25 Unique Mac and Cheese Recipes You’ve Never Tried Before
25 Unique Mac and Cheese Recipes You’ve Never Tried Before
Sure, we all love classic mac and cheese, but it’s time to throw out the box and get wild. Here are 25 next-level versions—with quick recipes—that take comfort food to places you didn’t even know it could go.
1. Buffalo Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked elbow macaroni
1 cup roasted buffalo cauliflower (tossed in Frank’s RedHot)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1.5 cups milk
1 cup cheddar
½ cup blue cheese crumbles (optional)
Instructions:
Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk, add cheese. Stir in pasta and cauliflower. Top with extra hot sauce and blue cheese.
2. Jalapeño Popper Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups macaroni
4 oz cream cheese
1 cup cheddar
2 jalapeños, diced
¼ cup crumbled bacon
¼ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions:
Melt cream cheese into warm pasta with cheddar and jalapeños. Top with bacon and toasted breadcrumbs.
3. Truffle Mushroom Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup mushrooms, sautéed
1.5 cups gruyère and mozzarella mix
1 tsp truffle oil
Instructions:
Make cheese sauce, stir in mushrooms and pasta, finish with truffle oil.
4. Pulled Pork BBQ Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked mac
1 cup pulled pork
1 cup smoked gouda
½ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions:
Mix all together and bake for 10 minutes at 375°F until bubbling.
5. Lobster Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1 cup cooked lobster meat
1 cup white cheddar
½ cup gruyère
Dash of paprika
Instructions:
Stir lobster into cheesy mac, sprinkle paprika, bake until golden.
6. French Onion Mac
Ingredients:
1 onion, caramelized
2 cups pasta
1.5 cups gruyère
¼ cup beef broth
Instructions:
Stir everything together and broil until crispy on top.
7. Mac and Kimchi
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
½ cup chopped kimchi
1 cup cheddar
½ tsp sesame oil
Instructions:
Mix kimchi into cheese sauce. Add sesame oil at the end for flavor.
8. Taco Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup cooked taco meat
1 cup Mexican cheese blend
Tortilla chips
Instructions:
Mix meat and cheese into pasta. Top with crushed chips.
9. Carbonara Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
2 egg yolks
1 cup parmesan
½ cup pancetta
Black pepper
Instructions:
Stir yolks and cheese into hot pasta with pancetta and pepper. No heat needed—carryover heat cooks the sauce.
10. Garlic Bread Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
2 tbsp garlic butter
1.5 cups mozzarella
¼ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions:
Mix garlic butter into cheese sauce, top with toasted breadcrumbs.
11. Pesto Chicken Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup shredded chicken
2 tbsp pesto
1 cup mozzarella
Instructions:
Stir all ingredients together and warm through.
12. Sriracha Honey Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1 cup cheddar
1 tbsp sriracha
1 tbsp honey
Instructions:
Make cheese sauce, stir in sriracha and honey.
13. Mac-Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients:
2 bell peppers, halved
2 cups mac
1 cup cheddar
Instructions:
Fill peppers with mac and bake at 375°F for 15 mins.
14. Breakfast Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
2 scrambled eggs
¼ cup maple syrup
2 slices chopped bacon
1 cup cheddar
Instructions:
Combine all in a skillet and cook until cheese is melted.
15. Elote Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup corn
¼ cup mayo
½ tsp chili powder
1 cup cotija or feta
Lime juice
Instructions:
Mix mayo, lime, chili with pasta and cheese. Stir in corn.
16. Greek Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup feta
½ cup chopped olives
½ cup spinach
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes
Instructions:
Toss everything into warm pasta and stir.
17. Chili Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1 cup beef chili
1 cup cheddar
Instructions:
Mix and heat until bubbly. Add jalapeños if desired.
18. Tikka Masala Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
1 cup tikka masala sauce
1 cup paneer or chicken
½ cup mozzarella
Instructions:
Stir all together until hot and creamy.
19. Butternut Squash Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1 cup butternut squash purée
1 cup parmesan
Dash of nutmeg
Instructions:
Mix puree and cheese into pasta and stir over low heat.
20. Bacon Cheeseburger Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
½ lb ground beef
½ cup chopped pickles
1 cup cheddar
Ketchup and mustard swirl
Instructions:
Brown beef, stir everything together. Drizzle with ketchup and mustard.
21. Spinach Artichoke Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
½ cup chopped spinach
½ cup artichoke hearts
½ cup cream cheese
1 cup mozzarella
Instructions:
Stir together until warm and melty.
22. Everything Bagel Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1.5 cups cream cheese + cheddar mix
1 tbsp everything bagel seasoning
Instructions:
Mix and sprinkle seasoning generously on top.
23. Cajun Shrimp Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
½ lb shrimp, sautéed with Cajun spice
1 cup pepper jack
Instructions:
Mix together while hot, top with scallions.
24. PB&J Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups mac
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tbsp grape jelly
1 cup mild cheese like mozzarella or cream cheese
Instructions:
Stir PB&J into cheesy pasta. Just try it. Once.
25. Dessert Mac
Ingredients:
2 cups pasta
¼ cup cream cheese
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Graham cracker crumbs
Instructions:
Stir all together, top with graham cracker crumbles.
You’ve got this!
Mac and cheese doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re into spicy, sweet, meaty, vegan, or just plain bizarre—there’s a version out there that’ll surprise you. Try one, try five, or try them all. Your tastebuds (and your dinner guests) will thank you.
