Copycat Mac and Cheese Recipes
From the fanciest Michelin-starred restaurants to the most humble kitchen table, there’s one dish that can fit in almost anywhere with almost any diner: macaroni and cheese. Creamy, savory, and filling, it’s perfect as both a main course or a side to a wide variety of food. Perhaps that’s why it’s such a mainstay on the menus of so many familiar restaurants.
But if you can’t make it to your favorite spot or want to save some money dining at home, it’s still possible to enjoy the mac and cheese you’re craving. Read on to explore some of the best copycat mac and cheese recipes that are simple to make in your home kitchen.
Quick meal spots
Mac and cheese is a standby at many spots known for grabbing a quick bite. Here’s how to make some of the most popular.
Though the chain may specialize in chicken, real fans know that mac and cheese is among the best options on the menu. Four types of cheese combine to create this incredible mixture of flavors, while evaporated milk provides an ideally creamy texture.
Another chicken joint known for its delicious, down-home sides, KFC mac and cheese is an excellent pairing for any bucket of fried chicken. Simplicity is the key here, with just five ingredients required. Plus, a touch of dried mustard brings an extra flavor boost to the mix.
Boston Market’s flavorful rotisserie chickens, hearty meatloaf and ham entrees, and other homestyle favorites are enhanced with this silky, cheesy side. This roux-based recipe also integrates minced onion for a more complex flavor and additional texture.
Panera’s mac and cheese recipe stands out from other grab-and-go options in a few key ways. First, mini shell pasta replaces traditional elbows, allowing the pasta to grab even more cheesy sauce. Meanwhile, white American and cheddar cheese provide a more sophisticated but equally delicious look compared to the sometimes neon-orange boxed variety.
Though Horn and Hardart may have shut the doors on the last of its innovative Automat restaurants decades ago, those craving a serving of their unique mac and cheese aren’t out of luck. This recipe is set apart by the addition of canned tomatoes and a bit of cayenne for extra heat and sugar for sweetness.
Costco’s prepared foods are a sometimes underrated part of the warehouse chain’s incredible offerings, and the mac and cheese recipe is among the best. It uses spiral cavatappi pasta paired with a combination of cheddar, romano, and parmesan cheeses. Don’t forget the heavy whipping cream for a super-sized flavor and luscious texture.
The frozen comfort food classic that many people have enjoyed for decades is simple to replicate if your supply has run out. Colby and mild cheddar provide the cheesiness, while dry mustard and paprika add a subtle but critical flavor boost. Don’t forget to broil for that classic browned topping!
Sit down favorites
When you’re out for a casual meal, you’ll often find macaroni and cheese among the sides filling your plate. Fortunately, it’s simple to recreate them at home, too.
Few restaurants can match the authentic experience of home-cooked specialties like Cracker Barrel, and that no doubt includes the chain’s mac and cheese. It’s incredibly simple, with just three ingredients and 20 minutes of total prep time. However, you’d never know from the unbelievable taste!
Steakhouses and mac and cheese are a classic combination. Make it at home just like at Longhorn using this recipe, which amps up the flavor with crumbled bacon and a sauce of gruyere, fontina, parmesan, and cheddar cheeses. A panko topping provides the perfect texture contrast to the smooth sauce and noodles beneath.
At cafeteria-style restaurants like Luby’s, one dish you can almost certainly count on is a tray of delicious mac and cheese. To achieve a similar flavor and texture in your home kitchen, this recipe uses dry milk and butter to create the distinctive sauce.
This steakhouse side gets its incredibly texture through the use of Velveeta for the sauce. It also uses penne pasta, which can trap more of the cheesiness inside, ensuring every bite is as delicious as the last. With only three ingredients, this “Down Under” pairing is perfect for busy home cooks.
This isn’t any old tray of mac and cheese. Sweetie Pie’s uses four types of cheese (including ultra-creamy Velveeta) and sour cream to create the craveable sauce, while the distinctive shredded cheese layer on top adds extra flavor and bits of crispiness to each bite.
Upscale options
While mac and cheese may have humble origins, it can also fit in just as well in more sophisticated settings and meals. If that’s your goal, try out these two ideas.
The Grand Lux Cafe proves that upscale surroundings don’t mean that mac and cheese can’t be a part of quality meals. Heavy cream and whole milk ensure the best possible texture for the cheese sauce, while a buttery breadcrumb topping provides texture and flavor. After a brief broiling, it’s a dish that looks as good as it tastes!
Leave it to Martha to come up with a mac and cheese recipe that’s simple to make, sophisticated, and delicious all at the same time. Small additions like a bit of nutmeg and cayenne complement a cheese sauce made from gruyere, pecorino, and two types of cheddar.
As you can see, it’s easy to make your favorite restaurant mac and cheese recipe at home, whether you’re craving a popular drive-thru joint or an upscale eatery. Keep this list handy, and you’ll always be just a few minutes away from creamy, delicious mac and cheese.
