46 of the Best Mac & Cheese Recipes on the Internet (2024)

The Best Mac & Cheese Recipes on the Internet

The Cabot Cheese Board presents their favorite variations on an American culinary classic.

You would be hard pressed to find a more popular, family friendly, crowd-pleasing dish than classic Macaroni and Cheese. Its provenance goes back centuries, to the court of French kings, then on to the British Empire.

The first written recipe for this dish seems to be from a cookbook calledThe Experienced English Housekeeper,published in 1769. It’s a recipe not too far removed from modern day mac and cheese, consisting of a bechamel sauce with Cheddar, mixed with macaroni, sprinkled with Parmesan, then baked until bubbly and golden. Sounds familiar, right?

Fast forward 250 years, and you can see that this dish truly has staying power. And while people all over the world love this tried and true comfort food, it’s also true that famous chefs and home cooks alike are eager to experiment with the basic preparation.

The wonderful thing about macaroni and cheese is that it starts as a blank canvas and lends itself to flights of foodie fantasy. Feeling elegant? Add lobster or shrimp. Maybe you want a little healthier version. Nothing perks up the cheesy goodness more than your favorite veggies. Maybe meat’s more to your liking. Adding steak, ground beef, chicken or turkey can make a one-pot meal in minutes.

With a little culinary experimentation, you can even make exciting internationally themed versions of mac and cheese with choice ingredients. Add chorizo and salsa for a Mexican flair. In the mood for Italian? Toss your cheese covered macaroni with chopped basil and tomatoes. Adding bratwurst brings a German flair to the proceedings.

The variations on this delicious theme are almost endless. And you can see by this list of favorites from the Cabot Cheese Board, each one looks better and tastier than the next.

Click through to each of these inventive and exciting recipes to find a mac and cheese dish that’s just right for you.

We’ll start by giving props to Cheese Board member Molly Yeh, who shows us how to throw the perfectMac & Cheese party. What a great idea, don’t you agree? I can’t think of a better way to entertain and satisfy hungry friends.

46 of the Best Mac & Cheese Recipes on the Internet (1)

Whether you decide to throw a party for a crowd or just make it the tastiest stay-at-home night ever, here are some of the best Macaroni & Cheese recipes you’ll ever come across, gathered together in one amazing list. You can thank us later.

Here’s an easy, basic recipe from Bless This Mess:

Creamy One Pot Macaroni and Cheese

And then, it’s off to the races, with more than forty fantastic ideas for your next mac and cheese meal.

From Nutmeg Nanny:

Gorgonzola Bacon Mac & Cheese

Five Cheese Mac and Cheese

Poblano Macaroni and Cheese

Beer Bratwurst Macaroni and Cheese

Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

From The Lean Green Bean:

Lentil Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese with Sausage and Peas

From the Slow Roasted Italian:

Jack Daniels Bacon Mac and Cheese

Super Simple Mac and Cheese Italian Style

From Back to Her Roots:

Bacon Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon and Brie Macaroni and Cheese

From The Brown Eyed Baker:

Hatch Chile Mac and Cheese

Cajun Shrimp Macaroni and Cheese

Butternut Squash & Bacon Mac n’ Cheese

From Good Life Eats:

Asparagus and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Baked White Cheddar Mac n Cheese with Kale and Bacon

From Running to the Kitchen:

Creamy Greek Yogurt Mac ‘n Cheese with Peas and Bacon

Sweet Potato Spinach Mac and Cheese

From Eats Well with Others:

Buffalo Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Spicy Harissa Macaroni and Cheese

From Healthy Seasonal Recipes:

Cauliflower, Pea and Edamame Macaroni and Cheese

From Shugary Sweets:

Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese

From Bake Your Day:

Spinach Queso Macaroni and Cheese

From A Dash of Soul:

Greek Yogurt Macaroni and Cheese

From The Little Kitchen:

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

From Rachel Cooks:

Macaroni and Cheese Pizza

From Well Plated:

Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese

From Peas and Crayons:

Confetti Mac and Cheese

From Foodness Gracious:

Jalapeno Poppers with Mac and Cheese Cheetos

From Dine and Dish:

Crab Macaroni and Cheese

From Mel’s Kitchen Café:

Fire Roasted Mac and Cheese with Feta

From Seasonally Jane:

Truffled Mac and Cheese with Kale

From Healthy Nibbles and Bits:

Macaroni and Cheese Prosciutto Bites

From Inspiralized:

Spiralized Mac and Cheese Two Ways: Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato

From Cooking with Cakes:

Bourbon Bacon White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

From Buns in My Oven:

Barbecue Mac Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

From The Comfort of Cooking:

Creamy Stovetop Jalapeno Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

From Dixie Chik Cooks:

French Dip Mac n Cheese Smothered French Fries

From Julie’s Eats and Treats:

Skinny Pizza Mac N’ Cheese

From Pass the Sushi:

Mac and Cheese Soup

From Savory Simple:

French Onion Soup Macaroni and Cheese

From Cooking with Books:

Korean Macaroni and Cheese

From Meal Makeover Moms:

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

In addition to all these yummy dishes, be sure to visit the Cabot website where you’ll findlots more great ways to make Macaroni and Cheese.

46 of the Best Mac & Cheese Recipes on the Internet (2024)

FAQs

What does adding more milk to mac and cheese do? ›

Creamier Mac and Cheese Starts with Milk

Now, you usually add milk later in the cooking process to make the cheese sauce, but for an extra touch of luscious creaminess, incorporate the milk at the very beginning of cooking.

How to pimp box mac and cheese? ›

Add Cream Cheese

Most boxes will instruct you to boil the pasta, then drain and add butter, milk, and cheese powder to the pot, mixing well to form a sauce. To make your mac extra creamy and rich, stir in a tablespoon or two of cream cheese into your cheese sauce. You'll thank us later.

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

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and 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.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

1. It takes two cheeses to tango with mac. For really great macaroni and cheese, you need a cheese that melts well and a cheese that packs a punch. A few cheeses do both (that's a shout out to you, cheddar, emmentaler, and your other alpine-style, fondue favorites).

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.

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 evaporated milk better for mac and cheese? ›

Evaporated milk is a highly concentrated source of milk protein micelles—bundles of proteins that can act as powerful emulsifying agents—which help to keep the sauce creamy and smooth.

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? ›

Can you put too much cheese in mac and cheese? Yes, adding more cheese than a recipe calls for will not improve the dish. Too much cheese will result in a dish that is heavy and greasy.

Can I use yogurt instead of milk in mac and cheese? ›

Finally, using a plain yogurt is one of the best options for replacing milk in kraft mac and cheese! A plain whole milk yogurt or a greek yogurt would work well. Mix it in the same way you'd mix in sour cream, until it is well incorporated. This may have a slightly tangier flavor, but that is a personal preference.

How do you cut the richness in mac and cheese? ›

What can I add to homemade Mac and cheese to balance the richness of the cheeses? A lot of recipes add a little dry mustard and a bit of worcestershire sauce to the bechamel before adding the cheese, off heat of course.

What are the ingredients in Gordon food Service mac and cheese? ›

COOKED ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WATER, SEMOLINA [MILLED WHEAT, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), WATER, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO [COLOR]), CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES ...

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

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

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