These Are the 15 Most-Loved Macaroni and Cheese Recipes on Allrecipes (2024)

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ByHayley Sugg

Published on August 22, 2020

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These Are the 15 Most-Loved Macaroni and Cheese Recipes on Allrecipes (1)

Rich, creamy, and buttery, macaroni and cheese is hard to beat when it comes to comfort food. That's why we've rounded up our 15 best mac and cheese recipes, all of which have 4 stars or more from our trusted reviewers. Whether you like it made on the stovetop, baked in the oven, drizzled with buffalo sauce, or even mixed with pickles, we've got you covered with these unique and delicious top-rated macaroni and cheese dishes.

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'Got Some Crust' Macaroni and Cheese

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A mix of Cheddar, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs give this macaroni its signature crunchy crust. Yellow mustard and Worcestershire sauce also add a zing to the creamy sauce.

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Dill Pickle Macaroni and Cheese

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You may doubt this odd flavor combination, but you'll be convinced it's a winner with just one bite. Creamy baked macaroni is contrasted with tangy and crunchy pickle relish to create an extra unique dish.

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Restaurant Style Mac and Cheese

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You only need five ingredients to make this extra decadent mac and cheese recipe. Shredded Cheddar, processed cheese, and heavy cream make a thick sauce that will cling to every bite.

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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

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This macaroni is packed with flavor thanks to three types of cheese — cheddar, Monterey jack, and gorgonzola — along with shredded chicken and a hefty drizzling of hot sauce. Serve with a side of celery sticks to complete the meal.

  • 50 Foods to Buffalo

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Old School Mac n' Cheese

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"This is a completely unpretentious, down-home macaroni and cheese recipe just like my grandma and mom always made," says recipe creator Collette Duck. Macaroni is coated in a rich cheese sauce before getting baked to golden perfection with a crushed potato chip topping.

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Chipotle Mac and Cheese

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You may never go back to basic macaroni and cheese again after taking a bite of this smoky and spicy variety. The key ingredient is chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, which can be found in the Hispanic section of most grocery stores.

  • 30 Ways to Cook with Canned Chipotles in Adobo Sauce

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Instant Pot® Mac and Cheese with Ham and Peas

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Mac and cheese becomes a wholesome meal with the kid-friendly additions of ham and green peas. Using the Instant Pot turns this into a one-dish dinner, perfect for quickly feeding the whole family.

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Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Bacon

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For when you're craving an indulgent meal, this recipe checks off all the boxes. Savory bacon, comforting pasta, gooey cheese, and sweet caramelized onions all bake together to create one decadent dish.

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Cauliflower Mac-N-Cheese

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This recipe helps you get sneaky with vegetables, blending cooked cauliflower into the creamy cheese. Be sure to use a high powered blender to ensure a velvety sauce.

  • 7 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Veggies Without a Fight

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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

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This may be the ultimate "fix it and forget it" dish. The slow cooker does all the work here, and with a little patience you'll be enjoying a homey bowl of mac and cheese. Many reviewers recommend if you like al dente pasta to not cook the macaroni before stirring it into the slow cooker.

  • Slow Cooker Comfort Food Meals That Go From Prep to Pot in Minutes

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Kicked Up Mac and Cheese

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The recipe title is no exaggeration; this creamy macaroni is kicked up with chili powder, pepper jack cheese, hot sauce, and a dash of dry mustard. If you're serving heat sensitive guests, keep the hot sauce out of the recipe and have a bottle on the side while serving.

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Baked Mac and Cheese for One

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This recipe is perfect for when the craving strikes for macaroni and cheese but you don't want to whip up an entire batch. You'll never go back to those microwave cups of mac again.

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Lobster Mac and Cheese

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An entire lobster goes into this upscale twist on macaroni and cheese. The sauce gets a triple hit of flavor from onions, shallots, and garlic, all of which add a deep savory flavor.

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Shannon's Smoky Macaroni and Cheese

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This recipe proves that gourmet cheeses have a place in mac and cheese. Recipe creator S. Michael says, "The smoked gouda gives this dish its smoky rich flavor. It's a gourmet grown-up version of the kiddie classic."

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

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Butternut squash doesn't just add a nice hint of sweetness to the macaroni and cheese, it also creates a bold orange color. Whip up a batch of this for your next fall potluck, and it's sure to be a winner.

  • More Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

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These Are the 15 Most-Loved Macaroni and Cheese Recipes on Allrecipes (2024)

FAQs

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.

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

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What is the best pasta style for mac and cheese? ›

Best pasta for Mac and Cheese? Macaroni, also known as elbow pasta. But really, any short pasta will work just fine – penne, ziti, twirls etc.

Should you freeze mac and cheese before or after baking? ›

How To Store Macaroni And Cheese In The Freezer
  1. You can bake the pasta dish first and let it cool completely before covering it and then storing it in the freezer.
  2. You can also prepare all the ingredients ahead of time, and place them in an oven-safe dish without baking.
Nov 28, 2023

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

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

Why add cream cheese to mac and cheese? ›

It's extra saucy and very creamy.

Cream cheese is optional but adds tanginess and even more creaminess to the sauce. *In the video, we add the cream cheese after the cheddar, but since sharing and testing again, we now prefer to the cream cheese before the cheddar.

What is the best cheese for flavorful 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'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 ...

What 2 cheeses are best for mac and cheese? ›

The Best Types of Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar. The king of all cheeses when it comes to coating your noodles. ...
  • Gouda. Gouda is a seriously underrated cheese when it comes to cooking! ...
  • Gruyère. Despite it being a hard cheese, Gruyère still melts nicely. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Goat Cheese. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Anything pre-shredded.
Mar 14, 2023

What to add to macaroni and cheese to make it taste better? ›

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

Are large elbows better for mac and cheese? ›

PASTA: I used elbow macaroni which is the traditional style but feel free to use any shape you like. You can use small or large elbow. Cavatappi is a delicious choice too if you prefer a larger noodle.

Why does baked mac and cheese dry out? ›

It's also important to not undercook your pasta too much. You want the noodles to be al dente, but undercook them too much and they will not only absorb all the sauce, but take longer to bake, and that extra time in the oven will only dry out the macaroni and cheese further.

Why is macaroni cheese not suitable for freezing? ›

Macaroni absorbs moisture from the sauce as it freezes and thaws, so the best recipes for freezing are those that start with a big pot of creamy, cheesy sauce. If using a baked mac and cheese recipe, freeze the prepared (unbaked) mac and cheese, then bake once thawed and ready to serve.

What are the best 5 cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

The Best Types of Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar. The king of all cheeses when it comes to coating your noodles. ...
  • Gouda. Gouda is a seriously underrated cheese when it comes to cooking! ...
  • Gruyère. Despite it being a hard cheese, Gruyère still melts nicely. ...
  • Cream Cheese. ...
  • Brie. ...
  • Goat Cheese. ...
  • Parmesan. ...
  • Anything pre-shredded.
Mar 14, 2023

What cheese goes best 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.

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