a dish that’s too small and make it super deep, the standard bake time should be close.

Recipes to serve with your mac and cheese with tomatoes:

Try these other no-fail mac and cheeses recipes too:

Baked macaroni and cheese takes another amazing direction change into a blend of the best grilled cheese and tomato soup combined.

Baked mac and cheese with tomatoes

It's like a grilled cheese meets tomato soup in one big cozy pan of dinner wonderful. 
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6
Author Rachel Ballard

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 14- ounce can stewed tomatoes with the juice chopped
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup plain Panko bread crumbs optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Add the pasta and cook 2 minutes less than the package directs. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large oven-safe skillet (if you don't have a skillet that goes in the oven you can transfer your mac and cheese to a baking dish in a bit), melt the butter and add the flour.
  • Stir until the flour cooks and the raw flour flavor is gone--about a minute or so.
  • Add the milk, salt and pepper and cook over medium heat 5 minutes then add the tomatoes and stir to combine.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens--another 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Add the cheese and stir until it melts.
  • Add the pasta and stir.
  • If transferring to a baking dish, spray the dish with non-stick spray. If not, transfer your skillet to the oven and top with the bread crumbs if you are using them.
  • Bake until golden and bubbly--about 35-40 minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 412kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 17gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 729mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 806IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 412mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @feastandfarm and hashtag it #feastandfarm
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

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92 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I did it just as you said but also included ham chunks. I doubled the recipe and put 4 cups cubed size ham. My gosh whole meal in one. It was awesome! Thank you for a great recipe, was like my moms she used to cook in the
    1950’s. Love love love ❤️

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About the Author

Rachel Ballard, RN, BSN brings more than 20 years of professional nursing expertise to Feast and Farm. With a love for nutrient dense foods that support wellness, she works to distill complex health information and current trends into recipes that fuel the best version of yourself. Read more about Rachel here.