14 Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Creamy, Easy Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese — The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Macaroni and cheese is possibly the quintessential comfort food. Toddlers love it, kids love it, and adults of all ages love it. Like all comfort food, mac and cheese is made in a variety of ways that are often passed down in families. Plus it lends itself to doctoring up. Check out these recipes for good eating.

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Creamy Cheese and Dijon Mustard

Jim Scherer / Getty Images

Creamy cheese and dijon mustard makes this the perfect macaroni and cheese. Cheddar and half-and-half make this macaroni and cheese creamy, and Dijon mustard gives it some flavorful bite. The breadcrumb topping gives it tasty crunch texture. Serve this macaroni and cheese as a main dish with a salad or serve it as a side dish.
02 of 14

Easy Mac and Cheese in the Crockpot

The Spruce

This is a basic recipe for easy mac and cheese in the crockpot. You can start it up, go to work or on errands and come home to a welcoming dinner.
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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This incredibly creamy Instant Pot macaroni and cheese recipe is surprisingly fast and easy to prepare. Aside from needing very little attention, there are no boil-over messes to worry about, no separate sauce to make, and no baking required.
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Easy and Quick Mac and Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This super easy and quick mac and cheese recipe is great for a weeknight. You don't make a sauce, and the entire thing will be ready in about a half an hour -- just long enough to steam some broccoli or green beans, set the table and crack open some wine.

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05 of 14

Easy Gnocchi Mac and Cheese

The Spruce / Pete Scherer

Convenience is coupled with homemade flavor in this easy gnocchi mac and cheese recipe. The from-scratch potato dumplings (gnocchi) take the place of macaroni but the cheese sauce comes from a package of store-bought mac and cheese.
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Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Cottage cheese and sour cream really shows its stuff in this recipe where it teams with cheddar for this creamy macaroni and cheese.
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Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

Buffalo chicken wings meet mac and cheese in this spicy recipe. The chicken is cooked a spicy sauce, and the cheese sauce includes hot sauce and pepper jack. Both are combined with macaroni, then it's all baked to perfection.
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Jalapeño Macaroni and Cheese

The Spruce

Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs or roasted red peppers plus jalapeños really turn up the heat in this Jalapeño macaroni and cheeses recipe. Adjust the amount of jalapeños you use according to your taste or used mild green chilies instead. With mac and cheese on the hot side, choose a cool side like a green salad or cold sliced tomatoes if they're in season.

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Uncomplicated Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

The Spruce

This uncomplicated macaroni and cheese casserole is held together with a mixture of eggs, milk, and cheese -- there's no sauce to make. It takes only about a half an hour to bake, and it all adds up to a quick mac and cheese fix.
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Macaroni and Cheese With Bacon

The Spruce

Cooked crumbled bacon and green onions take this macaroni and cheese with bacon recipe to a new level. The green onions go into the cheese sauce, and the bacon is sprinkled over the casserole before the buttered breadcrumb topping is added. If you prefer the bacon throughout, mix the bacon into the cheese sauce and macaroni before you put the mix into the casserole dish.
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Macaroni and Cheese With Paprika

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This easy and basic macaroni and cheese with paprika recipe is jazzed up with the addition of paprika and an abundance of cheddar cheese, including for the topping instead of breadcrumbs.
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Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This super quick bacon cheeseburger macaroni skillet dish is a made-from-scratch version of boxed mixes -- and so much better. Ground beef and crispy bacon make this mac and cheese a hearty meal. The recipe calls for cheese soup, but you can substitute shredded cheddar or American cheese and a little milk if you prefer to avoid canned ingredients.

Continue to 13 of 14 below.
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Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Balls

The Spruce Eats/Leah Maroney

Air fryer macaroni and cheese balls are crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and so good, you won’t believe they’re not deep-fried. The key to this recipe is making the macaroni and cheese ahead of time, so it comes together in a pinch. A thicker cheese sauce helps the balls keep their shape and bind for optimal air frying.
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Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

If you're part of the keto or gluten-free eating club, then this cauliflower mac and cheese is here for you. Satisfy that cheesy, comfort food craving in no time with less than 10 ingredients and little prep. Roasted cauliflower combines with three cheeses and a kick of Dijon mustard to make a dish every palate will enjoy.