Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food that can be enjoyed year-round, whether it’s to warm up in the winter or to bring to a summer barbecue. Mac and cheese can be a main course for lunch or dinner, a late night snack or a side dish at a Thanksgiving or holiday meal. Ultimately, the best time to eat mac and cheese is whenever you’re in the mood for its creamy, cheesy goodness!
One of the best things about mac n cheese is its ability to be customized in a variety of ways. So we’ve rounded up the best macaroni and cheese recipes out there so you can try your favorite comfort food in multiple variations. From Seafood Mac to Veggie Mac to mac topped with pulled pork, we’ve got all the macaroni and cheese that you can’t resist.
Scroll Down for the Best Mac And Cheese Recipes ⬇
What to Add to Mac and Cheese
Here are few easy ideas of things to add to mac and cheese to quickly elevate your mac and cheese experience:
- Spices: Garlic and onion powder, Oregano, Paprika, Cayenne pepper or chili powder, Nutmeg, Truffle Salt, White or black pepper, Thyme, Tumeric, Cumin, Basil, Marjoram, Mustard powder
- Blended Seasonings: Curry powder, Herbes de Provence, Italian seasoning, Taco seasoning, Hamburger seasoning, Ranch seasoning, Creole/Cajun seasoning, Takis powder seasoning
- Sauces & Pastes: BBQ, Hot sauce, Buffalo sauce, Sriracha, Chipotle, Chimichurri, Salsa or pico de gallo, Pesto sauce, Alfredo sauce, Tomato paste or soup, Fish sauce, Harissa, Garam masala, Tamarind, Teriyaki, Sweet and sour, Wasabi, Miso paste
- Ingredients: Meat such as chicken, beef, pork, Seafood such as lobster, crab, scallops or shrimp, Vegetables such as broccoli, peas, mushrooms, carrots, tomato, spinach, green beans or kale, Extra cheese or a combination, Leftovers, Bread or cracker crumbs, Crushed chips such as Cheetos, tortilla chips etc., Jalapenos, peppers or chipotles, Truffles or truffle oil, More meat such as bacon, pepperoni, hot dog or pulled pork, Kimchi
Alright, let’s get to the recipes, from subtle twists to the unique and possibly weird we’ve got it covered. Do you have a favorite homemade mac and cheese variation?
Best Mac And Cheese Recipes
Mac And Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. And one of the best things about it is its ability to be customized in a variety of ways. Here are some of the best Mac and cheese recipes out there.
Seafood Mac and Cheese
This Seafood Mac and Cheese is ultra creamy with two types of cheese and plenty of your favorite seafood, such as lobster or shrimp, all baked together to golden brown perfection.
Bacon Mac and Cheese
This Bacon Mac n Cheese has caramelized onions, hickory smoked bacon, and pasta shells smothered in a creamy three-cheese blend. Bacon makes everything better!
Smoked Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with flavor, Smoked Mac and Cheese is an easy side dish that everyone goes crazy for! Add a lot of smoked flavor or just a little, but don’t miss this amazing recipe.
Curry Mac and Cheese
This flavor-packed Curry Mac and Cheese features everything you love about traditional mac with a better spice kick!
Easy One-Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
Chili Mac and Cheese combines the best of two beloved dishes for a truly outstanding yet quick-to-make comfort food. Make this one-pot meal for an easy mac and cheese dinner idea in under 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese - 2 Ways
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese is even easier than making it from a box but we’ll show you a homemade mac and cheese recipe plus how to make Instant Pot boxed mac and cheese.
Creamy Tomato Macaroni & Cheese
This is a slightly fancier version of a childhood favorite that we usually made by stirring in a can of tomato soup into our homemade mac and cheese.
Scalloped Mac & Cheese
Dress up your mac and cheese for a fancy occasion by adding succulent scallops.
An Irishman's Mac and Cheese
This Irishman's Mac and Cheese isn't just for St. Patrick's Day! It's a combination of Irish Colcannon blended into mac and cheese and topped with crumbled potato chips.
One-Skillet Tex Mex Beef Mac & Cheese
One-Skillet Tex Mex Mac n Cheese is an EASY recipe that’s made in ONE skillet so you don’t have to cook the pasta separately!! Loaded with ground beef, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro!
Chicken Enchilada Mac and Cheese
This easy, stove top Chicken Enchilada Mac and Cheese is ready in 30 minutes and packed with flavor! It's perfect for a busy weeknight.
Balsamic Caramelized Onion Mushroom Mac 'n' Cheese
Tender mushrooms and balsamic caramelized onions take this luxurious mushroom mac ‘n’ cheese to another level! Serve with roasted chicken or on it's own. It's hearty and comforting.
White Truffle Oil Cheddar Mac & Cheese
White Cheddar Truffle Mac and Cheese is has a creamy white cheddar sauce with a touch of earthy truffle oil that makes this an amazingly delicious dish.
Creamy Kimchi Mac and Cheese
Wait until you try this Creamy Kimchi Mac and Cheese! Cheesy, gooey goodness with a kick from the kimchi and a crunchy Panko topping -- you'll love the flavors of this mac and cheese recipe!
Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese
You can't go wrong with a hearty bowl of pulled pork mac and cheese, topped with a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This cauliflower mac n' cheese recipe needs only 6 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep! Low carb keto mac and cheese will satisfy your pasta cravings.
Baked Jalapeno Popper Mac and Cheese
Everything you love about spicy jalapeño poppers, plus comforting and rich mac and cheese. This recipe is a culinary match made in heaven!
Copycat Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Mix
Recreate a homemade version of Kraft Mac and Cheese with this recipe that includes a recipe for Kraft mac and cheese powder.
Creamy Baked Carbonara Mac and Cheese
Baked Mac and Cheese with a creamy carbonara sauce is baked until bubbly with a thin crispy cheesy crust. We added peas and bacon to this recipe. It's delicious!
Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni and Cheese
Pepperoni Pizza meets Macaroni and Cheese in this super easy, one-pot dish the whole family will love. Two awesome comfort foods in one for your next family dinner!
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This is Frank's Red Hot's classic buffalo chicken mac n cheese with Frank's Red Hot Sauce, green onions, and a sprinkle of blue cheese, and it's ready in 30 minutes.
Spicy Roasted Vegetable Macaroni and Cheese
This delicious mac and cheese recipe is butter free and is loaded with veggies, so you get a boost of nutritional goodness while still enjoying the comfort that mac and cheese offers.
Garlicky Korean Mac and Cheese with Gochujang
Spicy Garlicky Korean Mac and Cheese is made with Gochujang, or use sriracha for variation. This recipe is vegan and made with gluten free pasta, but you can use regular cheese and regular pasta if you prefer.
Chick-fil-A Mac & Cheese
Now you can have Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese on a Sunday with this homemade version.
Crab Rangoon Mac n Cheese
This mac and cheese recipe is inspired by the classic Chinese food appetizer, crab rangoons. What can't mac and cheese do, right?
Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole
This Million Dollar Mac and Cheese Casserole is super creamy, super cheesy, and perfect for special occasions.
One Pot 4 Cheese Caprese Mac and Cheese
This easy, summery one pot four cheese caprese mac and cheese is the ideal recipe for using up those summer tomatoes and garden basil.
French Onion Mac and Cheese
If you love french onion soup, you'll love this gourmet mac and cheese recipe. This French Onion Mac n Cheese merges the sweet flavor of the popular soup with the creamy goodness of the most comforting mac and cheese.
Alfredo Mac and Cheese
A classic comfort dish with a unique alfredo twist.
Mac and Cheese with Ham
This is a great mac and cheese recipe to use with your leftover holiday ham, or for an easy weeknight dinner. It's also great when you add peas or broccoli.
Taco Mac and Cheese
This easy family-friendly recipe combines boxed shells and cheese, taco seasoning and ground beef.
Bacon Mac and Cheese Melt
In case you need to give yourself the gift of mac and cheese in sandwich form, this one is for you.
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls Recipe
Fried Mac and Cheese Balls are a great appetizer for parties, and you'll love the crispy potato chip crust on these.
Cajun Chicken Mac and Cheese
Comforting and homey mac and cheese with a cajun kick. It's delicious and kid-friendly.
Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Southern baked macaroni and cheese is brimming with southern flavors and the ultimate comfort food.
Paula Deen Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Paula Deen's Mac and Cheese recipe is cheesy and delicious and no wonder it's one of the all time favorite mac and cheese recipes.
Homemade Velveeta Mac and Cheese
Skip the over-processed, shelf-stable “cheese” and make your own easy homemade Velveeta cheese to add to your add mac and cheese.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese With Bacon Breadcrumbs
A healthier mac and cheese with the same creamy deliciousness.
Cool Ranch Mac and Cheese
This recipe combines the lovable Cool Ranch Doritos flavor with cheesy mac and cheese.
Copycat Panera Mac and Cheese
If you love Panera's mac and cheese try this quick and easy homemade version.
Queso Mac and Cheese
Now you can enjoy two beloved comfort-food classics in one dish.
Reuben Mac 'n Cheese Recipe
Experience all the elements of a Reuben sandwich—Swiss cheese, corned beef, and sauerkraut combined with the goodness of mac and cheese.
Pesto Mac and Cheese
Adding pesto sauce to mac and cheese is such an easy twist and works great adding pesto to boxed mac and cheese as well.
Miso Mac and Cheese Recipe
Miso adds a delightful umami flavor to this dish.
Here is some fun info about Mac n Cheese that you may not know.
The first recipe for mac and cheese dates back to 1769. But here in America, we can thank Thomas Jefferson. He brought noodle recipes and a pasta machine back from France, and served it for dinner at an 1802 state dinner when he was president. While Jefferson loved to eat it, his favorite dish was perfected and prepared by the enslaved chef, James Hemmings.
Boxed macaroni and cheese was first introduced by Kraft Foods in 1937. Each box sold for 19 cents, and they sold 8 million boxes in a year. Today, more than 1 million boxes of their mac and cheese is sold every day.
James Kraft, the founder of Kraft Foods, started out selling macaroni and cheese out of a wagon in 1903 in Chicago.
Velveeta Shells and Cheese debuted in 1984, offering shells instead of elbows, and a pouch of cheese sauce, so no milk or butter was required to prepare it.
If you think your mac and cheese recipe is the best around, enter the annual Mac & Cheese Throwdown in St. Louis in July, or the NOLA Mac and Cheese Fest every October. If you just want to taste it, you can visit one of the many Mac and Cheese Festivals around the country in places like Washington DC, Avila Beach, CA, New York, San Diego, and Austin.
Mac and Cheese is so popular, it even has it’s own holiday. National Mac & Cheese Day falls on July 14th every year.
Got an appetite? The worlds largest macaroni and cheese dish was created by John Folse and Cabot Creamery Co-operative in 2010. It weighed about 2,469 pounds and included 575 pounds of pasta, 286 pounds of cheese, 56 pounds of butter, 26 pounds of flour, 1100 pounds of mile, and 61 pounds of dried seasonings.
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