Grilled Tater Tot Mac and Cheese Sandwich

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

A comforting sandwich layering creamy mac and cheese and crispy tater tots, grilled to golden perfection with melted cheddar and pickles. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs macaroni pasta, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 720 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup macaroni pasta
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 12 pieces frozen tater tots
• 4 sourdough bread slices
• 8 dill pickle slices
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil, add 1 cup macaroni pasta, and cook for 7 minutes until just tender; drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat, then whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbling and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Gradually whisk in 1 cup milk, stirring constantly, and cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth; fold in the drained macaroni.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and bake 12 frozen tater tots on a baking sheet for 20 minutes until crispy and golden.
6. Step 6: Spread 1 tbsp mayonnaise evenly on each of 4 slices of sourdough bread.
7. Step 7: Divide the mac and cheese evenly onto 2 bread slices, top each with 6 crispy tater tots and 4 dill pickle slices, then cover with the remaining bread slices, mayonnaise side down.
8. Step 8: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, grill each sandwich for 3-4 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted inside.
9. Step 9: Remove sandwiches from skillet, let rest for 2 minutes, then slice in half and serve warm.