Cannabutter Mac & Cheese
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links where I may earn commission from qualifying purchases.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
A classic mac & cheese recipe with an elevated twist
Cheesy and creamy macaroni with a crispy panko crust
Perfect side dish or for enjoying as it’s own meal
Made with cannabis infused butter aka cannabutter
HOW DO YOU MAKE CANNABIS bUTTER?
Cannabis butter is super easy to make and is a great infusion staple to have in your refrigerator at all times. Cannabutter can be made in less than 3 hours using cannabis infusion devices or the classic oven and stove crockpot method. I like to use modern day cannabis devices because they’re easy to use, easy to clean up, and don’t leave any odours in your kitchen when you’re decarbing and infusing like the traditional crock pot or oven method. Remember - decarboxylation is a very important step when it comes to making homemade infusions. Decarboxylation is the process where heat is applied to the cannabis flower, thus releasing the active cannabinoids such as THC and CBD which offer psychoactive effects. If you don’t decarb your cannabis flower, you will only have THCA and CBDA, the precursor compounds to THC and CBD. Although THCA and CBDA are great cannabinoids in their own ways, they won’t offer psychoactive effects if that is hat you are looking for.
I like to use either the LEVO II oil infusion machine or the Ardent Fx device. Both devices can decarboxylate your cannabis and infuse your cannabis. Check out this article for 6 simple steps making the best cannabis infusions for the best tips and tricks when it comes to making your own cannabis infused oil 0r butters at home. I highly recommend investing in either of these devices if you plan on making homemade edibles often. They make the decarbing, infusing, and cooking/baking process so much simpler and cleaner! I’m one of those home cooks that absolutely hate cleaning up after cooking, so any chance that I can have to save some time and energy from cleaning, I’m all for it!
Use code “CANNABINISTA” for $30 off the Ardent all-in-one cannabis kitchen device
Use code “CANNABINISTA” for 10% off the LEVO oil infusion machine
HOW MUCH CANNABIS BUTTER SHOULD I USE?
If you are using homemade butter, make sure you use an online dosage calculator to determine the dosage per serving. I like to also use the tCheck cannabis potency tester device in conjunction with the online calculator so I have two reference points. Use code “CANNABINISTA” for $25 off the tCheck cannabis potency tester.
It’s important to know what your personal dosage is, and never rely on someone to tell you what your own dose should be. The rule of thumb is always to start low, and go slow. Start off with a few mg of CBD or THC, hang out for an hour or two, and see how you feel. There’s many factors that can affect how much dosage is required in order to trigger the psychoactive or desired effects (ie. mood, stomach fullness, sleep, etc.) so don’t be alarmed if you’re using a dosage that worked yesterday, but not today.
Ultimately, the amount of cannabis infused butter that you use in this recipe will really depend on your personal preferences. I highly recommend doing the math with the online dosage calculator to determine how potent you want each slice of cake to be. To be conservative with the potency, use half cannabutter and half regular butter. This method will also help with reducing the herby taste in the final dish as you are blending it out with a neutral butter.
INGREDIENTS (+SUBSTITUTIONS)
Elbow macaroni: You can use any pasta you look, but if you want to stick with a classic mac and cheese, opt for the macaroni. I recommend getting a pasta made in Italy as the ingredients will be higher quality and not include any filler ingredients. I find that higher quality pasta doesn’t make me as bloated after eating it. You will most likely have to pay a premium of about $1 more than the cheapest brand on the shelf, but I promise you it’s worth it. Substitute for chickpea pasta if you have a grain or gluten intolerance.
Extra virgin olive oil: This ingredient totally optional - feel free to use any oil you have at home or skip completely. The purpose of the EVOO is to coat the pasta so it doesn’t get too mushy with the cheese and cream once it’s combined.
Unsalted regular butter: I recommend using a combination of regular butter and infused butter in the recipe. There are two parts of the recipe that both require butter, so make sure you are deciding in advance how much infused butter you actually want to use for the dish. In total, the recipe will use 10 tbsps of butter so you can use 5 tbsps of regular butter and 5 tbsps of cannabutter, or any combination of the two. It will really depend on the potency of your cannabis butter.
Cannabutter: For a vegan option, opt for a vegan butter or substitute for olive oil. The final dish won’t have the same taste as a traditional mac & cheese, but it’s. ma great option for those who are vegan or lactose.
All Purpose Flour: Substitute for almond flour for a grain free option, or even gluten-free oat flour. I wouldn’t recommend using coconut flour as that’s going to overpower the flavour of the dish.
Whole Milk & Whipping Cream: For dairy free options, use almond milk or oat milk.
Cheese: I used a combination of a sharp cheddar cheese, gruyere, and parmesan. I like to use cheeses that have different textures, colours, and flavours as it will create a very bold mac and cheese with alot of depth. For a vegan option, use vegan cheese.
Panko Crumbs: If you don’t have access to panko crumbs, you can use bread crumbs as well. I personally prefer panko because it’s lighter and gets more crispy after being baked. Simply omit this ingredient if you have gluten or grain intolerances.
Salt, Pepper, Paprika: Feel free to use any combination of seasonings that you like. Remember not to oversalt as the cheese will already be naturally salty!
TIPS & TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
Cook the pasta until it’s 1 minute before al dente. If you overcook it, it will become too mushy after the pasta goes into the oven.
For layers of cheese in every bite, add half the pasta into the baking dish and then layer with cheese. Then add more pasta on top. And then add a final layer of cheese.
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
Pot and baking dish
Mixing tools
SHOP THE TOOLS & INGREDIENTS
Shop my Amazon Storefront for all my favourite kitchen appliances and cannabis infusion tools
wANT DISCOUNTS FOR CANNABIS KITCHEN TECH?
Use code “CANNABINISTA” for $30 off the Ardent all-in-one cannabis kitchen device
Use code “CANNABINISTA” for 10% off the LEVO oil infusion machine
Use code “CANNABINISTA” for $25 off the tCheck cannabis potency tester
Cannabutter Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 2 cups gruyere cheese (shredded)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1.5 cups panko crumbs
- 4 tbsp melted cannabis butter
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Lightly grease a 4 quart baking dish and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Cook it 1 minute before it becomes al dente. Remove from the heat, rinse in cold water and drain. Set aside in a large bowl.
- Drizzle the pasta with extra virginal olive oil and toast.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter.
- Whisk in flour and allow the mixture to bubble.
- Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until smooth. Continue whisking until you see the mixture bubble.
- Add salt and pepper to the mixture.
- Gradually added half of each of the shredded cheeses. Whisk until creay and smooth.
- Turn off the heat and pour the pasta into the cheesy mixture. Mix until the pasta is fully coated with cheese.
- Pour half of the mac and cheese into the baking dish. Layer with cheese. Repeat until all the cheese and pasta are in the dish.
- In a small bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, melted butter, and paprika.
- Drizzle the toppings on top of the pasta.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top of the pasta is golden brown.
Notes
For a double layered cake, double the recipe and bake in two 8-inch pans.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
980Fat
60Sat. Fat
35Carbs
71Fiber
3Net carbs
68Sugar
8Protein
39Sodium
914Cholesterol
170Nutritional information will depend on the ingredients and portions that you use.
Learn how to make decarb and infuse the special herb in the comfort of your own home! In this 30 page digital guide, Cannabinista breaks down the science of decarboxylation, how to calculate the potency of your homemade infusions, and provides step-by-step guide on how to infuse olive oil, butter, and coconut oil with the traditional oven and stove method, or with modern devices like the LEVO.
After learning the basics to infusing at home, take those learnings and make Cannabinista’s top recipes - canna powder, infused chili oil, infused coffee, and even topicals like a canna muscle cream!
For a limited time only, all purchasers will be entered to win a brand new LEVO C ($299 USD value)! This is an offer you definitely don’t want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Join me on an elevated cannabis infusion journey today!
Hello! I’m Anna and I’m a cannabis recipe developer and digital content creator with a huge passion for food and the plant.
I love creating healthy and delicious cannabis infused recipes as I believe it’s a great way to consume the plant. I’m very lucky to be living in a country like Canada, where cannabis is legalized recreationally and medically.
Outside of making yummy recipes, I’m an advocate and educator for the plant, working to end stigmas. I believe that just because you consume the plant, it does not define who you are or your success as an individual. Cannabis consumers come from all walks of life, and their choice for consumption should be respected.
