A home-style side dish you can perfect at home. This Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese uses elbow macaroni, butter, garlic and a blend of cheddar and Parmesan Romano cheeses.
Oh man! Second to the chicken, one of the biggest gifts Chick-fil-A has given us is the Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese. I had the privilege of sampling Chick-fil-A’s Macaroni and Cheese at a private dining when this yummy goodness hit the market. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical before arrival (there isn’t much that can pull me away from Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries) but you guys, this side decision is going to be a hard one. It was incredibly tasty and reminded me of my own Home-Style Macaroni and Cheese recipe.
If you love a classic macaroni side dish, this one is easy and oh so tasty. It’s a simple recipe that you can make as an entrée from your family any night of the week. It also has easy prep if you want to prepare everything and then store it in the freezer for another day. I love freezer meals you can grab and go!
Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
Before we begin, let’s talk about the goodness… cheese.
What cheese do you use for copycat Chick-fil-A mac and cheese?
According to the company website, Chick-fil-A mac and cheese uses Parmesan, Cheddar, and Romano cheese. that is the type of cheese we including in our copycat recipe. However, you could also use different kinds of cheese including American cheese, Colby-jack cheese or even a strong gouda cheese for a unique flavor!
Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese Ingredients
While we can’t perfect anything on the Chick-fil-A menu, we sure do hard work trying. This is the closest we got to perfecting the Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese recipe in our home.
- 16 ounce box large elbow noodles
- 2 Cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Cup Parmesan Romano cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- Garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper
- 9 x 13” pan
These simple ingredients will give you the homemade taste you look for in a mac and cheese dish.
Home-Style Macaroni and Cheese Directions
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9 x 13” pan with butter.
In a large pot, boil and then drain your noodles. (Prepare to boxed instructions)
Stir your noodles with 3 tablespoons of butter.
Blend your two types of cheeses in a bowl.
Scoop 1/3 of the noodles into the bottom of your pan.
Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top of your noodles.
Sprinkle garlic powder, salt and pepper on the cheese.
Repeat steps 4-6 with 3 layers of noodles and cheese.
Poor your milk carefully over the mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes uncovered until you see the cheese melt.
Tips for perfect Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
To get an extra crispy topping, add extra shredded cheese on the top of your baking dish ingredients. The last two minutes, set your oven to broil on high, careful not to burn.
Can you make this Protein Mac and Cheese?
Did you know? As a mom I am always trying to sneak protein in my kids meals. Using cheese is such a great way to hide added protein. The kids never know. Barilla makes a ProteinPlus Multigrain Pasta perfect for this recipe. Stock up because you might never use another type of noodle again!
See our other Hidden Vegetable Recipes including more Protein Mac and Cheese Recipes.
Save this recipe for later. Print your recipe and add it to your recipe box or recipe binder! This is my favorite Recipe Binder – I get tired of printing the same recipe over and over. A binder keeps me organized and gives me a place to store my recipes.
Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
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- Author: Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: entree
- Cuisine: American
Description
The best copycat mac and cheese recipe. Straight to your table in minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz box elbow macaroni or pasta noodles of choose
- 2 Cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Cup Parmesan Romano cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- 9 x 13” pan
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9 x 13” pan with butter.
- Boil al dente and drain your pasta noodles.
- Mix your noodles with 3 tablespoons of butter.
- Blend your two types of cheeses in a bowl.
- Scoop 1/3 of the pasta noodles into the bottom of your pan.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese on top of your noodles.
- Sprinkle garlic powder, salt and pepper on the cheese.
- Repeat steps 4-6 with 3 layers of pasta noodles and cheese.
- Poor your milk carefully over the mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
Notes
Tip: To get an extra crispy topping, add extra shredded cheese on the top. The last two minutes, set your oven to broil on high.
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FAQs
Is Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese real cheese?
Yes! Their website says specifically that they use a special blend of cheddar cheese, Romano cheese and Parmesan in creating this creamy cheese sauce for their signature Chick fil A mac n cheese.
Is there bacon in Chick-Fil-a mac and cheese?
Traditionally no. However, in minutes, you can easily add your favorite bacon bits mixed in with the shredded cheeses or sprinkled on top and broiled to add a new level of flavor and texture to this copycat recipe.
Is Chick-fil-A mac and cheese any good?
It is delicious! With a creamy cheese sauce, al dente cooked pasta and a slightly crispy, special blend of cheeses on top, it’s out of this world amazing! The ultimate comfort food.
Is Chick-fil-A mac n cheese vegetarian?
Yes and No. You could easily turn it into a vegetarian dish. Simply swap out different kinds of ingredients for your favorite special blend of Vegetarian/Vegan Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese and cheddar cheese. Choose a vegan milk and butter substitute that you enjoy and voila! Vegetarian copycat Chick fil A mac n cheese!
What kind of cheese does Chick-fil-A use?
The Chick fil A’s company website states that they use a “special blend of cheeses including Parmesan, Cheddar, and Romano.”
Can I make this ahead of time?
It’s very easy to make this recipe ahead of time. Do everything you need to do to complete this recipe but cook the dish. When you are ready to eat the dish, pull it out of the refrigerator.
Can I freeze this mac and cheese?
Yes, you can freeze this copycat mac and cheese dish. Prep everything ahead of time but instead of cooking, add the dish to the freezer. The best way to thaw macaroni and cheese is by placing it overnight in the refrigerator. Then cook as the instructions state.
How long do you cook frozen mac and cheese?
If your mac and cheese goes straight from the freezer to the oven, you will need to adjust time and temperature. This dish can go straight from the freezer into in a 400 degrees f oven. Cook for 1 hour, covered with foil, the take the foil off and bake for another 15-20 minutes to brown the top.
How was the first bite? Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Copycat Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese recipe. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!
Pair the best mac and cheese recipe with other bites of goodness! Enjoy these Chick-fil-A Copycat Recipes including chicken, fries, sides, drinks and more! Pin to Pinterest.
Want to whisk up another tasty copycat dish? Also check out these Panera Copycat Recipes. Pin to Pinterest.
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