The copycat Chick-fil-A mac and cheese is creamy, rich, and incredibly cheesy! The recipe includes different kinds of cheese, and it's probably quicker than takeaway.
This Chick-fil-A mac and cheese recipe is one of my favorite copycat recipes, and I cook it regularly at home.
And if you like to try another delicious copycat recipe, try our Panera Black Bean Soup; it's one of our readers' favorites. Or make these amazing London Chocolate Strawberries.
Ingredients: 9 + spices
Working time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
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What is Chick-fil-A mac and cheese?
Chick-fil-A is known for its chicken sandwiches, but their mac and cheese is just as popular - even better than the waffle fries, if you ask me. It's only been on the menu since 2019, but it's already a fan favorite. And no wonder - it's cheesy, hearty, and honestly one of the best side dishes out there.
And if you are as much into creamy mac and cheese as we are, check out some other versions - for instance, this excellent Tuna Mac and Cheese or the Gouda Mac and Cheese. We even made a collection of What to Serve with Mac and Cheese.
Recipe ingredients
The top-secret restaurant recipe includes a unique blend of cheeses like Parmesan, Romano, Cheddar, and BellaVitano. I am not sure about the American cheese, but I am using it as it has its purpose in this recipe.
Parmesan and Romano are two kinds of Italian hard cheese. If you can't get hold of Romano, you can substitute it with more Parmesan cheese.
Cheddar: I used sharp and white cheddar.
American cheese: An essential ingredient for this recipe. Although it lacks in flavor (at least compared to the other cheeses), a few slices of American cheese help the sauce emulsify, ensuring that it's creamy and unctuous, just the way you want it to be.
BellaVitano: Use it if you have it. It's a cow's milk cheese made by the Sartori Company. If not available (I couldn't get it in the grocery store), you can substitute it with more Parmesan, as I did. If you can get it, use 2 tablespoons of it and only 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.
Elbow macaroni noodles are perfect, but any other short pasta you might have is excellent.
See the recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make copycat Chick-fil-A mac and cheese?
- Pasta: Cook it for about 20 minutes. Drain well (1).
- Prepare the cheese: Tear the American cheese into smaller pieces. Grate all the other sorts (2). Set them aside. Grate and keep the ยฝ cup Cheddar needed for the topping separately.
- Make the sauce: Pour milk and cream into a large saucepan. Add butter, salt, a little bit of black pepper, sweet and smoked paprika, and turmeric. Warm gently for about 2 minutes. Don't let it come to a boil.
- Add the cheese (3) and stir gently on low heat until it melts. It should not get too hot or come to a boil (4).
- Combine the cooked pasta and the creamy sauce. Adjust the taste if necessary (5).
- Bake: Pour the cheesy mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the ยฝ cup Cheddar you reserved for the topping.
- Broil: Preheat the broiler to high. Broil the dish for 2-3 minutes or until golden.
Tips
Dish: You can broil the creamy mac in a large baking dish or in individual ramekin dishes.
Don't use pre-shredded cheese; its additives will prevent it from melting nicely, which would be a disaster when making any kind of mac and cheese.
Nothing melts as nicely as American cheese; make sure you use it. The sodium citrate added to it makes the protein more soluble, preventing it from separating and thus creating that smooth, creamy consistency we are looking for.
Recipe FAQs
It would have never occurred to me either; I always cook pasta al dente and love it that way. But while researching for this copycat recipe, I found that most people instruct you to cook the noodles for that long.
The long cooking time ensures that the macaroni absorbs as much water as possible from the very beginning before being mixed with the cheese sauce. This again ensures that they won't absorb too much of the cream and milk contained in the sauce, making the dish as creamy as possible.
No, it's not because it contains Parmesan, traditionally made with animal rennet. However, you can quickly turn this recipe vegetarian by using cheese made with vegetarian rennet.
Store and reheat
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
Reheat in the microwave: Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a small splash of milk. Cover and reheat for 30 seconds. Stir and continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until the food is hot.
Reheat in the oven: Place the leftovers in an oven-safe dish and add a small splash of milk. Mix a little to incorporate the milk. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and reheat at 350ยฐF (180ยฐC) for about 20 minutes or until heated through
What to serve with it?
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๐ Recipe
Copycat Chick-Fil-a Mac and Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large saucepan
- Baking dish or 6 ramekin dishes
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 6 oz American cheese
- 1ยฝ cups Cheddar
- 1 cup white Cheddar
- 4 tablespoons Parmesan Note 1
- 2 tablespoons Romano
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt or Kosher, more to taste
- โ teaspoon sweet paprika powder
- โ teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- โ teaspoon turmeric
Topping:
- ยฝ cup Cheddar
Instructions
- Cook the pasta for about 20 minutes (Note 2). Drain well.In the meantime, butter the casserole dish and prepare the sauce.1 lb elbow macaroni
- Cheese: Tear the American cheese into smaller pieces. Grate all the other cheese sorts. Set them aside. 6 oz American cheese+ 1ยฝ cups Cheddar + 1 cup white Cheddar + 4 tablespoons Parmesan + 2 tablespoons Romano
Make cheese sauce:
- Pour milk and cream into a large saucepan. Add butter, salt, pepper, sweet and smoked paprika, and turmeric. Warm gently for about 2 minutes, but don't let the mixture come to a boil.1 cup whole milk + 1 cup heavy cream + 1 tablespoons butter + 1 teaspoon fine sea salt + โ teaspoon sweet paprika powder + โ teaspoon smoked paprika powder + โ teaspoon turmeric
- Melt cheese: Add all the cheese and stir gently on low heat until the cheese melts. Don't let it become too hot or come to a boil.
Assemble dish:
- Combine: Add drained pasta and stir to coat. Adjust the taste with a bit of salt and pepper if necessary.
- Assemble: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the ยฝ cup cheese required for the topping.ยฝ cup Cheddar
- Broil: Preheat the broiler to high. Broil the mac and cheese for 2-3 minutes or until golden (Note 3). Serve immediately.
Notes
- Cheese choice: If you can get hold of BellaVitano Gold cheese, use two tablespoons of BellaVitano and only two tablespoons of the grated Parmesan.
- Cooking time: That's much longer than you would usually cook it. However, it seems to be one of the key steps ensuring the success of this copycat Chick Fill a Mac and Cheese recipe.
- You can broil the creamy mac in a large baking dish or in individual ramekin dishes.
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