How To Make Cannabis-Infused Mac 'N’ Cheese

Arguably the best comfort food known to humanity, mac and cheese is a tasty treat teeming with rich, creamy cheese and pasta. Perfect as a snack, a side dish, or, if you're feeling particularly hungry, a main meal. If you've not had it before, where have you been and what have you been doing with your life up to this point? But don't worry, we've got a recipe that combines this mouth-watering masterpiece with some cannabis to create a dish that will fill your belly and give you a pretty good buzz too.

What is mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese (aka mac ‘n’ cheese) is a meal consisting of macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce typically made from cheddar cheese. However, many different variations exist around the world.

As a dish that dates back to the 14th century, mac and cheese is steeped in a rich history and rumour. In fact, it's a little unclear who first had the idea of combining pasta and cheese together. You may automatically make the connection between pasta and Italy, but it's thought that the British were actually responsible for this mind-blowing creation. Who said they were just about beans on toast? While we're sure the original concoction is pretty far removed from the ingredients you'd use today, there's no denying the massive popularity of macaroni and cheese.

How to make cannabis-infused mac 'n' cheese

Now that you know what you're in for with the cheesy goodness that is mac 'n' cheese, how can you go about making a cannabis-infused version for yourself? This is where we can help out. Requiring just a few simple ingredients, equipment, and some cannabutter, we've put together easy-to-follow directions that cover everything you need to do. This recipe serves four people (or one really hungry, soon to be incredibly stoned person).

Cannabutter is the main ingredient you'll need for this recipe. So before you go any further, you'll need to make some. Fortunately, we've got a simple recipe you can use. Plus, it gives you a cannabis foundation from which you can create other recipes as well!

Equipment

• 2x saucepans
• Wooden spoon
• Whisk
• Bowl (for serving)
• Bowl (for mixing)
• Strainer
• Oven-proof dish

Ingredients

For mac and cheese:

• 1 pack elbow macaroni
• 4 tbsp cannabutter
• 60g all-purpose flour
• 500ml milk
• 240g grated cheddar cheese
• 120g grated parmesan cheese
• 120g grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 15g finely chopped parsley
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

For the crunchy topping:

• 240g grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp oil
• 120g breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper

Directions

With all of your equipment and ingredients at the ready, it's time to follow our simple step-by-step recipe for making cannabis-infused mac 'n' cheese. Be warned! It may be hard to return to the original version once you've tried our recipe.

1. Start by preheating your oven to 190°C. Next, place a large saucepan on the stove and bring 1 litre of water to a boil. Add a little salt, then cook your macaroni per the packet's instructions. Be sure to stir the pasta occasionally to stop it from sticking together. Once suitably cooked, strain the pasta then set aside.

2. Slowly melt the cannabutter in a separate saucepan on a low heat. Keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't burn. Gradually add in your flour and whisk until smooth. Now, pour in the milk and cook for around 1–2 minutes.

3. Add cheese, nutmeg, and paprika to the milk/cannabutter/flour mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then add the cooked macaroni to the saucepan. Keep stirring until all of the pasta is covered.

4. Next, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in your finely chopped parsley. Once suitably mixed, pour your mixture into an oven-proof dish.

5. Now, combine the ingredients for the crunchy topping in a small bowl, then sprinkle the ingredients over the top of your pasta and cheese mixture. When ready, place your dish in the oven and let it bake for around 15–20 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling—the most obvious indication your cannabis-infused mac and cheese is ready.

6. Serve in bowls and enjoy!

How much cannabis mac and cheese should you eat?

It's no secret that edibles hit harder than other means of consuming cannabis. However, there are many factors at play here, such as metabolism and tolerance. With this in mind, it's worth starting slow if you're a little inexperienced with cannabis edibles. Begin by eating a small portion and give it an hour or so to see what kind of effects you're dealing with. If things are mild and you want to dial it up a little more, you've got that option. Otherwise, you've got plenty of leftovers to enjoy another time.

Does cannabis mac 'n' cheese make you high?

Absolutely. The cannabutter is responsible for this. By adding it to your recipe, you've got your ticket to experiencing all of the effects and possible benefits that come with THC. But that's not to say that you can't make a CBD version! So, if you want to switch out some potent bud for something less so, you have that option.

Cheesy does it!

So, what could possibly be better than mac and cheese? Cannabis-infused mac and cheese, of course! Our recipe is just the starting point; you can completely customise this dish to suit your tastes and preferences. If you want to use vegan cheese, butter, and milk substitutes, go ahead! Or, if you prefer plenty of meat with your mac, chop up some cooked bacon and add it to the mix. One thing's for sure, though: you'll be getting a great buzz no matter what you choose.

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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