The Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Ever
Grab a spoon and loosen your belt! We've rounded up 20 macaroni and cheese recipes to wow you, from classic baked to Buffalo chicken.
Amazing Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese; photo by Olga Ivanova
I’ve been crazy for macaroni and cheese for as long as I can remember. That creamy, cheesy sauce. The toasted cheese edges! Every scoop (and second, and third scoop) delivering pure comfort food bliss. Growing up, it was my mom’s simple baked macaroni and cheese that I craved, especially when she made it by request for my birthday. Now I look forward to my husband’s and sons’ company-sized casseroles (my mother-in-law’s secret recipe) featuring elbow macaroni, whole milk, extra-sharp cheddar, and a generous dusting of smoked paprika.
But truth be told, I say a big yes to all forms of homemade mac and cheese, whether we’re talking a quick stovetop version, a classic baked casserole, or a deluxe variation with chicken, bacon, or even lobster.
If you love mac and cheese like I do, you owe yourself some tasty explorations beyond the box. Which one will become your signature recipe?
Jump ahead to:
Classic baked mac and cheese >>
Thanksgiving mac and cheese >>
Gluten-free, keto, and vegan mac and cheese >>
Creative macaroni and cheese >>
Mac and cheese Q&A
If this is your first time venturing into homemade macaroni and cheese territory, start here.
1. How to make mac and cheese
To make classic macaroni and cheese, you boil elbow macaroni in a large pot of water until just tender (al dente) and then drain. Meanwhile, make a cheese sauce (see more on that below). Stir the sauce into the cooked macaroni, and you have a quick, stovetop mac and cheese recipe. Pour the works into a buttered baking dish and bake at 350°F or 375°F until golden brown, and you’ve got baked macaroni and cheese. Bonus points: For a crunchy topping, add panko breadcrumbs tossed with melted butter and paprika to the baked version before it goes into the oven.
2. How to make mac and cheese sauce
Mac and cheese sauce starts with a bechamel. That’s a French sauce made by cooking butter (salted or unsalted butter) with all-purpose flour in a saucepan over medium heat until bubbly. You whisk milk into the roux (the butter-flour mixture) to keep it from clumping and let it come to a boil. Season with salt, black pepper, maybe some dry mustard or garlic powder or cayenne if you want to branch out, and then stir in plenty of cheddar cheese until it’s melted. You can vary the cheese with Gruyere, gouda, Colby, or Parmesan, or with mozzarella or Monterey jack for something milder. Just keep in mind that pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as nicely as cheese you shred yourself.
3. How long to bake mac and cheese
Bake macaroni and cheese in a preheated oven at 350°F or 375°F for about 30 minutes, or until bubbling and golden brown. If you’ve made mac and cheese ahead of time and refrigerated it, bake it covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes, then uncover it and bake until golden brown and at least 165°F in the center, another 20-30 minutes.
4. What goes with mac and cheese?
What doesn’t go with mac and cheese? Seriously, in terms of side dishes, all you need is some steamed broccoli or another favorite vegetable like collard greens, or a tossed green salad.
5. What to add to mac and cheese
To change up your mac ‘n’, check out the creative variations below. You might add in bacon or ham, shredded chicken, herbs like fresh thyme or rosemary, butternut squash, even lobster.
6. How long is mac and cheese good for?
Leftover macaroni and cheese keeps 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer, but in my house, it’s gone long before that.
7. How to reheat mac and cheese
To reheat a casserole of macaroni and cheese, bake it covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes, then uncover it and bake until golden brown and at least 165°F in the center, another 20-30 minutes. To reheat a single serving of mac and cheese, spoon it into a bowl, drape with a paper towel, and microwave until hot, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Classic baked mac and cheese
Okay, let’s dive into the best mac and cheese recipes! First up: traditional baked.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
What defines a classic macaroni and cheese? In this case, a generous 4 to 5 tablespoons butter, flour, and whole milk for the sauce to coat the cooked macaroni; seasonings including plenty of salt and black pepper — plus dry mustard and ground nutmeg if you're feeling fancy; extra-sharp cheddar as well as Parmesan; and a shower of breadcrumbs on top. Feel free to sprinkle the casserole with paprika, then bake to perfection.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Chef Carla Hall sure knows her Southern comfort food. Her version of baked macaroni and cheese includes a couple of extras that take the cheddar cheese sauce to the next level: sauteed onion for depth of flavor, and a couple of eggs for an extra creamy texture.
Amazing Four-Cheese Mac and Cheese
Why limit yourself to sharp cheddar cheese when you can wow the gang with Gruyere, gouda, and cream cheese as well? And don’t forget the buttery Ritz cracker crumbs on top of the casserole. Everyone will be asking for the recipe.
Easy mac and cheese
You’re craving macaroni and cheese big time, but you’re in a hurry — or maybe you’re a beginning cook. These recipes have your name on them.
4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
You know how I was saying that stovetop mac and cheese is just like baked mac and cheese, only not…baked? This clever recipe takes things a step further, and uses whipping cream as the base for the sauce instead of milk thickened with flour and butter. Heat the cream and stir in cheddar cheese, Parmesan, cooked macaroni, and the freebie ingredients salt and pepper. Done.
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
When you don’t have a free hand to whisk over the stove, put your Crock Pot to work. Evaporated milk, American cheese (Velveeta), and cream cheese magically meld together in the slow cooker to ensure this mac and cheese turns out extra creamy.
The Best Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
In case you don’t already own an Instant Pot, this recipe might change your mind. Put uncooked noodles, water, and salt in the pressure cooker and cook for 3 minutes. Yes, 3 minutes cook time! Then add evaporated milk, butter, and cream cheese and stir until melted. Finally, turn off the heat and stir in shredded cheddar and Parmesan. Total time: 15 minutes.
Cheater Macaroni and Cheese
If you’re looking for an extra-easy (but still baked) macaroni and cheese, this brilliant recipe skips boiling the pasta and making a roux on the stovetop and has you toss uncooked noodles right into the baking dish (or foil pan). A generous amount of milk means the noodles cook to the perfect al dente in the oven and thicken the sauce with their starch while they’re at it. Butter and shredded cheese? You toss them into the pan as well. The total time clocks in at 1 1/4 hours, but we’re talking minimal prep time. This is very much a hands-off kind of recipe.
Thanksgiving mac and cheese
In the South in particular, Thanksgiving feasts aren’t complete without a big dish of macaroni and cheese. In fact, credit for first cooking macaroni and cheese in America goes to a Southerner, James Hemings, who was the enslaved chef of Thomas Jefferson. Hemings and Jefferson tried noodles with cheese in France and Italy during Jefferson’s time as United States minister to France and then popularized the combination back home.
Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
Cooks with Soul slips a little Cajun seasoning into their extra-cheesy version of mac ‘n’ cheese that stars on their family’s Thanksgiving table. And they go with curly cavatappi pasta instead of the usual elbow noodles to give the cheese sauce more to hold onto. When you’re looking for comfort food, this one’s a winner.
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Grandbaby Cakes makes a three-cheese sauce with cheddar, manchego, and Gruyere and seasons her baked macaroni and cheese with an intriguing combination of nutmeg, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and dry mustard.
Insanely Cheesy And Creamy Mac & Cheese
Are you expecting a big crowd this Thanksgiving? Two pounds of macaroni, nearly 9 pounds of cheese (sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, and Velveeta), plus 5 eggs go into this super-sized, creamy mac and cheese recipe, which fills a deep-dish foil lasagna pan.
Gluten-free, keto, and vegan mac and cheese
As these next recipes prove, there’s no need to pass up macaroni and cheese even when you follow a special diet.
Easy Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
Gone are the days when avoiding gluten meant giving up the glories of mac and cheese. Now most grocery stores carry a wide array of gluten-free pasta, and it’s a grab-and-go kind of a deal. For a thicker sauce that doesn’t require flour, this clever recipe includes 1/2 cup heavy cream and some cream cheese as well as 1 1/2 cups milk and the usual sharp cheddar cheese.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
If you’re following the keto diet, traditional mac and cheese with pasta and a flour-thickened sauce is off-limits. Fortunately, you can still make keto baked macaroni and cheese! Well, after a fashion. Swap out the mac for cauliflower and top the dish with crumbled pork rinds instead of bread crumbs; then carry on with your luscious cheesy casserole.
Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese
I’m not vegan myself, but have plenty of friends who are, so I’ll be keeping this recipe handy. Nutritional yeast and cashews make for a creamy, delicious, and entirely plant-based take on mac and cheese.
Creative macaroni and cheese
If your idea of the perfect comfort food is a spin on a classic, you’ve landed at the right place.
Skillet Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese
Picture a creamy, cheesy stovetop mac with the addition of juicy chicken, herbs, garlic, sauteed mushrooms and onion, roasted peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s an adventurous yet crowd-pleasing meal that all comes together in one pan.
Mac & Cheese with Roasted Chicken
Mac and cheese with chicken! It sounds simple, and it is: This recipe transforms regular ol’ mac n’ cheese from a side dish into a show-stopping main event. Rotisserie chicken makes the dish hearty and filling. Meanwhile, goat cheese and an infusion of rosemary make it the perfect fancy dish to serve to company.
Bacon Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
Talk about the fully loaded mac and cheese experience. Ground beef seasoned with ketchup, mustard, and 12 strips of crispy bacon meets a three-cheese mac ‘n.’ Reviews from Yummly home cooks confirm that tasting is believing for this hearty main dish.
Super Cheesy Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese
Instead of cooked pasta, build your “mac” with roasted cauliflower florets so you get your veggies. Plenty of sharp cheddar, Gruyere, and Parmesan cheeses make the recipe plenty indulgent.
Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
Can we all give a round of applause for the mystery hero who decided to create lobster mac and cheese? This version combines elbow macaroni with Gruyere and cheddar cheese sauce, a generous shake of nutmeg, and 1 1/2 pounds lobster meat for a drool-worthy mac.
Butternut Squash Whole-Wheat Mac & Cheese
If you’re looking for a healthier version of the classic mac 'n' cheese, you just have to try this recipe. First, elbow pasta is swapped out for whole-wheat egg noodles, then butternut squash puree is combined with grated cheeses for the sauce. (Short on time? I would totally try this with canned pumpkin puree instead of the butternut squash.) You’ll still get all the flavors you love in mac 'n' cheese, but with a lighter touch.
Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese
As one Yummly reviewer said after trying this recipe, “Will never make regular mac n cheese again.” I mean, yeah. We’re talking macaroni with a wake-up-your-tastebuds pour of hot sauce, plus butter and shredded chicken in a white cheddar-Monterey jack cheese sauce. But the real clincher for me is the double panko topping — the first layer made with crumbled blue cheese, garlic, and hot sauce, and the second with just panko and olive oil for extra crunch. I’m heading to the kitchen right now.
Comfort food to the rescue
Keep exploring for more weeknight wins that will make the whole family happy.