This cheesy Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe tastes just like the restaurant version and is so easy to make at home! Tender macaroni noodles are folded into a decadent four-cheese sauce for a homemade option that satisfies your cravings without the need to run by the drive-thru.
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Pin RecipeWhile they may be known for their chicken, Chick-fil-A also serves some of the best mac and cheese! However, there’s no need to jump in the car when a craving strikes. Turns out, Chick-fil-A mac and cheese is pretty easy to make at home! With just a few simple ingredients and minimal cook time, you’ll have a homemade side dish that tastes just as good, if not even better, than the real deal.
Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
What makes the Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese recipe so good? It might be the four different kinds of cheese that go into the rich sauce or the slightly crisp cheddar cheese that’s melted over the top. Or, maybe it’s the tender pasta? If you’ve ever had Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese you know exactly what I mean!
Luckily, it’s you can purchase all of the ingredients needed to make this copycat recipe at your local grocery store – nothing fancy is required. Enjoy it with all your favorite main courses, add it to your Thanksgiving table, or serve it as a main course! It’s so good your guests won’t believe you actually made it yourself.
Want more homemade macaroni and cheese recipes? Try my Easy One-Pot Macaroni and Cheese Recipe, Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese, Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese, or Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese.
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Ingredients for Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Elbow macaroni – When you’re making macaroni and cheese, you’ve got to use macaroni pasta!
- Butter – I use unsalted butter in this recipe because we’ll get plenty of salt from the added cheeses.
- Flour – Flour helps to form a roux base for the cheese sauce.
- Heavy cream – I use heavy cream for the ultimate richness. You can use half-and-half instead with similar results.
- Milk – Use whole milk for the best flavor and an extra creamy consistency.
- Sharp cheddar cheddar – I love sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe because it gives so much flavor!
- Parmesan – Parmesan cheese gives a nice, salty undertone.
- Romano cheese – This is a hard, white cheese that has a bold, pungent taste.
- American cheese – American cheese gives this Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese its familiar melty appearance and texture.
- Paprika – This adds extra depth to the flavor, creating subtle warmth and just a hint of spice.
- Salt and pepper – Adjust to taste.
How to Make Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
- Heat the oven and prepare the pan: Heat the oven to 350ยฐF. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil a pot of water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Cook the macaroni: Add the pasta, and cook the noodles to al dente, according to the package instructions. Then, drain and set aside.
- Now melt the butter: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Lower the heat and whisk in the flour: Turn the heat to low, and whisk in the flour continuously until the mixture is thick.
- Add the milk and cream: Slowly pour in the cream and whole milk over low heat, whisking constantly until the mixture forms a thick sauce.
- Stir in the cheeses: Stir in the four cheeses until they melt into the milk mixture and form a creamy sauce. Remove from the heat.
- Mix in the salt, paprika, and pepper: Add the salt, paprika, and pepper to taste, mixing well to combine.
- Fold the macaroni into the sauce: Fold the macaroni into the sauce, stirring gently until the noodles are coated with the sauce.
- Place the mixture in the baking dish and bake: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle the surface evenly with more shredded cheddar cheese. Place in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Then, put the broiler on low, and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Let stand for 5 minutes: Remove from the oven, let stand for 5 minutes, and serve warm.
Quick Tip
For the best results, I recommend buying blocks of cheese and grating them yourself. Pre-shredded varieties have anti-caking agents that cause them not to melt as well.
How to Store Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can reheat the macaroni and cheese in the microwave or in the oven on low heat.
Serving Suggestions
Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese is perfect on its own, or you can round it out into a complete meal with a salad like my Fresh Corn Salad, or a green vegetable like roasted or steamed broccoli. You can also serve it with any protein-rich main course like my Crock Pot Ham recipe or baked chicken.
FAQs
Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese features a creamy, cheesy sauce with perfectly cooked al dente noodles. The dish is finished with a crunchy parmesan topping for added texture and flavor.
Yes, Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese is baked in the oven!
No, Chic-fil-A macaroni and cheese is made without meat, making it a vegetarian menu item. Of course, you can always add meat like ham, shredded chicken, or ground beef to transform it into a complete meal!
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Chic-fil-A Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- 9×13 pan
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- pot
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- ยผ cup butter
- ยผ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 ยฝ cups whole milk
- 1 ยพ cup shredded sharp cheddar plus extra for the top
- ยพ cup shredded parmesan
- 1 cup shredded romano cheese
- 8 slices American cheese torn or cut into small pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- โ teaspoon ground paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ยฐF. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Add the pasta and boil until the noodles are al dente, then drain and set aside.16 ounces elbow macaroni
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.ยผ cup butter
- Turn the heat to low and whisk in the flour. Whisk and mix continuously for about 4-5 minutes until it is thick.ยผ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly pour in the cream and whole milk over low heat, whisking constantly until the mixture forms a thick sauce.1 cup heavy cream, 2 ยฝ cups whole milk
- Stir in the four cheeses until they melt into the milk mixture and form a creamy sauce. Remove from the heat.1 ยพ cup shredded sharp cheddar, ยพ cup shredded parmesan, 1 cup shredded romano cheese, 8 slices American cheese
- Add the salt, paprika, and pepper to taste, mixing well to combine.1 teaspoon salt, โ teaspoon ground paprika, Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fold the macaroni into the sauce, stirring gently until the noodles are coated with the sauce.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the surface evenly with more shredded cheddar cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes, then put the broiler on low and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, let stand for 5 minutes, then serve.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Hello! I love your website, but if you could omit the equipment list & the measurements in the directions, the recipe would print out SO much better. We all know the tools we need and we can read the list of ingredients instead of adding them, too, in the directions would be a GREAT HELP for printing! THANK YOU!
This is sooo good and taste very similar to the store. Will not disappoint!
Have you ever put this Mac and cheese in the crockpot to serve warm? Thanks
We haven’t, but it should work great! You may need to freshen it back up with a splash of milk if it dries out a bit.