The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (2024)

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So many ways to make mac and cheese—all delicious.

By

Rachel Knecht

The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (1)

Rachel Knecht

Rachel Knecht turned her home baking into a career in 2016 when she began working as the head baker at The Greenbean Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA. Afterwards, she started Baking with Rachel (her blog), began teaching kids' cooking classes, and recipe tested for the cookbook "Let's Stay In" by Ashley Rodriguez.

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Published March 03, 2024

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When my boys were little, we always checked a restaurant's menu to make sure they had mac and cheese before going. At home, I turned to boxes of Annie's Shells and Aged Cheddar for a quick side dish or easy weekend lunch. Mac and cheese was always such a hit that I decided I needed to start making it from scratch—it's not that hard anyway! With cheese and milk always on hand, all I needed was a box of pasta and a go-to recipe.

No matter how many times I make macaroni and cheese, it's never boring. I can use up leftover cheese, vegetables, and meat. I can make it the main dish or a side. I can add breadcrumbs and turn it into a casserole or serve it right out of the pot on the stove. Plus, leftovers make coveted lunches.

Below are 20 mouthwatering mac and cheese recipes for feeding all the hungry people at your table.

  • One-Pot Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (4)

    The streamlined technique keeps the dishes to a minimum but doesn’t sacrifice on flavor. Cream cheese and two types of shredded cheeses work together to make it silky smooth.

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  • Chili Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (5)

    Ground beef, chili powder, onions, and tomatoes all bring bold flavors to this cheesy macaroni. If you don't have a 12-inch cast iron skillet, you could use a Dutch oven or transfer it to a casserole dish when it's time to bake.

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  • DIY Macaroni and Cheese Mix

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (6)

    How many boxes of mac and cheese does it take to feed a hungry family? More than I have in my pantry, that’s for sure. With cheese powder and tapioca starch, you can make a supply to last months.

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  • Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (7)

    The addition of cream cheese makes creamy mac and cheese possible without béchamel. You can keep the unbaked casserole in the freezer for up to one month.

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    Continue to 5 of 20 below.

  • Cauliflower Pasta Bake

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (8)

    Roasting the cauliflower and onion is a hands-free way to add extra flavor—you don’t want to skip this step.

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  • Vegan Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (9)

    This recipe takes a whole new approach to “cheesy” vegan mac and cheese. You’ll purée potatoes, carrots, and soaked cashews, along with a flavorful mix of spices, for the sauce. Turmeric gives it the yellow color so no one is the wiser.

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  • Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (10)

    I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count. If you use a Dutch oven, you can boil the pasta first and then use the same pot for the sauce. I add all the spices at one time and it’s always perfect.

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  • Civil War Macaroni and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (11)

    Get a history lesson along with dinner. This recipe is similar to what would have been made in the 1860s. Instead of boiling the pasta in water and then making the cheese sauce, you boil the pasta in the milk and add in a mixture of melted butter and cheese.

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    Continue to 9 of 20 below.

  • Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (12)

    This is the kind of slow cooker recipe I’m into: set and forget. Pasta cooks relatively quickly, so it takes about two hours from start to finish.

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  • Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (13)

    Exactly what I want to make on a busy weeknight. You can use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.

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  • Creamy Basil Artichoke Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (14)

    Basil is more than a garnish in this easy recipe. It is steeped in the milk and cream mixture and adds a subtle fresh flavor to the sauce.

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  • Creamy Cavatappi

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (15)

    This spiral pasta dish is decadent, quick, easy, and uses pantry staples. If you can’t find cavatappi, a different spiral or macaroni pasta will work!

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    Continue to 13 of 20 below.

  • Pesto Havarti Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (16)

    Level up your mac and cheese by adding spinach pesto and creamy havarti to the sauce.

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  • Broccoli Cheddar Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (17)

    Broccoli is my favorite vegetable to eat with mac and cheese. Instead of taking up more space on the stove, the broccoli is placed in a steamer basket and set over the same pot of boiling water for the pasta. Genius!

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  • Quick Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (18)

    Dinner is on the table in 20 minutes when you make this unfussy mac and cheese.

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  • Spinach Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (19)

    This mac and cheese uses three boxes of frozen spinach, but doesn’t overwhelm the comforting, cheesy dish.

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    Continue to 17 of 20 below.

  • Green Chile Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (20)

    Use up your stash of chiles from the garden or raid the pantry for a few cans of diced green chiles for dinner tonight.

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  • Chorizo Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (21)

    Spicy chorizo and pepper jack cheese wake up this baked mac and cheese and turn it into the star it was meant to be. You’ll get rave reviews when you serve it at your next BBQ.

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  • Green Goddess Mac and Cheese

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (22)

    Skip the side salad and stir puréed spinach and parsley into the cheese sauce for this green mac and cheese.

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  • Trinidadian Macaroni Pie

    The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (23)

    "Caribbean macaroni pie is a beloved baked macaroni and cheese dish that no gathering can go without," writes contributor Alica Rampikpal-Senhouse. "Once it’s done baking it should hold its shape when cut, even when right out of the oven. This firmness is a big part of what distinguishes macaroni pie from macaroni and cheese found outside of the Caribbean."

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The 20 Best Mac and Cheese Recipes Ever (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

How does Paula Deen make mac and cheese? ›

directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly butter an 8x12" baking dish.
  3. In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente. ...
  4. Add two cups of the cheese and toss until melted.
  5. In another bowl, whisk the eggs with the sour cream.
  6. Add the milk, butter, and 1/2 teaspoons salt.

What is the most perfect cheese to use on Mac & cheese? ›

Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

How do I make my mac and cheese better? ›

Spices: A little garlic powder and onion powder goes a long way in making this the best easy mac and cheese ever! Definitely don't skimp on these. You could also add a bit of paprika, black pepper, or even a splash of hot sauce if you want to amp up the flavor even more.

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What three cheeses go well together for mac and cheese? Cheddar (white or yellow), Gruyère, Swiss, and gouda are some of the most popular types of cheeses to use for homemade mac and cheese, thanks to their flavorful, meltable qualities. For richer flavor, incorporate some funky varieties like blue cheese and Parmesan.

What's in Bob Evans mac and cheese? ›

Cooked Enriched Pasta (Water, Elbow Macaroni [Semolina (Wheat), Niacin, Iron (Ferrous Sulfate), Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid]), Milk, Water, Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread (American Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Water, Whey, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less than 2% of ...

Why is my homemade mac and cheese not creamy? ›

Pro Tip: Don't use pre-shredded cheese. Many store-bought shredded cheese brands coat their cheese with an anti-caking agent than can make sauces grainy and less creamy. While it requires a bit of an arm workout, grating your own yields the best texture.

Why do you add flour to homemade mac and cheese? ›

You can thicken cheese sauce further by adding more flour or even using a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch or flour with a cup of water. The cold water will create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the cheese sauce over medium heat, and let the sauce boil and thicken.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Dairy – Evaporated milk and half-and-half make a more decadent, creamier sauce without spending all that time simmering it to make it thick enough. I also have a cheap shortcut to making your own evaporated milk. And, yes, you can use half cream and half whole milk if you don't have half-and-half.

Why add cream cheese to mac and cheese? ›

Cream cheese: To make this mac and cheese extra creamy, we add a little cream cheese to the sauce. It adds a lovely silky texture.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

What can I add to homemade mac and cheese to give it more flavor? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What to add to a box of mac and cheese to make it better? ›

How to Make Boxed Mac and Cheese Taste Better. To improve the tang and overall cheesiness of your boxed mac, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt to the cooked and drained pasta while it's still warm. Toss to combine, then stir in the cheese powder until it's uniformly blended.

What are the top 7 cheeses to use in mac and cheese? ›

7 Best Cheeses for Macaroni and Cheese
  • Cheddar. Cheddar is a staple for countless recipes. ...
  • Parmesan. Parmesan is a salty cheese with complex flavors. ...
  • Gruyere. Update your mac and cheese recipes to something more mature with Gruyere. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Smoked Gouda. ...
  • Monterey Jack. ...
  • Fontina. ...
  • Sausage Mac and Cheese.

What is the best cheese according to chefs? ›

A Cheese Expert's Guide to 10 Essential Cheeses to Know and Love
  • Brie de Meaux-Style Brie.
  • Pyrénées Sheep.
  • Comté
  • Clothbound Cheddar.
  • Aged (Goat) Gouda.
  • Bleu d'Auvergne AOC/PDO.
  • Époisses de Bourgogne PDO.
  • Le Chevrot.

What does Gordon Ramsay cook best? ›

Gordon Ramsay's best recipes include Beef Wellington, Coq au Vin, Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Piccata, Rack of Lamb, Baked Salmon with Lemon and Dill, Shrimp Scampi, Beef and Guinness Stew, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Beef Burgundy.

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