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    Home » Main Course » Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese

    Published: Sep 7, 2016 · Modified: Oct 8, 2021 by Lisa Johnson

    Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese

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    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

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    Green macaroni and cheese in a black paint container and title graphic across the top.

    This Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese is disgustingly delicious and actually quite healthy. It's perfect meal during the Halloween season, and the kids will love eating it!

    Green macaroni and cheese in a black paint container with a black serving spoon sticking out the right side.

    Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. It's dark and creepy {at least at my house} and allows you to go all out crazy with decorations and crazy foods.

    Doesn't that look disgusting?? But guess what? It is soooo delicious, your kids will eat it up and ask for more!! My newest Halloween recipe is almost as creepy: Spooky Halloween Chili!

    How to make a Toxic Waste food container:

    I am going to start with the adventure part of this meal...the toxic waste container. {completely optional} I bought an empty paint can, like this one here, and painted it black with a single coat of flat black spray paint.....

    A metal paint container spray painted black with green painters tape around the top edge.

    I added the painter's tape around the upper rim to keep the paint on the outside of the can. Make it as dark as you like, or make it neon orange, whatever works for you.

    I was going to paint a Bio-hazard symbol on the side, but there is a storm coming in and I was loosing daylight!

    Okay the recipe it's self is pretty easy, we're basically making Homemade Macaroni and Cheese...with some ugly additions.

    How to make Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese:

    Melt butter in a large pan/Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Simmer, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes.....

    Melted butter and flour sizzling in a large pan.

    This is the part that thickens the sauce.

    Pour in the milk and whisk to combine and remove all lumps. Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and mustard, stir to combine.

    Milk, onion powder, paprika, cayenne and mustard powder added to the pot.

    Continue cooking until mixture starts to simmer, 6 to 8 minutes.

    Remove from heat and add the grated cheese. Stir until melted and completely combined.

    Grated cheese added to the thickened milk mixture.

    Add the drained spinach, stir to combine.

    Drained spinach mixed into the cheese mixture.

    Nope,  not green enough for me...add a few drops of green food coloring if desired.

    Dark green food coloring added to the cheese and spinach mixture.

    Hello Gorgeous!! Add the drained pasta and stir until completely coated.

    Cooked shell shaped pasta added to the green cheese mixture.

    Stir in the steamed cauliflower**, and serve immediately.

    Green macaroni and cheese in a small black cauldron with a furry rat in the background.

    It actually turned out a lot brighter than I was expecting/hoping for....but it still looks pretty nasty, so I'm happy with it...and it's even critter approved, lol

    Green macaroni and cheese in a small black cauldron with a furry rat peering over the edge and a black spider in the background.

    Did you notice that he was inching closer and closer in each image? Sorry, I couldn't resist, LOL

    Recipe Notes....lots of notes:

    #1 - my paint can came lined with some obnoxious smelling coating that I can pretty much guarantee is not food safe!! {I bought my can at Lowe's} So I decided to line my can with a large zipper top bag.....

    A large plastic zipper topped bag in the painted pain can with an upside down bowl in the center.

    #2 - this is a one gallon can, this is not a one gallon recipe. I added TWO upside down bowls to the bottom of the liner to fill in the space. You could also double or triple the recipe for a party. 😉

    #3 - I wanted my cauliflower to sit near the top and look like those foamy bubbles you always see on T.V., so I added them last and barely tossed them to coat with the sauce.....

    Cooked chunks of cauliflower sits on top of a layer of green macaroni and cheese in the paint can.

    and it looks like this when it's done.

    Green macaroni and cheese in a black paint container.

    Serve with Halloween Feet Loaf for an extra special meal!!

    More Recipe Notes & Tips: 

    • I added the chopped parsley out of habit, but it is not necessary.
    • Even with the two bowls, I wasn't enough to "overflow" the can but you guys get the idea.
    • The zipper bag was trimmed so the zipper was no longer visible, it needed to be blog photo worthy. I will be ordering an unlined can before I make this again.
    • I used Americolor Soft Gel Paste in Electric Green (updated)
    • Medium Shell pasta was used to make it look bumpy and less like macaroni and cheese. If you use a different shape let me know, I would love to see how it turns out!
    • I used Vermont sharp white cheddar cheese so it would be easier to turn it green, and it's still lactose-free.

    Additional green Halloween recipes:

    • Polyjuice Potion Cocktail Punch
    • Poisoned Apple Cocktail
    • Monster Mash Popcorn 
    • Salasa Verde Poporn

    I may be a bit obsessed with the color green. 😉

    Enjoy!!

    Green macaroni and cheese in a black paint container.

    Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese

    This Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese is disgustingly delicious and actually quite healthy. It's perfect meal during the Halloween season, and the kids will love eating it!
    4.26 from 27 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: green halloween party food
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 633kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Ingredients

    • .25 cup unsalted butter
    • .33 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2.5 cups whole milk (or Half & Half - I used Unsweetened CashewMilk)
    • 0.5 teaspoon sea salt
    • .25 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • .25 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
    • 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more if desired)
    • 8 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese (grated)
    • 1 package frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
    • green food coloring
    • 1 pound dry pasta (cooked and drained - I used medium shells)
    • 1 head fresh cauliflower (cut and steamed**)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a large pan/Dutch oven over medium-low heat.
    • Add the flour and whisk to combine. Simmer, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes.
    • Pour in the milk and whisk to combine and remove all lumps.
    • Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, and mustard, stir to combine.
    • Continue cooking until mixture starts to simmer, 6 to 8 minutes.
    • Remove from heat and add the grated cheese. Stir until melted and completely combined.
    • Add the drained spinach, stir to combine. Add a few drops of green food coloring if desired.
    • Add the drained pasta and stir until completely coated.
    • Stir in the steamed cauliflower, and serve immediately. **I left my cauliflower in large chunks and waited until the very end to add them so they would stay whole, and so they would look creepier sitting near the top.

    Notes

    • I added the chopped parsley out of habit, but it is not necessary.
    • Even with the two bowls, I wasn’t enough to “overflow” the can but you guys get the idea.
    • I trimmed the zipper bag so the zipper was no longer visible, it needed to be blog photo worthy.  I will be ordering an unlined can before I make this again.
    • I used Americolor Soft Gel Paste in Leaf Green
    • I chose Medium Shell pasta to make it look bumpy and less like macaroni and cheese. If you use a different shape let me know, I would love to see how it turns out!
    • I used Vermont sharp white cheddar cheese so it would be easier to turn it green, and it’s still lactose-free.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 633kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 542mg | Potassium: 806mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 6380IU | Vitamin C: 48.8mg | Calcium: 491mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Seana Turner says

      September 07, 2016 at 6:05 am

      I just love this kind of stuff. I miss having kids around to make this for - I TOTALLY would have made this for dinner when my girls were here. I tried every year. Maybe I will just have some friends over and go for it anyway... too fun not to. Pinning!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        September 10, 2016 at 12:21 pm

        You should make it for your friends Seana, they would get a kick out of it! I wish there was Pinterest when my kids were little, that really would have come in handy. 🙂

        Reply
    2. natalie says

      September 23, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      Do you think I could make the sauce a day ahead of time and then just heat it up and add the pasta? This looks fun!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        September 23, 2016 at 10:49 pm

        Hi Natalie, I honestly have no idea. In theory that should work, but I have never tried it before. If it works you will have to come back and let me know!

        Reply
    3. Aireanna says

      October 28, 2016 at 8:04 am

      Out of this world creative, definitely going to make this. Thks for the idea!

      Reply
    4. A.S says

      September 21, 2017 at 10:17 am

      looks disgusting

      Reply
    5. doyle says

      November 13, 2017 at 4:12 pm

      Made this recipe for Halloween this year and it turned out really well. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
    6. Geri Leyva says

      October 09, 2018 at 11:18 am

      Well i have to say just adding the rat creeping up to the pot in each picture made me laugh out loud and I am now a fan.

      Reply
    7. Libby says

      November 05, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      ziplock bags aren't safe for hot foods either. All plastic has VOC and will degas when heated.

      Reply
    8. Jaclyn Resendez says

      November 02, 2020 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      This was perfect for our Halloween spread! Wish I could post a pic of how it turned out.

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        November 28, 2020 at 1:46 pm

        I am so happy you liked it Jaclyn!!

        Reply
    9. Kelly L Beyer says

      March 08, 2021 at 7:04 am

      I made this in a lined crockpot without spinach and with regular food coloring. Turned out much lighter in color but still disgustingly delicious. Added oregano for the green flecks.

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        March 31, 2021 at 10:05 am

        Thanks so much for the idea, Kelly!

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Halloween in Quarantine | A Complete Guide to a Spooky Night at Home - Spooky Mama says:
      September 26, 2020 at 8:09 am

      […] Toxic Waste Mac N Cheese […]

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    2. 75+ Creepy Halloween Food Ideas for Parties which are Spooktacular and So Exciting - Recipe Magik says:
      October 3, 2020 at 1:34 am

      […] Toxic Waste Mac and Cheese by Cooking with Curls […]

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    3. 50+ Weirdly Wondrous Halloween Recipes You Just Can't Ignore - Recipe Magik says:
      October 5, 2020 at 9:41 am

      […] Toxic Waste Mac n Cheese By Cooking with Curls […]

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    4. Halloween & COVID: Keeping Your Little Ghouls Safe - Three Good Feels says:
      October 6, 2020 at 8:39 am

      […] the past I’ve made toxic mac and cheese , green “slime” punch, and green spaghetti and “eyeballs” (pictured). […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa - Welcome to my kitchen! I have a passion for good food and love sharing my creations with friends, family and everyone that loves a homecooked meal. This is where I share my favorite recipes with step-by-step instructions as well as tips and tricks to help you make these delicious recipes in your home.

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