This delicious Copycat Chick-fil-a Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy and oh so satisfying! It is easy to make too making it perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.
There’s no need to hit the drive thru when you are craving this cheesy goodness, with this recipe you can whip up the best mac and cheese anytime the mood strikes.
Jump to:
Homemade Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a classic go-to comfort food that we all love, but often the macaroni can be dry, pasty, or have little to no flavor. However, Chick-fil-A has managed to retain every bit of deliciousness and create a dish that is truly special.
Their rich and creamy mac and cheese has a special blend of cheese for a smooth, rich flavor that hits all the right taste buds. The sauce is mild but is still somehow full of flavor and luscious creaminess.
With each bite you will enjoy how the slightly salty crunchy exterior gives way to the soft pasta while the perfect cheese melts over top and slowly coats it in its delectable embrace. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, everyone can appreciate this cheesy goodness!
The Best Cheese for Chick Fil A Mac n Cheese
The original chick-fil-a mac and cheese is made with several different kinds of cheese including aged cheddar, sharp white cheddar cheese, Romano cheese, grated parmesan cheese, BellaVitano cheese (a hard cheese that is similar to parmesan but with a nutty flavor) and American cheese.
The velvety texture of the famed restaurant’s melty sauce can be replicated with this combination. I don’t keep six different cheeses on hand, nor do I want that many hanging out in my fridge tempting me to eat them so in my copycat version, I stick with cheddar and parmesan.
For those who prefer more adventure in their cheesy delights, substituting different cheeses like gruyere, Gouda, Swiss, or Colby jack cheese are all great additions.
If you don’t want to stick to the traditional blend of cheeses while making your own version of a Chick-fil-A mac and cheese dish, you have plenty of choices! Get creative when selecting your favorite combo because the sky is the limit.
Play around with flavors and textures to put together an amazing recipe that is sure to rival (or even surpass) its namesake! Cooking doesn’t have to only be about following instructions; make your mac and cheese dish into something wholly unique with whatever type of cheeses.
Cheese sometimes gets a bad reputation, but did you know that it’s filled with nutrients such as calcium, protein and phosphorus? Not to mention it’s delicious! So, you can feel good feeding this classic comfort food to your family.
Why I Love This Recipe
This cheesy macaroni dish is a delectable, decadent comfort food dish that will have your mouth watering!
- Easy to make
- Always a hit
- Perfect for picky eaters
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love cheesy baked pasta recipes, give this Easy Lasagna Casserole a try next time you want something tasty.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this easy copycat recipe. All of these ingredients are commonly found in your pantry, which can help you avoid a trip to the grocery store.
Pasta – I am a traditionalist when it comes to making mac and cheese, so I always use elbow macaroni.
Dairy – You will need whole milk and heavy whipping cream to make this creamy and cheesy pasta recipe.
Cheese – I talked about this above, but for mine, I like to use a mixture of cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese. To make yours identical to chick-fil-a’s mac and cheese, see the measurements in the “Pro Tips” section of this post (and in the recipe card) that includes all six cheeses.
Seasoning – To make this mac and cheese you will need garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
Substitutions
Pasta – If you’d like to make this recipe gluten free, you can opt for a gluten free pasta and it will turn out just as delicious.
Cheese – Use your favorites! If you don’t want to use shredded cheddar cheese, you can use colby cheese instead. Prefer grated romano cheese to parmesan? Go ahead and make the swap. Like how easily Velveeta cheese melts? Use it! I won’t tell.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
This recipe is great for those who like to customize their meals. Here are some of my favorite variations:
Protein: Add cooked chicken or bacon to add a little protein in this creamy baked recipe.
Spice: Add diced jalapeños or hot sauce for a spicy kick to this classic comfort food recipe.
Flavor: Increase the flavor by sprinkling with Italian herbs such as oregano, basil or rosemary.
Veggies: Add some vegetables such as diced tomatoes or steamed broccoli to add a nutritious boost of vitamins and minerals.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this simple recipe. Gather all of these tools and get ready to enjoy this hearty dish.
- Casserole dish – You will need a 9×13 baking dish. I prefer to use a glass or ceramic baking dish for this recipe.
- Saucepans – You will need medium sized pot and a large pot like a dutch oven.
How to Make Homemade Chick Fil A Macaroni and Cheese
Making this mac and cheese is so simple. Just follow the directions below and you will have a hearty meal or side dish in no time at all.
Step 1: Preheat the oven and grease a casserole dish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2: Cook the noodles
Cook the macaroni in a large pot of water until the noodles are al dente.
Step 3: Melt the butter
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Step 4: Make a roux
Sprinkle the flour into the saucepan with the butter, and stir to combine well. Sauté for 1 minute. This step is a critical one to make the cheese sauce thick and creamy instead of clumpy or stringy.
Step 5: Add the milk to make the sauce
Pour in the milk and heavy cream.
Step 6: Season the sauce
Add the garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste, in the saucepan. Simmer until the mixture thickens.
Step 7: Add in the cheese
Mix the cheeses into the sauce, and stir until the cheese is fully melted and smooth.
Step 8: Pour the cheese mixture over the cooked pasta
Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles, and stir to combine.
Step 9: Spread the cheese mixture into the casserole dish
Spread the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish. If you want, you can sprinkle more cheese on top.
Step 10: Bake and broil until golden brown
Bake for 20 minutes, turn the heat to low broil, and put in the broiler for another 5 minutes until the cheese begins to brown.
Serving Suggestions
While this creamy mac and cheese is delicious, you can also serve it with these air fryer chicken tenders, Air Fryer Pulled Pork, Baked Panko Pork Chops or herb roasted pork loin.
Pro Tips
Here are a few of my favorite tips to make sure that your mac and cheese turns out perfectly every time that you make it.
- To get the perfect copycat of the restaurant version, use 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar; 1/4 cup each of shredded white cheddar, BellaVitano Gold, and parmesan; 1 tablespoon of Romano.
- Make sure that you cook your pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Each brand of pasta has a different cook time, so it’s important to check the timing to avoid overcooking it.
- Be sure to drain the classic macaroni noodles well to avoid adding extra water to your mac n cheese recipe.
- For a recipe like this one, I like to use freshly shredded cheese instead of the pre-shredded cheese because it melts better.
- If you find that the cheese sauce is too thick after adding in all of the ingredients, add a little more milk to thin it out.
- If you don’t want a crispy top layer, you can skip the broiling step.
- Unsalted butter really works best in this recipe, but you can use salted butter in a pinch.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store the mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat on the stovetop with a few tablespoons of milk or cream until heated through; or, reheat in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.
Yes, you can freeze this mac and cheese for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Yes, you can make it up to 2 days in advance. Make the recipe as directed but do not bake it. After spreading it in the baking dish, allow it to cool completely then cover it tightly with foil. When you’re ready to make it, remove the foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
More Copycat Recipes
If you like Chick Fil A, give these recipes a try:
- Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce
- Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Nuggets
Ready to get cooking? Print off the recipe card below or toggle on Cook Mode to keep your screen from going dark while you follow along on your phone or tablet.
📋 Recipe
Copycat Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- Large pot
- Saucepan
- casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound Elbow macaroni noodles
- 2 ¼ cups Milk
- 1 ¼ cups Heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup All purpose flour
- 5 tablespoons Butter, unsalted
- 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook the macaroni until the noodles are al dente.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Sprinkle the flour into the saucepan with the butter, and stir to combine well. Saute for 1 minute.
- Pour in the milk and heavy whipping cream.
- Add the garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste, in the saucepan. Simmer until the mixture thickens.
- Mix the cheeses into the sauce, and stir until completely melted and smooth.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the noodles, and stir to combine.
- Spread the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the heat to low broil, and bake another 5 minutes until browned on top.
Notes
- To get the perfect copycat of the restaurant version, use 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar; 1/4 cup each of shredded white cheddar, BellaVitano Gold, and parmesan; 1 tablespoon of Romano.
- Make sure that you cook your pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Each brand of pasta has a different cook time, so it’s important to check the timing to avoid overcooked pasta.
- Be sure to drain the classic macaroni noodles well to avoid adding extra water to your mac and cheese recipe.
- For a recipe like this one, I like to use freshly shredded cheese instead of the pre-shredded cheese because it melts better.
- If you find that the cheese sauce is too thick after adding in all of the ingredients, add a little more milk to thin it out.
- I’ve found that sharp cheddar cheese gives the best flavor, but you can use different kinds of cheese if you prefer.
- If you don’t want a crispy top layer, you can skip the broiling step.
- Unsalted butter really works best in this recipe, but you can use salted butter in a pinch.