Cheesy, gooey mac and cheese has always been one of my favorite foods and a traditional birthday dinner, whether it is fried in bite-sized balls, baked with breadcrumbs or traditionally cooked in a pot.

A grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich immediately caught my attention. Smothering melted macaroni and cheese between two buttery, golden brown grilled slices of bread sounded phenomenal.

This sandwich is rich in cheese and filling, perfect for a lunch after a night of drinking downtown.

Any type of bread can be used for this sandwich such as white, wheat, french or a bagel and use the sliced cheese of your preference. I suggest American cheese because it gets very gooey when melted.

In order to save time, I used the instant Kraft cups because it only requires adding water and microwaving to cook, although any type of macaroni and cheese is acceptable for this recipe.

Grilled Macaroni and Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

1 cup cooked macaroni and cheese

2 slices bread

Butter to spread

2 slices cheese

Cook the macaroni and cheese according the directions on the box. I used the single serving, microwavable Kraft Mac n’ Cheese to save time. Sprinkle pepper in it when cooked if you prefer.

Mix any additional ingredients into the macaroni and cheese. Ideas include bacon, jalapenos, green chilies or diced chicken.

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat. Butter one side of each slice of bread and place butter side down on the skillet. Place one slice of cheese on top of the bread and grill until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Repeat this process with the other slice of bread.

Scoop the desired amount of macaroni and cheese onto one slice of bread. Layer the other slice of grilled bread on top, with the cheese half facing down. Cut in half and serve immediately.

Anna Puccinelli can be reached at [email protected]