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22 Tasty Mac and Cheese Recipes, Whether You’re Looking for Fast and Easy or Straight-Up Gourmet

In this life, we abide by one simple rule: There's no bad way to eat macaroni and cheese. To prove it, here are 22 tasty mac and cheese recipes that will transform your favorite comfort food.

The Best Macaroni and Cheese in Every U.S. State


1. One-pot Mac And Cheese

You can't go wrong with this stovetop classic. Especially when it only leaves you with one dirty dish.

2. Mac And Cheese With Crispy Parmesan-phyllo Crust

Trade breadcrumbs for phyllo rosettes. They're just as crumbly and crunchy, but 100 times prettier.

3. Vegan Butternut Mac And ‘cheese’ With Smoky Shiitake ‘bacon’

Roasted, puréed butternut squash makes for the most decadent plant-based cheese sauce.

4. 5-ingredient Smoked Gouda-thyme Mac And Cheese

An herb-spiked hug on a plate if we've ever seen one.

5. Greens Mac And Cheese

It's a lot easier to get your daily greens (in this case, broccolini and spinach) when they're dressed in garlicky sharp cheddar cheese sauce.

6. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni And Cheese

The world's most versatile veggie's take on our favorite comfort food. Feel free to substitute roasted broccoli, sweet potatoes or Brussels sprouts.

7. Jalapeño-avocado Mac And Cheese

A little heat never hurt nobody.

8. Gnocchi Mac And Cheese

A celebrity couple everyone can root for. The sauce is traditional, rich with butter, whole milk and cheddar cheese.

9. Air-fryer Mac And Cheese

Y'all. You don't even have to boil the elbows first.

10. Baked Mac-and-cheese Bites

Want to see a magic trick? Set these out at your next barbecue and watch them vanish into thin air.

11. Macaroni And Cheese In Acorn Squash Bowls

One bite and boom, it's sweater season.

12. 10-minute Macaroni And Cheese In A Mug

Yes, you can totally make pasta in the microwave. The recipe is serves one, but we won't blame you for doubling it...and still eating it all yourself.

13. Breakfast Mac And Cheese

Trade elbows for rigatoni and spruce it up with crumbled breakfast sausage, sweet onion and biscuits.

14. Blt Mac And Cheese

Two staples united in ooey-gooey harmony. Think salty bacon, fire-roasted tomatoes and arugula instead of lettuce.

15. Buffalo Chicken Mac And Cheese

Store-bought buffalo sauce and shredded chicken make this main a breeze.

16. Truffled Gnocchi Mac And Cheese

Our two favorite pasta dishes have joined forces. And the result is mind-blowing.

17. Fancy 3-cheese Mac And Cheese

Pinkies out, people. We're talking Brie, Camembert and crumbled goat cheese.

18. Cauliflower Mac And Cheese

This grain-free alternative is packed with cream cheese, Muenster, cheddar, dijon mustard and browned sausage—but no pasta.

19. Keto Three-cheese Cauliflower Mac And Cheese Cups

Crispy prosciutto baskets filled with cheesy cauliflower and spinach? Don't mind if we do.

20. Southern-style Baked Macaroni And Cheese

Choose your fighter: sharp cheddar, Parmigiano reggiano, fontina, pecorino romano or Muenster. Then let them go head-to-head in one casserole dish.

21. Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Ground beef, canned tomatoes, beef broth and beans give the mac a burst of savory flavor and protein. We'll take ours with extra sour cream.

22. Baked Macaroni And Cheese With Caramelized Onions And Mushrooms

Cooking the veggies in balsamic vinegar and olive oil gives them an acidic tang that holds up against uber-creamy pasta shells.



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Freelance PureWow Editor

From 2015-2017 Hannah Loewentheil held the role of Editor covering entertainment, food, travel and all things nyc.

taryn pire

Food Editor

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  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College