Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese, a last year’s addition to the Chick-fil-A menu, has swiftly gone to the top of the favorite menu item list. While nothing beats buying it at the restaurant, we’ve created a Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese recipe that will quickly become a household favorite.
If you like Chick-fil-A, you must never forget to get the Mac & Cheese! Their mac and cheese are arguably among the best available. The mac and cheese, made with a variety of cheeses, Is creamy, gooey, rich, and just fantastic. It is one of the most popular things on their menu, and both children and adults like it.
Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese Recipe
You don’t have to look elsewhere if you would like your homemade mac & cheese to taste like Chick-fil-A’s. We’ve created a fantastic copycat recipe that will provide you nearly the same results as purchasing it in Chick-Fil-A – however, we think the homemade flavor is even better.
My kids loved it, and to be frank, everyone that tried it did too. It takes conventional macaroni and cheese to the next level, and I don’t think there will be a dissatisfied guest in the house with this dish.
Chick-fil-A’s new Mac & Cheese is cooked fresh every day, and the formula is more sophisticated than you’d imagine from a fast-food chicken restaurant. According to the published ingredient list, the recipe contains many types of cheese, including Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, famous Italian cheese made of sheep’s milk, and BellaVitano, a prize-winning hard cheese from Wisconsin.
The BellaVitano cheese lends a delicate nuttiness to the blend, and all three hard kinds of cheese contribute a strong umami taste that balances the white and yellow cheddar combination perfectly. Together five types of cheese combine to provide such a wonderful taste, but the mixture could dissolve into a greasy mess if it weren’t for the help of one additional common cheese: American.
The value of American cheese is found in the sodium citrate it contains, which balances its lack of flavor. This organic sodium salt acts as an emulsifier, preventing the fat within cheeses from breaking. We don’t need to prepare a roux to make a wonderfully smooth cheese sauce since we first melt several pieces of American cheese in the milk.
Another trick for cooking the macaroni: don’t follow the guidelines on the package for al dente macaroni since you don’t want the macaroni to be al dente or somewhat hard. Cook the elbow macaroni for twenty minutes to allow it to soak as much water as possible.
This guarantees that the macaroni does not absorb fluid from the cheese sauce when mixed and that the sauce remains flawlessly creamy.
Chick-Fil-A recipes on our website are very popular, and no wonder, because we take a lot of trial and error until we get it right, or at least the closest to the real thing. So I highly recommend you check some other popular Chick-Fil-A recipes below:
Chick-fil-A Sauce Copycat Recipe
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Copycat Recipe
How to Make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Minis
Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap
What about Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich and Mac and Cheese Combination?
What’s the deal with the chicken sandwich and mac & cheese? You’ve almost definitely seen folks put mac and cheese on top of the Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich if you’re surfing the net.
And, sure, it is truly excellent. The crunchy chicken, pickles, and bread all work well together with Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese. Who would have guessed?
You can also combine the Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese with your favorite burger for an amazing experience, like in the photo below.
Ingredients
-
8 oz elbow macaroni
-
1 cup whole milk
-
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
-
½ tsp salt
-
5–6 slices American cheese (not Kraft Singles), roughly chopped or torn
-
½ cup (2 oz) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
-
1 oz white cheddar cheese, shredded
-
1 oz BellaVitano Gold cheese, shredded (or sub with extra Parmesan)
-
3 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
-
1 Tbsp Pecorino Romano, grated
For the Topping:
-
3½ oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
-
3½ oz white cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
-
Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until very soft (about 15–20 minutes—softer than al dente, as in Chick-Fil-A style).
Drain well and set aside. -
Make the Cheese Sauce:
In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine milk, butter, and salt. Add American cheese slices and cook, whisking often, until the cheese and butter are fully melted and the mixture is smooth. -
Add Cheeses:
Add in the sharp cheddar, white cheddar, BellaVitano Gold (or extra Parmesan), Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano.
Stir until all cheeses are melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth. Remove from heat. -
Combine Pasta and Sauce:
Pour the cheese sauce over the drained macaroni in a large mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
Let cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally so the sauce thickens and coats the noodles evenly (this helps prevent the cheese from sinking to the bottom). -
Assemble & Top:
Spoon the mac and cheese into a baking dish.
In a small bowl, mix the sharp cheddar and white cheddar for the topping, then sprinkle evenly over the top. -
Broil:
Set your oven broiler to high.
Place the baking dish under the broiler for 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese topping is golden and bubbly. Watch closely to prevent burning. -
Serve:
Let cool slightly before serving. Dig in and enjoy gooey, cheesy perfection!
Tips:
-
If you can’t find BellaVitano cheese, substitute with an extra tablespoon of Parmesan.
-
For extra creaminess, stir in a splash of cream before broiling.
-
For a little crunch, add buttery panko breadcrumbs to the topping before broiling.
Share the image below to your Pinterest board if you like this Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese recipe!
FAQs
Can I make Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese in advance?
You can! You can make Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator uncooked — I highly suggest you wait to add the cheese for the day of baking.
If you wish to save it for afterward, place it in the freezer uncooked and well-wrapped for up to 3 months.
Can I put Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese in the freezer?
Absolutely; if you have mac and cheese leftovers, you may store them for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe storage container. Be careful that it will most likely not be as wonderful when reheated.
How long can I keep Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese in the fridge?
It should preserve for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
Last words
So, there you have it. Like most Copycat recipes, this Chick-Fil-A mac and cheese isn’t only about the ingredients; you have to know a few tricks also. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, and if you have any questions or issues with this mac and cheese, please let me know in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you as always.
