This post was created in partnership with Village Farms. All opinions are our own. Do you have a loved one far away who will be home for the holidays? With families reuniting this time of year, we’re all looking for those perfect dishes to warm tummies and hearts. It’s hard to argue that there’s a better comfort food than good old mac and cheese, right? Alex and I have created this sophisticated spin on mac and cheese using the sumptuous combination of roasted tomatoes and white cheddar cheese. It’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and you’ll even be able to sneak in a few veggies (well, fruits?) too. Also: Try all our Best Mac and Cheese recipes!
Why it’s the best white cheddar mac and cheese?
Food is the focal point when we gather together, especially during the holiday season! Many of our recipes here are designed to be high vibe healthy; others are comfort food made with real food ingredients. This white cheddar mac and cheese is a true gem. Several friends helped to taste test and gave it 5 stars! The sharpness of the white cheddar cheese brings a sophistication, and the contrast of the bright roasted tomatoes is an unexpected flair. A nice feature to this white cheddar mac and cheese is that it doesn’t require baking time. Simply make the mac and cheese, top with roasted tomatoes, and serve! This recipe will be part of our entertaining menus for years to come. Alex and I could not get enough of that silky white cheddar sauce against the tangy tomatoes! It’s a keeper in our house. How to make it a meal? Serve it with a green salad or steamed broccoli! Head to 10 Best Sides to Serve with Mac and Cheese for our favorite recipes.
Finding the best cherry tomatoes
Usually Alex and I wouldn’t be roasting fresh tomatoes to go with a cozy comfort food dish like this white cheddar mac and cheese. However, Village Farms is a brand of greenhouse grown tomatoes that is gentler on the Earth and farmed without pesticides. Since these tomatoes are grown in greenhouses, they are available year around and truly taste garden fresh no matter what the season. To add a spin to our white cheddar mac and cheese, we added Village Farms Cherry No. 9 Fall in Love Again® tomatoes. The sweetness of the tomatoes is the perfect juxtaposition for the sharpness of the white cheddar cheese.
How to roast cherry tomatoes
How to roast cherry tomatoes? For this white cheddar mac and cheese, we wanted to roast the tomatoes just enough so they hold their shape, but not so long that they dry out. To roast this variety of cherry tomatoes, do the following:
Coat them with olive oil, add a pinch of salt, and roast at 350F for about 40 minutes. That’s it!Roasting with the cut side down chars them a bit more and brings in a sundried tomato vibe, but they do lose their shape more. Roasting the tomatoes with the cut side up helps them keep more of their shape and still brings in a lovely concentrated tomato flavor. You decide!
More with cherry tomatoes? Go to 10 Tasty Cherry Tomato Recipes.
Making white cheddar mac and cheese on the stovetop
Outside of the cherry tomatoes, for this white cheddar mac and cheese you’ll need your favorite short pasta, unsalted butter, flour, milk, sharp white cheddar cheese, and a few seasonings. Note that you can use any milk that you’d like in this recipe. We prefer 2% milk since the added fat keeps this stovetop mac and cheese flavorful and silky, but any milk will do!
While the tomatoes roast, you’ll do the following:
How to reheat mac and cheese
This white cheddar mac and cheese is best enjoyed immediately, but leftovers taste great the next day too! To reheat mac and cheese, we recommend doing so in a sturdy saucepan with a splash of milk to prevent the pasta from drying out. Cover the saucepan with a lid as well to trap the moisture, because nothing is worse than chewy leftover mac and cheese.
Check out Village Farms:
Check out our white cheddar mac and cheese with tomatoes over on the Village Farms website:
Holiday Comfort FoodRoasted Tomato Mac and Cheese
This white cheddar mac and cheese recipe is…
Vegetarian. For gluten free, use gluten free pasta and gluten free flour.
Looking for more comfort food recipes?
Outside of this homemade white cheddar mac and cheese with tomatoes, here are a few more comfort food recipes: No reviews
Norwegian Vegetarian MeatballsCozy Vegetarian Pot PieBest Gouda Mac and Cheese Instant Pot Mac and CheeseCreamy Mac and Cheese with Greek YogurtBest Vegan Meatballs & SpaghettiPerfectly Creamy Polenta (or Vegan Polenta)Pumpkin Gnocchi Bake with Goat CheeseGemelli Pasta with Fire Roasted TomatoesEasy Calzone RecipeVegan Pot PieBest Grilled Veggie Burger RecipeVeggie Packed Quinoa Fried Rice10 Recipes for Vegetarian Comfort Food
