Grilled Tots Mac and Cheese Sandwich

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

A comforting sandwich combining creamy mac and cheese with crispy tater tots, perfect for a hearty snack or casual meal. This American-inspired sandwich and wrap recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, butter, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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 elbow macaroni
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 12 pieces frozen tater tots
• 4 white sandwich bread slices
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp butter for grilling

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil in a medium pot. Add 1 cup elbow macaroni and cook for 7 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until lightly golden and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Slowly pour in 1 1/2 cups milk while whisking continuously. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth. Fold in the cooked macaroni.
5. Step 5: Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange 12 frozen tater tots on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy and golden.
6. Step 6: Spread 1 tbsp mayonnaise evenly on one side of each of the 4 bread slices.
7. Step 7: Divide the mac and cheese evenly over 2 bread slices (over the mayo side), then top each with 6 crispy tater tots.
8. Step 8: Place the remaining bread slices mayo side down on top. Melt 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
9. Step 9: Grill each sandwich for 3-4 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and crispy, and cheese is melty inside.