Freezer Stash Secrets: Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes

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In my weekly menu planning posts I talk a lot (a whole lot) about the “freezer stash” that saves my bacon — ha ha — when I’m too tired or the hours in the day are running by just a little too fast. Somewhere along the way I promised to write about some of my tried and true freezer filling techniques. I’m here today to begin delivering on said promise by sharing the sheer brilliance that is macaroni and cheese cupcakes.

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but alas I’m just not that creative. I am really great at finding and curating great ideas though so that has to count for something. I discovered this nifty trick via my latest obsession, Pinterest, and it’s not surprising that it’s a Once a Month Mom technique. It’s so simple but I suppose the best ones always are.

Your Favorite Mac and Cheese in 30 – 60 Seconds

Macaroni and cheese cupcakes are individual portions of macaroni and cheese that you can reheat lickity-split in the microwave. They are perfect for after school treats or a fast side dish for a rotisserie chicken. And because you make them from scratch from whole ingredients they are far superior to any boxed mac and cheese out there. The cupcakes come together in four steps and take about an hour or so to prepare:

1. Make a big batch of your favorite from-scratch macaroni and cheese recipe. Our house standard is the recipe from Beecher’s Cheese Shop in Seattle. I make a single batch of their Flagship cheese sauce and a double batch of the mac and cheese. I can’t always get Beecher’s cheeses here in Austin so I’ll substitute a good quality sharp cheddar and regular Monterey Jack cheese. I tend to get about 36 muffins in a batch and I use small elbow or shell noodles because they fit better in the muffin-size servings.
2. Dish the mac and cheese into lined muffin tins. The liners help the muffins release later and I use fun seasonal wrappers because well, they’re just plain fun. Bake the macaroni and cheese according to the recipe directions. When the muffins are finished take the tins out of the oven and let them cool a bit on the kitchen counter.
3. Transfer the muffin tins to the freezer and freeze until the muffins are completely frozen then remove the muffins from the tin. If the muffins are stubborn and stick to the tin, run a bit of warm water over the bottom of the tin and they will pop right out.
4. Store the muffins in zip-top freezer bags for up to 3 months. Reheat each muffin in the microwave for 30 – 60 seconds.

One last word on why I love this idea: I’m a big fan of macaroni and cheese but of course when it’s made right it’s full of fat, carbs, and calories. These individual servings come with portion-control built in so I can treat myself from time to time. I take one muffin with me to work to have with a big salad for a fun indulgence.

Because even grown-ups need a special treat now and again.