Macaroni and Cheese for Large Group Calculator
The Macaroni and Cheese for Large Group calculator computes the amount of ingredients needed to prepare a creamy, baked mac and cheese dish for a group.
INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:
- (n) Number of People to be Served
Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients (MI): The calculator returns the amounts of the following ingredients:
- Elbow Macaroni
- Butter
- All-Purpose Flour
- Whole Milk
- Heavy Cream
- Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
- Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded)
- Parmesan Cheese (Grated)
- Salt
- Ground Black Pepper
- Paprika (optional)
- Mustard Powder (optional)
- Bread Crumbs (for topping)
Ingredient amounts are given in kitchen-friendly units: cups, tablespoons, pounds, and ounces. The calculator will adjust these values based on the number of servings.
Cooking Instructions
Preparing the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add elbow macaroni and cook until al dente (about 7–8 minutes).
- Drain and set aside.
- Making the Cheese Sauce
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour to make a roux; cook for 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and cream. Continue to stir until thickened.
- Lower heat and stir in shredded cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses.
- Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and mustard powder (if using).
- Assembling and Baking
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Combine cooked macaroni and cheese sauce in a large baking dish.
- Top with extra shredded cheese and bread crumbs.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
The Math / Science
This recipe serves 9 people with the following base quantities:
- Elbow Macaroni – 1 lb
- Butter – ½ cup (1 stick)
- All-Purpose Flour – ½ cup
- Whole Milk – 2 cups
- Heavy Cream – 1 cup
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – 3 cups
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – 1 cup
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- Grated Parmesan Cheese – ½ cup
- Salt – 1½ tsp
- Ground Black Pepper – ½ tsp
- Paprika (optional) – ½ tsp
- Mustard Powder (optional) – ¼ tsp
- Bread Crumbs – ½ cup
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The calculator will divide each amount by 9 and multiply by the number of people to serve.
Group Meal Planning Calculator
Serving food to larger groups often requires dishes that are easy to prepare in bulk, can be kept warm or cold for extended periods, and are generally well-received by a diverse audience.
Imagine you’re hosting a party for 50 people. You want to serve lasagna, a garden salad, garlic bread, and brownies for dessert. Here's how the calculator helps:
- Step 1: Select lasagna, garden salad, garlic bread, and brownies from the menu.
- Step 2: Enter "50" as your guest count.
- Step 3: Instantly receive ingredient lists for each dish, scaled to serve 50 people.
- Step 4: Generate and print your complete shopping list.
No more guessing or manual calculations—our Group Meal Planning Calculator does it all for you. Say goodbye to the hassle of meal planning and enjoy your event stress-free!
Here are some popular options:
Main Courses
Pasta Dishes
Casseroles
Barbecue and Grill
- Hotdogs: Computes the number of hotdogs (sausages etc.) for a group including buns and fixings.
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- Taco bars with various fillings (beef, chicken, beans)
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- Various toppings to cater to different preferences
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- Assorted cold cuts
- Meatball subs
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Sides
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- Garden salad
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- Potato salad: Computes the pounds of potatoes and amount of ingredients to make potato salad for a group.
- Coleslaw
Vegetables
- Roasted vegetables
- Green beans almondine
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Bread/Rolls
- Garlic bread
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