Best Homemade Mac and Cheese: 15 Recipes You’ll Love

Want to learn how to make the best homemade mac and cheese? Then you have come to the right place! We can definitely show you how.

Everyone loves a good mac and cheese. It is a flavorful, delicious meal that everyone in your family will love. There are actually many ways to make homemade mac and cheese. From different cheese mixes to various mixins, you can really customize how you make this dish.

We searched the entire internet to find the best homemade mac and cheese recipes. We came up with 15 incredible dishes that you are sure to enjoy. They are all unique and will keep mac and cheese night exciting. You may want to double each recipe so you can reheat your mac and cheese the next day!

Make your mac and cheese heartier by mixing in some bacon. Keep it simple with the perfect four-cheese blend. You may even want to try baking your pasta between bread to create a mac and grilled cheese sandwich. No matter how you prepare your meal, it’s a comfort food that is always a winner.

Take a look at all these fantastic homemade mac and cheese recipes and pick which you want to try first. Be sure to think about what goes with mac and cheese too. You want your pasta meal to be complete! Now, get out a big pot of water to boil your pasta, and let’s get cooking!

1. Pepperjack Mac and Cheese

Making macaroni and cheese using pepperjack cheese is an easy way to add a lot of flavor to the dish. Pepper jack cheese is spicy and salty. It melts nicely when heated. We add some organic butter to make the cheesy sauce even smoother. A little salt and pepper complete the dish and highlight the flavors of the cheese. Our recipe will show you exactly how to make a wonderful homemade pepper jack mac and cheese!

Look for pre-shredded cheeses to help save time. Of course, block cheese works well too. We use gluten-free pasta, but you can easily replace that ingredient with your favorite wheat pasta. When choosing a pasta shape, be sure to pick one that will hold the cheese sauce well, giving you lots of cheeses in every bite. Elbow noodles are a classic, but small shells or spiraled pasta will work as well.

2. Vegan Mac and Cheese

This recipe from Cookie and Kate will show you how to make a very cheesy mac and cheese while sticking to a vegan diet. Raw cashews and russet potatoes are ingredients that help make the cheese sauce nice and thick. Nutritional yeast gives the vegan mac and cheese a lot of natural, dairy-free cheese flavor. Spices are also blended into the sauce. Garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder are a few of the spices that make this mac and cheese exciting and tasty, just to name a few. You don’t have to be vegan to enjoy this incredible dinner.

3. Chili Mac and Cheese

Chili mac and cheese combines two of the best comfort foods out there. Spicy chili is blended into homemade mac and cheese to make a filling and hearty dinner. This recipe from Simply Recipes uses Mexican blend shredded cheese, but simple orange sharp cheddar shredded cheese will work too. The chili-baked mac and cheese is cooked in a large cast-iron skillet, topped with breadcrumbs, and browned in the oven. We love the pasta mixture scooped straight from the pan to our plate while it is piping hot.

4. Creamy White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

White cheddar cheese gives our mac and cheese a nice sharp taste. The creamy white color is also quite beautiful. We love to sprinkle a little ground black pepper over the pasta to make the dish even more appealing to the eye. Our recipe uses the classic elbow macaroni, but you can try any of your favorite pasta shapes. You only need five ingredients to make this tasty white cheddar mac and cheese recipe. It is a simple yet very flavorful dinner that you should definitely try.

5. Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese

If you are looking for a very creamy and cheesy baked mac and cheese, look no further. This recipe from Mom on Timeout is extremely smooth and gooey all at the same time. Three kinds of cheese are mixed into the pasta: cheddar cheese, gruyere, and parmesan cheese. The mac and cheese is scooped into a casserole dish and sprinkled with some buttered bread crumbs.

Grease the baking dish a little bit to ensure your cooked pasta does not stick to the pan. A little extra grease will also taste fantastic with your baked mac recipes! The baked mac and cheese casserole is then baked until golden brown. The creamy elbow macaroni and the crunchy bread crumbs are a match made in food heaven!

6. Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

This stovetop macaroni and cheese can be made quickly right on your front burner. Start by melting the butter and whisking in the flour. Add some milk, pre-shredded mozzarella cheese, and also the second cheese of your choosing. Recipe Tin Eats suggests using Colby jack, cheddar, or gruyere cheese, as they all taste great with the mozzarella.

Use shredded cheeses to make cooking this recipe even faster. Shredded cheese is just as good as block cheese! Shredded cheese will also instantly melt from the heat of the warm milk. Pour the thick, cheesy mix over cooked pasta and toss everything together. Your meal will be ready to enjoy in just a matter of minutes!

7. Velveeta Mac and Cheese

Using Velveeta cheese in mac and cheese is a sure-fire way to make it creamy and very smooth. While this mac and cheese may be homemade, it will taste like something that came right from a box! The bright orange color will make your kids happy.

To make this recipe from Spend With Pennies, you start by heating butter and whisking in a little flour. Add the milk and let the sauce come to a boil. The soft Velveeta cheese will melt right into the hot milk to make a very smooth sauce. Some onion powder and mustard powder add even more flavor. Toss in some elbow macaroni, and your meal is complete! Velveeta cheese homemade mac and cheese is a classic.

8. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Rather than using heavy, carb-rich noodles to make mac and cheese, try using cauliflower florets instead. Skinny Taste has an incredible recipe for cauliflower baked mac and cheese that you will love. Chopped cauliflower florets are mixed into a homemade, sharp cheddar cheese sauce. The mix is baked in a casserole dish and then served warm.

This is a delicious way to make sure you eat your veggies while also enjoying your favorite cheesy dish. Use fresh cauliflower florets for the best results. Frozen florets will work in a pinch but may become quite soft in the heat of the cheese sauce. Fresh cauliflower will hold up better.

9. Bacon Mac and Cheese

If you are looking for a truly indulgent meal, look no further! Bacon mac and cheese is decadent and delicious. Salty bacon not only adds a great taste to the macaroni and cheese recipe, but it also adds protein and a nice crunch.

To make this recipe from Dinner, Then Dessert, you will first make a homemade cheese sauce using Monteray Jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese. Melt butter and flour, then whisk in some milk along with the three kinds of cheese. Cooked macaroni noodles are tossed in the sauce, and crumbled bacon bits are added in. A little cayenne pepper makes the sauce have a nice kick.

Serve this delicious dinner while the cheese sauce is nice and hot.

10. Grilled Mac and Cheese

If you love grilled cheese sandwiches as much as you love macaroni and cheese, then this recipe is for you. It combines the two comfort foods into one incredible dish. Use this recipe from Just a Pinch to make a cheesy, stuffed sandwich that everyone in your family will adore.

Top a piece of bread with a big scoop of homemade mac and cheese. Add a second piece of bread to make a sandwich, and then grill the sandwich in melted butter. Once the bread is a beautiful golden brown, your sandwich is ready to enjoy!

Take a shortcut with this grilled cheese by using packaged cheesy pasta. Follow the package instructions to cook the noodles. Use them to stuff the grilled cheese. Try adding different cheeses to the sauce to make it taste more homemade. This is a great way to save time and still have an amazing dinner!

11. Sour Cream Mac and Cheese

You only need a few ingredients to make this tangy mac and cheese recipe from The Cozy Cook. What sets this homemade mac and cheese apart from the rest is the sour cream and cream cheese that goes into the cheese sauce. Both of these ingredients will add a nice sour tanginess to the mac and cheese.

The secret ingredients will also make the sauce nice and thick. This mac and cheese recipe also uses American cheese rather than the classic cheddar. You may also be surprised to see that eggs are mixed into the sauce as well. This macaroni and cheese recipe is definitely unique, but the results are incredible! This is one of those recipes you will make again and again.

12. Crunchy Mac and Cheese

You will adore this recipe from Smitten Kitchen if you love the crunchy top on baked mac and cheese. Three kinds of cheese are blended into warm milk and butter to create a flavorful sauce. A little salt and pepper, cayenne, and a pinch of nutmeg make the cheese sauce complete. The sauce is then tossed with cooked elbow pasta and poured into a large baking dish. The macaroni and cheese is then topped with buttered pieces of bread and baked to toast the bread.

The crunchy bread pieces are a delicious way to top this baked macaroni and cheese. It gives the dish a wonderful crunch that your family is sure to love!

13. French Onion Mac and Cheese

Caramelized onions add a lot of rich flavor to this homemade mac and cheese. Follow the recipe from Just a Taste, and you will have a perfect dish to serve your family.

The onions are slowly caramelized with garlic, butter, and chopped thyme. Sherry, white wine, and Worcestershire sauce make the onions have even more incredible flavor. A simple cheese sauce made with milk, 1/4 cup butter, cheddar cheese, and shredded mozzarella is tossed with macaroni noodles. The cooked onions are mixed in, and the homemade mac and cheese is ready to serve. Adding onions makes this classic kid meal more adult-friendly.

14. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Roasted butternut squash and sage add lots of fall flavors to this homemade mac and cheese recipe. We love using this recipe from The Kitchn, which is simple to make and creates a dish that everyone in the family loves, even the kids! The sauce is made using butternut squash and nutritional yeast. It is vegan-friendly and quite healthy, thanks to the veggies in the sauce.

The cooked macaroni and cheese is poured into a baking dish and topped with crispy fried onions. This unique and amazing homemade mac and cheese recipe will keep mac and cheese night exciting.

15. Broccoli Basil Mac and Cheese

We love how this mac and cheese is full of vegetables and fresh herbs. It makes it perfect for families, especially the adults who may want a more grown-up homemade mac and cheese. This recipe from 101 Cookbooks uses creme fraiche, gruyere cheese, and white cheddar cheese.

If you can’t find creme fraiche in your grocery store, sour cream will work in its place. An entire bunch of basil and a head of broccoli makes the homemade mac and cheese a beautiful green color. A few red cherry tomatoes add even more veggies and color to the baking dish. Make this interesting baked mac and cheese when you are looking for something different yet exciting.

Time to Make Amazing Homemade Mac and Cheese 

There are many ways to make incredible homemade macaroni and cheese dishes that it’s hard to know which recipe to make first. With all these incredible recipes, you can keep mac and cheese night exciting and different for weeks! From baked macaroni and cheese to macaroni and cheese full of veggies, there is something here for everyone in your family.

Grab some milk, elbow noodles, and some pre-shredded parmesan cheese or any of your favorite cheeses then you are ready to cook! Let us know which recipes you try and which recipes you would give 5 stars. We love to hear about your culinary adventures so leave some comments below! Enjoy.