National Macaroni Day Date in the current year: July 7, 2024

Macaroni is an English variant of the Italian word maccheroni that denotes a type of small, tube-shaped pasta that originated in Naples. Macaroni can be straight or bent (curved); bent macaroni may be referred to as elbow macaroni.

In the English language, the word “macaroni” has become synonymous with curved macaroni because this macaroni variety is most often used to cook mac and cheese. Interestingly, in a number of languages, “macaroni” has become a generic term for all pasta varieties.

Arguably the most popular dish made with macaroni, at least in the United States, is macaroni and cheese, typically called simply mac and cheese. Its main ingredients are macaroni (usually elbow-shaped) and a cheese sauce. Brought to the country by Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century, macaroni and cheese is one of the best-known American comfort foods.

During Jefferson’s stay in Paris James Hemmings, a slave Jefferson brought along, studied cooking to become a chef. Among many dishes Hemmings encountered in France was a dish of pasta and cheese. Upon his return to the United States, Hemmings modified it to create a “macaroni pie” that has evolved into mac and cheese we all know and love.

Traditional mac and cheese is an oven-baked casserole with a sauce of Cheddar cheese, milk, and butter. Cheddar cheese can be replaced with other cheeses with a sharp flavor such as Gouda or Gruyere. The dish can also incorporate other ingredients such as meat (bacon, chicken, ground beef, ham, roast beef), breadcrumbs or crushed crackers as a crunchy topping, various vegetables (broccoli, carrots, leek, onions, peppers, tomatoes), dried herbs, legumes, mushrooms, canned salmon or tuna, and even lobster.

Like most food days, National Macaroni Day is an unofficial holiday with an unclear origin. But don’t let this keep you from celebrating one of the most popular types of pasta and all the delicious dishes you can cook with macaroni!

The best way to celebrate National Macaroni Day is, of course, to use macaroni in cooking. This pasta is used in many more recipes than just mac and cheese. You can boil macaroni in water and serve it with various sauces, add it to soups, stir fries, casseroles and salads, and even make a sweet macaroni pudding with milk and sugar. If you’re feeling adventurous, invite your friends over for a macaroni cook-off to see who comes up with the best macaroni dish.

Another great way to honor macaroni is to use it to make macaroni art and crafts. You can create pictures by gluing macaroni to a flat surface, string macaroni pieces to make jewelry, or glue pasta onto various objects to decorate them. To make your macaroni crafts even more interesting, you can dye the pasta in different colors.

And don’t forget to share photos of your macaroni dishes or macaroni artwork on social media with the hashtag #NationalMacaroniDay to promote the holiday.