--- title: "Meatless Friday: Nonna's Super Cheesy Mac and Cheese" description: Sherry Hayes-Peirce and her grandchildren enjoy making her family's mac and cheese recipe together. Download our printable recipe card! image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20260116%20SPeirce%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Nonna's Super Cheesy Mac and Cheese Jan 16, 2026 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Sherry Hayes-Peirce](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sherry-hayes-peirce) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20260116%20SPeirce%201.png) *Sherry Hayes-Peirce and her grandchildren enjoy making her family's mac and cheese recipe together. Download our printable recipe card!* --- When I was a child, my mommy didn’t serve us Kraft macaroni and cheese. She always made us fresh homemade mac and cheese. So it has become one of my most cherished comfort foods and in recent years it’s become a family tradition to make it with my grandkids as a side dish for Thanksgiving. My grandkids Addie (5) and Cooper (7) now do the folding of the cheese in the noodles. Cooper folds while Addie pours the cheese in.    ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260116%20SPeirce%202.png?width=1080&height=1350&name=20260116%20SPeirce%202.png)   ## Nonna’s Super Cheesy Mac and Cheese ### Ingredients:  Pepper Salt  Granulated onion and garlic Paprika Olive Oil ¼ medium sized purple onion 2 orange and yellow bell peppers 4 large cloves of garlic  ½ stick of butter Small container of sour cream 1 small block of cheddar cheese 1 small block of pepper jack cheese 1 box of elbow macaroni  ### Directions:  Fill a medium boiler with water and add pepper, salt, granulated onion and granulated garlic and a couple of drops of olive oil. Then chop a quarter of the purple onion, the bell peppers and garlic cloves in the Cuisinart. Pulse until really fine. Sauté the chopped elements in olive oil. Grate both blocks of cheese, leaving ⅓ of each for the crust on the top. When the water comes to a boil drop the elbow macaroni and cook until tender or al dente. Pour the noodles into a colander to drain the water and then pour the noodles back into the hot boiler on a counter. Drop a ½ stick of butter and the sauteed veggies into the macaroni and then take a large spoon to fold in the cheese as it is poured in gradually. Keep folding until the cheese is melted and sticky. Then add two to three large tablespoons of sour cream. Pour into a baking dish and place the remaining cheese on top. Sprinkle pepper and paprika on top of the cheese for color and taste. Place in the oven at 350 and cook for 25 minutes.     [![Download printable recipe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/interactive-204512845082.png) ](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLL0RGl%2FAUjsQgSxfbVdH67X5RL4NC3YtQGv%2Ba5IxLo7oxLBnoI9cuy4ahua9jP22hIaPI7ajSD8KxIvgJGkmfw3o6gsyJzxvEVuQg%2B4JJV5CQBL%2Bm1QqFnQmNj%2BqPTcuHvMoLj7RHpnSSp0o4vdwOFVeeb9%2BCWuWpgh%2BZ7qQe0ioJ9HlLSVvv8gimFElEB4DZUxAR3YNbS2STnJfmvTWy36qz7p8qa%2FbNqA4UMLRM3t6eINCIRIJemfjQ%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=204512845082&portalId=275132)   [![See our full list of Meatless Friday recipes](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/interactive-188493254954.png) ](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLvhA8oCns2cES28p1uXQEsC9FHeWSTrbdbrLzh2ShyhP1%2B%2FlZXVYSH7D9%2BYaJGIdwBxNTXFTqG59qirqcEbxRTy7YnS8H%2BiunH%2F67CF%2Bu2XrgS2akgUdhcP%2BRJ0DulWDwAjMqQMrGTozPgeheDwxMnW2sJupL5%2Fm0NIRvCKh3spQcsxT7LWUohwgJfo41vjNjflq%2BSJkWkDstH&webInteractiveContentId=188493254954&portalId=275132)   Did you try this recipe? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles. --- Copyright 2026 Sherry Hayes-Peirce Images: (top) Canva; (center) copyright 2026 Sherry Hayes-Peirce, all rights reserved. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Nonna%27s%20Super%20Cheesy%20Mac%20and%20Cheese) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-nonnas-super-cheesy-mac-and-cheese%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Sherry Hayes-Peirce](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Sherry%20Hayes-Peirce.jpg) ### [Sherry Hayes-Peirce](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/sherry-hayes-peirce) Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media influencer, digital media strategist, blogger, conference speaker, podcast guest, and contributing author of the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She serves as a lector at LMU Los Angeles. She is a parishioner at American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA, serving as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Bereavement Minister, Earth Angel, Sisterhood Team Ministry, Widows Ministry, and Adorer. ## Related Blog Articles [ Lenten Journey Check-In Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/lenten-journey-check-in) [ Finding Consolation from Family Ties that Bind Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/finding-consolation-from-family-ties-that-bind) [ Yearning for the Eucharist Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/05/19/yearning-for-the-eucharist/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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