Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 20 Macaroni And Cheese Recipes That Taste Even Better Than Mom's By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 30, 2023 Close Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar Longing for macaroni and cheese like Mom used to make? When your childhood comes calling, answer with a batch of from-scratch macaroni and cheese. This oh-so-Southern delicacy has a place on every dinner table, whether you're preparing sides for your big Thanksgiving dinner or looking for a perfect pairing to fried chicken for the church potluck. Mac and cheese is the epitome of Southern comfort, and our Test Kitchen has thought up quite a few new ways with this classic dish. From ultra-creamy sauces to flavorful baked toppings, these unique mac and cheese recipes have everything you crave. From our Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese that brings back nostalgic memories from Grandmama's table to our Cajun Mac and Cheese which will transport you straight to the French Quarter, we promise that each and every one of these recipes are much more satisfying than the boxed stuff. Pick a pasta—like cavatappi or elbow macaroni—that has plenty of nooks for capturing cheese sauce, then dig into one of our favorite mac and cheese recipes. 01 of 20 Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese BETH DREILING HONTZAS This nostalgic, creamy recipe may just be the best macaroni and cheese recipe you've ever eaten. We used extra-sharp Cheddar cheese to bring out the rich, creamy taste of this macaroni and cheese, and a pinch of salt, red pepper, and black pepper rounds out the dish. If you're making macaroni and cheese from scratch, you'll definitely want to bookmark this recipe. 02 of 20 Mac And Cheese With Ham Beth Dreiling Hontzas This delicious mac and cheese is lighter than some recipes yet still melts in your mouth. Chopped, smoked ham makes it a heartier main dish than its meatless counterparts. Change the flavor profile of the recipe with combinations such as sweet peas and prosciutto or ham and broccoli. 03 of 20 Best Homemade Macaroni And Cheese Photographer: Stacy K. Allen. Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley How do you get gooey cheese in every bite of macaroni? You pack it with cubes of Cheddar cheese, which melt into the velvety béchamel sauce. Also, shred your own cheese for the smoothest, beautifully melted texture. 04 of 20 Cajun Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey A little bit of heat from andouille sausage, pepper Jack cheese, and Cajun seasoning gives this classic comfort food its Cajun flair. For a milder version, substitute Monterey Jack cheese and use smoked sausage instead of andouille. However spicy you make it, this easy recipe will be devoured by everyone around the table. 05 of 20 Skillet Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos Although we wouldn't dare to completely replace our pasta with cauliflower, we're all for a delicious addition that adds a touch of vegetables and flavor. No one will even notice that they're eating veggies while enjoying it, and you'll love the easy cleanup from using one skillet. This recipe uses cavatappi pasta, but elbow macaroni works great too. 06 of 20 Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni And Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This herbed breadcrumb topping will take your classic mac and cheese up a notch. Crispy crumbs are blended with fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme to enhance the savory flavor. You'll also appreciate that you can prepare this dish a day in advance before baking. 07 of 20 King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese Becky Luigart-Stayner All the flavors of the favorite casserole come together in the comfort of mac and cheese. We're talking warm spices, chiles, onions, and sour cream, bubbling right along with your cheesy macaroni. Serve this dish to your family and it will become a quick favorite. 08 of 20 Roasted Broccoli Macaroni And Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The broccoli florets in this recipe are roasted for extra flavor before they get baked in the mac and cheese. You'll also find grated onion and a touch of nutmeg and cayenne pepper, all of which will have you scraping every bit of creamy sauce from your plate. 09 of 20 Uncle Jack's Mac-And-Cheese Hector Sanchez This slow-cooker recipe came to us from Pam Rawlinson of North Augusta, South Carolina. Classic cafeteria-style goodness, it yields enough to serve as a side for a crowd or could be dinner for a family of four. A can of evaporated milk and four eggs give the macaroni enough heft to create the perfect slice. 10 of 20 Baked Mac And Cheese With Bacon Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Did somebody say bacon? This creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Bacon is an excellent, extra-indulgent dish to add to your pasta night rotation. Use large elbow macaroni to catch more of the creamy sauce. 11 of 20 Roasted Tomato Macaroni And Cheese Victor Protasio Finished with plum tomatoes and extra cheese, this macaroni recipe is worthy of center stage. It's lightened up but still decadent, thanks to a blend of four cheeses. Fresh chopped oregano gives this mac and cheese a more Mediterranean flavor. 12 of 20 Lobster Mac And Cheese Jennifer Davick; Styling: Rachael Burrow; Recipe: Darcy Lenz Turn this kid-friendly dish into an adult treat with briny chunks of fresh lobster and nutty Gruyère cheese. A splash of sherry, fresh herbs, and minced onion transform mac and cheese into a hearty version of your favorite bisque. This recipe is quick to prepare, finished with two minutes under the broiler. 13 of 20 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall The autumnal flavors of butternut squash make this sheet pan pasta a fall favorite–although we'd love a bowlful any time of year. The pureed squash enhances the creamy texture of the cheese sauce. Rosemary buttered breadcrumbs add their sweet scent to every spoonful. 14 of 20 Macaroni Pie Antonis Achilleos Spoon your mac and cheese right into a flaky pie crust—refrigerated dough will save time—for an unforgettable treat. Sliceable, but still creamy, this Macaroni Pie uses a trifecta of cheeses (Gruyere, extra-sharp white Cheddar, and fontina) and fresh thyme to create a savory depth of flavor that sets this dish apart. 15 of 20 Navi Kitchen Tikka Masala Macaroni And Cheese Greg Dupree, Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton, Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Cali-cool mashed up with traditional Indian flavors, this macaroni is a restaurant-quality recipe. To achieve the same results as they do at Navi Kitchen, toast and grind whole spices with a mortar and pestle or in a coffee grinder. Then simmer them in a tomato and cream mixture, loaded up with Gouda and Cheddar. 16 of 20 Macaroni Pudding Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar Looking for a creamier, richer version of your everyday mac and cheese? Give our Macaroni Pudding a try. Dotted with butter and topped with an entire cup of cheese, you'll be salivating for a scoop of this alongside your fried chicken. 17 of 20 Stovetop Macaroni And Cheese MORGAN HUNT GLAZE; FOOD STYLIST: CHELSEA ZIMMER; PROP STYLIST: CHRISTINE KEELY With our stovetop recipe, you can enjoy all the flavor of homemade mac and cheese and have dinner on the table in 20 minutes. The cheeses and spices melt right in with your pasta water (a few ounces of Velveeta along with your sharp Cheddar ensure the creamiest result). A scoop of green beans or broccoli on your plate will complete this simple meal. 18 of 20 Classic Make-Ahead Macaroni And Cheese Photographer: James Ransom; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Save yourself the stress when you've got so many other dishes to prepare for your next family gathering. When you're ready to bake, just add the breadcrumbs and pop it in the oven. This recipe uses super melty fontina and Monterey Jack and will be a hit for those who like a milder mac and cheese. 19 of 20 Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Passionate fans of spicy Buffalo chicken will love this rendition created by the Southern Living Test Kitchen pros. They thought of everything, even adding blue cheese to the bread crumbs. Loaded up with chicken slathered in hot sauce, this dish makes a hearty and complete meal. 20 of 20 Macaroni Au Gratin Southern Living While we're at it, why not add in elements from a delicious au gratin? The egg and cheese layers in this dish are a match made in heaven. With just four ingredients (plus salt and pepper), you can have a cheesy, bubbly casserole on the table for lunch or dinner. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit