I make this quite a bit, but don’t have a picture handy just right now to show. This is not only fast because it uses the microwave, but tastes halfway decent. You can, of course, simply buy a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese or any number of other substitutes for around $1.50 to $2.50. I think that as far as Cheap Eats goes, this might beat them out if only slightly. It probably doesn’t beat out instant ramen recipes in price, but you can’t possibly eat that every day.

Macaroni Noodles w/ Parmesean Cheese

Macaroni (4 oz of $0.99 8 oz bag) — $0.50
Parmesan cheese (1/2 oz of $3.50 8oz can) — $0.22
Olive oil (1 tbsp of $4.00 12 fl. oz bottle) — $0.17
Butter (1 tbsp of $1.00 4 oz stick) — $0.13
Salt / pepper — negligible

Total: $1.02

Boil some water in a pot. Chuck in the macaroni with some salt and cook it until done. Drain it. Put it in a big microwave safe bowl, pour the olive oil and parmesan cheese over it and mix well. Throw in some black pepper. Put in the pat of butter and mix. Nuke the whole thing, but not too long. Maybe a minute, unless you’re starting with cold noodles. Mix again. Eat.

I know that olive oil is really expensive, but it’ll be difficult to use normal vegetable oil after tasting it with olive oil especially extra virgin olive oil. So much better. Well, plus oil has a high “nonspoilable factor” which is very important in Cheap Eats theory. One key is to make sure to buy GENERIC grated parmesan cheese. It’s cheaper, and if you can stand Kraft Parmesan “cheese” you can stand the generic version.

I also like to make a large amount of extra macaroni and keep the cooked noodles in a container in the fridge. That way you can take them out and make these noodles even quicker because the noodles are pre-cooked. As an alternative, if you can afford it, try chop some green olives up (best bought in a jar, for nonspoilablity) and throw that in too.

Cheap Eats Score: 8/10