Best Baked Mac and Cheese Recipes + Video

The Best Baked Mac and Cheese Recipes are here, with plenty of tips for making the ultimate cheesy comfort food. Find top pasta and cheese picks and how to prepare these recipes ahead of time, plus everything you need to make your baked mac and cheese the best. Choose your favorite or try them all!

Best Baked Mac and Cheese Recipes

With all the fancy kitchen appliances available these days, there are more and more ways to make cheesy pasta dishes.

Often the cooking method you choose will depend on your skill level and how much hands-on time you have. 

However, absolutely nothing beats a giant pan of baked homemade mac and cheese!

Baking everything together results in a thick, creamy texture with a lightly browned crust. You can even add a breadcrumb topping that gets nice and crispy in the oven.

Plus, the flavors have a chance to combine and deepen in a way that just doesn’t seem to happen on the stovetop!

Using a slow cooker or Instant Pot can be great when you need to “set it and forget it,” but both methods require a bit of trial and error to get them just right.

Instead, you can rest assured that you’ll dish up the best ever baked mac and cheese with these easy recipes!

Tips and Tricks for Making Your Baked Mac and Cheese the Best

• Pasta Options

While the specific shape doesn’t matter so much, the size of the noodle does.

Choose pasta with plenty of nooks and crannies for the cheese sauce to seep into — like elbow macaroni, medium shells, or campanelle. Even rigatoni, cavatappi, or rotini will work in a pinch!

• Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese

Most importantly, choose flavors that you enjoy. It doesn’t matter how fancy your recipe is if you don’t like how it tastes!

Some cheeses melt better than others, so be sure to use at least one good melting variety. For bolder flavor, pick one or two kinds that have been aged.

• Sharp or white cheddar
• Gruyere
• Cream cheese
• Gouda
• Fontina
• Parmesan
• Havarti
• Muenster
  

Best Ever Baked Mac and Cheese Make Ahead Tips

There are several options if you want to make homemade mac and cheese in advance. 

• Prepare without baking: Slightly undercook the pasta and rinse in cold water. Make the cheese sauce and let it cool, then combine the two and transfer to a baking dish.
  
  Wrap tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days, then bake as directed.
  
• Bake and reheat: Follow the recipe as directed and refrigerate. Use within 3 to 4 days for best results and reheat in the oven until bubbly and warmed through. 
  
• Freeze: First, bake for slightly less time and allow the dish to cool completely. Cover in a layer of plastic and foil or transfer to a sealed container and freeze for up to 6 months.
  
  Remove the plastic, replace the foil, and bake straight from the freezer.

Don’t want your baking dish trapped in the freezer? 

Line it with foil before adding the cheesy pasta. Once frozen, lift it straight out of the pan and wrap it in more foil. Then, pop it right back in the pan when you’re ready to reheat!

Essential Tools For Making the Best Baked Mac and Cheese Ever

• 9×13 Baking Dish – This set is one of my favorites! It comes with a lid for easy storage and is great for casseroles too.
• Box Grater – As much as I love buying bagged shreds because it’s easier, freshly grated cheese melts down much smoother and tastes better.
• Heavy Bottom Skillet – To help bechamel and cheese sauce cook evenly, a wide skillet works best.
• Large Pot and Strainer to cook and drain the pasta

10 Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

We’ve got every variety you could imagine, from bold Mexican flavors to hearty mix-ins and everything in between.

There are even a few with seafood if you’re feeling a bit fancy! And if you’ve been dreaming of your last takeout order, you’ll find a few restaurant copycats too.

Click on the bold recipe title under each image to open each in a new tab. from there, you can save, print, or Pin our best baked mac and cheese recipes for later!

Taco Mac and Cheese is loaded with seasoned ground beef, savory tomatoes, and plenty of spices to make this Mexican-inspired dish a fun twist for taco night. Have all your favorite taco toppings handy and let everyone customize their own bowl!

Lobster Mac and Cheese is extra cheesy and indulgent, featuring tender seafood and a golden, crispy topping. Although it’s often found in fine dining restaurants, it’s actually easy to make at home!

Old Fashioned Baked Mac and Cheese is the best for any occasion, including potlucks, holidays, and family get-togethers. Not only is it bursting with flavor, but the breadcrumb topping adds color and a pleasant crunch to every bite!

This French Onion Mac and Cheese Recipe combines two comforting dishes into the best ever baked mac and cheese! Caramelized onions add an incredible depth of flavor and are just as tender as the pasta. Plus, it looks as good as it tastes and is sure to impress dinner guests!

This Popeye’s Mac and Cheese Copycat tastes just like the original, thanks to real butter and plenty of cheddar on top. Plus, you can make a whole lot more than a tiny cup’s worth! Ready in under an hour with only 15 minutes of prep.

Philly Cheese Steak Mac and Cheese is a delicious fusion of the famous beef and pepper sandwich and the comforting pasta dish. It’s also a one-skillet meal, making it one of the best baked macaroni and cheese recipes for weeknight dinner!

Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese is a great way to get in a serving of veggies without any fuss from the kids! And since it’s made with simple ingredients and frozen broccoli, it’s one of the best baked mac and cheese recipes for when you can’t make it to the store.

Enjoy Copycat Cheesecake Factory Mac and Cheese at home for a fraction of the cost without missing out on any flavor. It’s got the creamiest sauce and the crunchiest topping — and you can have it on the table in just 40 minutes!

Shrimp Mac and Cheese is loaded with juicy Cajun shrimp and topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs. It’s one of the best baked macaroni and cheese recipes when you’re craving something with a kick!

Cheez It Mac and Cheese might sound a little unusual, but don’t knock it until you try it. With triple the cheesy flavor in the sauce and the topping, plus creamy and crunchy textures in every bite, it’s the best baked mac and cheese ever — and the cheesiest!

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Originally published February 2021, updated and republished January 2025

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