Copycat Mac and Cheese Recipes

From the fanciest Michelin-starred eating places to essentially the most humble kitchen desk, there’s one dish that may slot in virtually anyplace with virtually any diner: macaroni and cheese. Creamy, savory, and filling, it’s excellent as each a foremost course or a facet to all kinds of meals. Maybe that’s why it’s such a mainstay on the menus of so many acquainted eating places.

However in the event you can’t make it to your favourite spot or wish to avoid wasting cash eating at residence, it’s nonetheless attainable to benefit from the mac and cheese you’re craving. Learn on to discover a few of the greatest copycat mac and cheese recipes which are easy to make in your house kitchen.

Four restaurant mac and cheese dishes.Four restaurant mac and cheese dishes.

Fast meal spots

Mac and cheese is a standby at many spots identified for grabbing a fast chew. Right here’s easy methods to make a few of the hottest.

Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese

Although the chain could focus on rooster, actual followers know that mac and cheese is among the many greatest choices on the menu. 4 sorts of cheese mix to create this unbelievable combination of flavors, whereas evaporated milk supplies an ideally creamy texture.

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Copycat Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese in three bowls.Copycat Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese in three bowls.
KFC Mac and Cheese

One other rooster joint identified for its scrumptious, down-home sides, KFC mac and cheese is a wonderful pairing for any bucket of fried rooster. Simplicity is the important thing right here, with simply 5 elements required. Plus, a contact of dried mustard brings an additional taste enhance to the combination.

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Copycat KFC mac and cheese in bowls.Copycat KFC mac and cheese in bowls.
Boston Market Mac and Cheese

Boston Market’s flavorful rotisserie chickens, hearty meatloaf and ham entrees, and different homestyle favorites are enhanced with this silky, tacky facet. This roux-based recipe additionally integrates minced onion for a extra complicated taste and extra texture.

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Copycat Boston Market mac and cheese in a baking dish and on a plate.Copycat Boston Market mac and cheese in a baking dish and on a plate.
Panera Mac and Cheese

Panera’s mac and cheese recipe stands out from different grab-and-go choices in a number of key methods. First, mini shell pasta replaces conventional elbows, permitting the pasta to seize much more tacky sauce. In the meantime, white American and cheddar cheese present a extra refined however equally scrumptious look in comparison with the typically neon-orange boxed selection.

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Homemade Panera Bread Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl.Homemade Panera Bread Macaroni and Cheese in a bowl.
Horn and Hardart Mac and Cheese

Although Horn and Hardart could have shut the doorways on the final of its modern Automat eating places a long time in the past, these craving a serving of their distinctive mac and cheese aren’t out of luck. This recipe is about aside by the addition of canned tomatoes and a little bit of cayenne for additional warmth and sugar for sweetness.

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Overhead view of copycat Horn and Hardart mac and cheese in a baking dish.Overhead view of copycat Horn and Hardart mac and cheese in a baking dish.
Costco Mac and Cheese

Costco’s ready meals are a typically underrated a part of the warehouse chain’s unbelievable choices, and the mac and cheese recipe is among the many greatest. It makes use of spiral cavatappi pasta paired with a mixture of cheddar, romano, and parmesan cheeses. Don’t neglect the heavy whipping cream for a super-sized taste and luscious texture.

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Copycat Costco mac and cheese in a bowl and baking dish.Copycat Costco mac and cheese in a bowl and baking dish.
Stouffers Mac and Cheese

The frozen consolation meals traditional that many individuals have loved for many years is easy to copy in case your provide has run out. Colby and delicate cheddar present the cheesiness, whereas dry mustard and paprika add a refined however crucial taste enhance. Don’t neglect to broil for that traditional browned topping!

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homemade mac and cheese in a blue bowlhomemade mac and cheese in a blue bowl

Sit down favorites

Once you’re out for an off-the-cuff meal, you’ll usually discover macaroni and cheese among the many sides filling your plate. Thankfully, it’s easy to recreate them at residence, too. 

Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese

Few eating places can match the genuine expertise of home-cooked specialties like Cracker Barrel, and that little doubt contains the chain’s mac and cheese. It’s extremely easy, with simply three elements and 20 minutes of whole prep time. Nonetheless, you’d by no means know from the unbelievable style!

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Two bowls of copycat Cracker Barrel mac and cheese.Two bowls of copycat Cracker Barrel mac and cheese.
Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese

Steakhouses and mac and cheese are a traditional mixture. Make it at residence identical to at Longhorn utilizing this recipe, which amps up the flavour with crumbled bacon and a sauce of gruyere, fontina, parmesan, and cheddar cheeses. A panko topping supplies the proper texture distinction to the sleek sauce and noodles beneath.

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Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse mac and cheese on a spoon.Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse mac and cheese on a spoon.
Luby’s Mac and Cheese

At cafeteria-style eating places like Luby’s, one dish you may virtually actually rely on is a tray of scrumptious mac and cheese. To attain the same taste and texture in your house kitchen, this recipe makes use of dry milk and butter to create the distinctive sauce.

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homemade Luby's macaroni and cheese in a serving dish and small bowlhomemade Luby's macaroni and cheese in a serving dish and small bowl
Outback Steakhouse Mac and Cheese

This steakhouse facet will get its extremely texture via using Velveeta for the sauce. It additionally makes use of penne pasta, which may entice extra of the cheesiness inside, guaranteeing each chew is as scrumptious because the final. With solely three elements, this “Down Beneath” pairing is ideal for busy residence cooks.

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overhead view of copycat Outback mac and cheese in a bowl.overhead view of copycat Outback mac and cheese in a bowl.
Sweetie Pie’s Mac and Cheese

This isn’t any previous tray of mac and cheese. Sweetie Pie’s makes use of 4 sorts of cheese (together with ultra-creamy Velveeta) and bitter cream to create the craveable sauce, whereas the distinctive shredded cheese layer on high provides additional taste and bits of crispiness to every chew.

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Overhead view of copycat Sweetie Pie's mac and cheese in a baking dish.Overhead view of copycat Sweetie Pie's mac and cheese in a baking dish.

Upscale choices

Whereas mac and cheese could have humble origins, it will possibly additionally slot in simply as nicely in additional refined settings and meals. If that’s your aim, check out these two concepts.

Grand Lux Cafe Mac and Cheese Skillet

The Grand Lux Cafe proves that upscale environment don’t imply that mac and cheese can’t be part of high quality meals. Heavy cream and complete milk guarantee the absolute best texture for the cheese sauce, whereas a buttery breadcrumb topping supplies texture and taste. After a short broiling, it’s a dish that appears pretty much as good because it tastes!

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closeup of macaroni and cheese in a cast iron skillet.closeup of macaroni and cheese in a cast iron skillet.
Martha Stewart Mac and Cheese

Go away it to Martha to give you a mac and cheese recipe that’s easy to make, refined, and scrumptious all on the similar time. Small additions like a little bit of nutmeg and cayenne complement a cheese sauce comprised of gruyere, pecorino, and two sorts of cheddar.

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Four individual ramekins of baked macaroni and cheeseFour individual ramekins of baked macaroni and cheese

As you may see, it’s simple to make your favourite restaurant mac and cheese recipe at residence, whether or not you’re craving a well-liked drive-thru joint or an upscale eatery. Preserve this checklist useful, and also you’ll at all times be only a few minutes away from creamy, scrumptious mac and cheese.

Three copycat mac and cheese dishes.Copycat Mac and Cheese Recipes