21 Mac and Cheese Recipes that Are Gooey Perfection (2024)

Every occasion is better with noodles and cheese, whether it's a potluck, holiday, or just a weeknight dinner. In case you need convincing, we've put together our most delicious macaroni and cheese recipes. Whether you like yours with bacon, Mexican-inspired toppings, lobster, or extra cheese, you'll want to try every one of these recipes.

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Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

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Make this classic macaroni and cheese recipe your go-to when you're craving the deliciousness of cheese. With four different cheeses and options to customize, you can make it slightly varied, or exactly the same each time. Try adding bacon and blue cheese, jalapeño pepper, or truffle oil, until you find your family's favorite.

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Three-Cheese Baked Mac

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This classic, homey dish is perhaps the best mac and cheese recipe you'll find. Three cheeses—Swiss, sharp cheddar, and Gouda—make a super creamy, rich sauce that will have you scraping the dish for every last bite. Broiling for just a few minutes before serving makes the cheese bubbly and a bit browned for extra deliciousness.

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Roasted Sweet Potato-Bacon Mac and Cheese

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Stirring sweet potatoes and bacon into an otherwise traditional macaroni and cheese recipe gives each bite a touch of extra sweetness and saltiness. Four cheeses (Gouda, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan) create a rich, thick sauce that clings to every noodle and bite of sweet potato.

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Mac and Cheese Soup

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For everyone who believes their macaroni can never have enough cheese sauce, this dish is for you. Using cream cheese and half-and-half transforms this recipe into noodle soup. Top each bowl with cheddar crackers to add crunch (and a little more cheese) to every bite.

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Four-Cheese Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese

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Adding mashed butternut squash to this rich homemade mac and cheese recipe makes every bite more decadent (but also a little healthier). Thanks to mozzarella, cheddar, Muenster, and semisoft cheese, it's also one of the cheesiest macaroni recipes you'll ever make. Bake until it's golden brown, then savor every last bite.

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Macaroni and Cheese

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Sometimes you just want the classic macaroni you grew up with, so when the craving strikes, make this easy recipe with a simple American cheese sauce. The easy dish comes together in just over 30 minutes, and is a great way to introduce kids to cooking.

Ham and Asparagus Macaroni

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Put a springtime twist on mac and cheese by stirring fresh asparagus into the cheese sauce. Not overly cheesy, this creamy recipe mostly relies on Parmesan, milk, and butter to create the sauce. Include leftover ham to make a heartier meal.

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Macaroni and Cheese with Cashew Cream

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Easy to adjust to please everyone at your table, this recipe uses homemade cashew cream to make an extra silky sauce. Swap in gluten-free pasta or dairy-free butter and cheese if you need to make this mac and cheese recipe work for different dietary needs. No matter how you change it, this cheesy dish of noodles and broccoli will be a hit with everyone at the table.

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Homemade Microwave Mac and Cheese

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Sometimes you just want fast macaroni and cheese with no mess and no fuss. When you're in need of a quick dish to satisfy a craving for noodles and cheese, make this 10-minute microwave recipe. Just combine the classic ingredients in a mug, stir, microwave, and dig in.

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Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese

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This Southern mac and cheese recipe uses all the bold flavors of Cajun cuisine. Chicken thighs, hot sauce, andouille sausage, and bell peppers combine in your slow cooker for a hearty meal with plenty of spice. If that's not enough heat for you, serve it with extra hot sauce on the side.

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Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

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Say hello to the best mac and cheese recipe for fall. It's loaded with pumpkin for extra creaminess, along with Fontina and Parmesan cheeses. Switch up the flavor by trying different noodles or cheeses each time you make it. Keep the recipe handy—it's one you'll make again and again.

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Cheesy Pasta-Stuffed Shells

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Make this hearty baked mac and cheese recipe on a night when you feel like pulling out all the stops. It's loaded with two cheeses, two types of noodles, and your favorite tomato pasta sauce. With double the noodles and double the cheese, you've got a surefire weeknight dinner favorite.

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Mexican-Inspired Rigatoni and Cheese

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We're taking an American favorite south of the border with zesty, spicy chorizo sausage, poblano peppers, and black beans. Add pico de gallo to this baked mac and cheese recipe for a fresh, flavorful topper.

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Macaroni and Brie with Crab

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A baked mac and cheese recipe with bread crumbs sprinkled on top is comfort food at its finest. This rich dish starts with a whole wheel of Brie cheese and adds a hefty dose of crabmeat. Top it with a generous helping of homemade bread crumbs for an indulgent twist on the traditional.

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Mexican-Style Mac and Cheese

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There's a reason this quick and easy macaroni and cheese recipe is one of our top-rated dishes. It has all of the cheese of a regular recipe, along with pork sausage and green salsa. Top it with tomatoes, jalapeños, and cilantro for a simple meal that couldn't be more delicious.

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Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions

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Caramelized onions make everything better—but you know what else makes everything better? Bacon. So both are included in this over-the-top, deceptively easy macaroni and cheese recipe. You're going to want seconds.

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South Indian-Style Macaroni and Cheese

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This macaroni recipe has all of the classic ingredients you'd expect—lots of cheddar cheese, tender noodles, crispy bread crumbs—but with an added twist. Traditional Indian spices and fresh ginger layer in a bold depth of flavor that makes for a fresh, mouthwatering take on a traditional dish.

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Lobster Mac and Cheese Casserole

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Stretch one lobster tail to serve 6 with this luxurious mac and cheese recipe. A container of semisoft cheese with garlic and herbs (like Boursin) adds flavor and creaminess. Adding a bit of lemon zest to the cheese sauce helps enhance the flavor of the lobster and cut through the richness.

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Mac and Cheese Spaghetti

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Think beyond elbow noodles for your next batch of mac and cheese. Here, multigrain spaghetti noodles are the perfect way to twirl up a homemade cheddar cheese sauce that's filled with peas, bread crumbs, and thinly-sliced prosciutto.

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Butternut Squash-Pimiento Mac and Cheese

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When butternut squash is in season, put it to good use in this twist on mac and cheese. In a slow cooker, it's blended with broth, pasta, and diced pimentos. Once the squash is tender, add in a mix of American cheese and semisoft cheese with garlic and herbs.

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Cheesy Chipotle-Cauliflower Mac

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If you haven't tried cauliflower mac and cheese, this is the recipe to start with! It's loaded with cauliflower, pasta, spinach, and cheese. We recommend topping each bowl with freshly cracked black pepper.