It’s been a while since we did a Chick-Fil-A Copycat Recipe but this new side for Chick-Fil-A Nuggets just had to be copied. Who can resist comfort food like fried chicken and Mac & Cheese?
Baked Macaroni and Cheese is one of those dishes that you only expect to get at a fancy restaurant, unless you (or Grandma) make it at home. I think we can all agree that it’s hands down the best way to make a classic Macaroni & Cheese. So, when a fast-food restaurant decides to come out with a version, you know it’s going to be a hit.
While Chick-Fil-A’s Mac & Cheese is a lot cheaper than a steakhouse, it can still be a bit pricey. Plus, those long drive-thru lines are not great when you’ve got kiddos in the back seat. That’s why I knew I had to recreate this delicious new side dish at home.
Chick-Fil-A Mac & Cheese really sets a high bar for fast food chains by baking their Mac every day in house. No microwaves, artificial ingredients, or frozen cheddar sauce in this menu item. That’s a kind of side dish I like to copy, especially if it is loaded with 5 kinds of cheese with even more cheese baked on top!
The special blend of cheese is what really makes this comfort food a winner. They use parmesan, Romano, and rumor has it a special cheese from Wisconsin called BellaVitano. Now, I know I had a hard enough time trying to find BellaVitano in my grocery store, so I did replace it with a blend of cheeses that is just as spot-on.
What holds the cheddar sauce in Chick-Fil-A’s Mac together is the addition of American cheese. It’s important to note that this is not Velveeta cheese, it’s the creamy sliceable cheese you can get from the deli counter. There is a natural salt that is in American cheese that keeps the fat from separating from the remaining cheese blend.
Naturally, the first time we made this, I had to make a batch of copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets to go along with it. But if you are looking for a lighter way to make this a full dinner, try it with my Market Salad Copycat. Or you can compromise on the KFC versus Chick-Fil-A debate and serve with Original Fried Chicken.
How to Make Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese
- Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente. Let pasta sit in hot pot of water for 10 minutes.
- Turn the oven to broil, on high.
- In a medium sized pot add heavy cream, American cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese. Melt cheeses with heavy cream over medium heat. Stir frequently.
- Place cooked pasta into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Pour melted cheeses over the pasta.
- Add shredded Colby Jack cheese to the top of the pasta. Place under broiler and broil just until the cheese begins to brown.
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Frequently Asked Questions
By leaving the macaroni noodles in the hot water, they will soften to the super tender consistency that is common for Chick-Fil-A’s Macaroni and Cheese. The pasta will be extra starchy to absorb the creamy melted cheese mixture, which is a perfect contrast to the bubbly crunchy topping.
If you replace the cheese or heavy cream in this recipe for lower fat versions, the texture will definitely be altered. Fat is hugely important to keeping this delicious recipe authentic to the restaurant. However, making adjustments to fit your dietary preferences is one of the many perks to making food from scratch at home! So go ahead and swap it out if you’d like to.
You can replace the elbow noodles with gluten free macaroni noodles to make this Macaroni and Cheese recipe friendly for a gluten-free diet. You’ll want to cook the gluten free noodles until just al dente before following the rest of the macaroni directions.
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Key Ingredients in Chick-Fil-A Mac & Cheese
- Pasta: You’ll use one pound elbow macaroni for this simple recipe. Use your favorite brand of pasta and cook it to just shy of al dente before turning off the stove and letting it sit for 10 minutes in the hot water.
- Cheese: This Mac and Cheese copycat recipe gets its fast food flavor from the combination of cheeses. The 4 types of cheeses you’ll use are American, Parmesan, Romano, and Colby Jack. It’s best to buy the American and Colby Jack cheeses in block and shred it yourself. Pre-grated cheese tends to have fillers to prevent it from caking, which can make your mac and cheese gritty instead of creamy.
- Cream: Full fat heavy cream is the key to making the melty cheese sauce that coats the elbow pasta. Make sure to watch and stir frequently so that the dairy does not scorch.
Can you make Chick-Fil-A Mac & Cheese ahead?
This Mac & Cheese can easily be made ahead of time and stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. Follow the recipe directions to make the cheese sauce and combine it with cooked pasta in the baking dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil. If freezing, allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake Mac & Cheese at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until hot. Top with the additional blend of cheeses and broil until cheese is browned.
Variations on Chick-Fil-A Mac & Cheese
- Loaded Mac & Cheese: Top the Mac & Cheese with crumbled cooked bacon before broiling. Once the Mac comes out of the oven, add diced scallions.
- Breadcrumbs: Give your macaroni a slightly crunchy topping by adding panko breadcrumbs or Italian breadcrumbs before broiling. You can also use crushed up crackers or garlic croutons for a buttery, flavorful option.
- Pasta: Instead of elbow noodles, use fusilli, rotini, small shells, or your favorite short pasta variety. You can also swap out the pasta for a gluten free version like brown rice pasta or lentil pasta.
- Veggies: Mix in diced and cooked bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, green beans, peas, or wilted spinach to add a colorful and nutritious twist on Chick-Fil-A Macaroni and Cheese.
- Cheese: You can swap out the Colby Jack cheese for white cheddar and sharp cheddar cheese. I would also recommend using the nuttier BellaVitano if you can find it!
- Taco Mac: Brown ground beef and stir in Taco Seasoning to make seasoned taco meat. Fold the warm taco meat into your pasta and cheddar sauce.
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How to Store Chick-Fil-A Mac & Cheese
- Serve: Mac & Cheese can be kept at room temperature for no more than 2 hours before it should be stored.
- Store: Allow Macaroni and Cheese to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Freeze for up to 2 months in a sealed container or tightly covered with plastic wrap and foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces macaroni
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 1/4 pounds American cheese , chopped up or shredded
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon Romano cheese
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 4 ounces Colby Jack Cheese , shredded
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions for al dente. Let pasta sit in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Turn the oven on to broil, on high.
- In a medium sized pot add salt, heavy cream, American cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese. Melt cheeses with heavy cream over medium heat. Stir frequently.
- Place cooked pasta into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Pour melted cheeses over the pasta.
- Add shredded Colby Jack cheese to the top of the pasta. Place under broiler.
- Broil just until the cheese begins to brown.
Nutrition
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Is the tablespoon of salt added to the pasta water while the noodles are boiling or is it added to the heavy cream and cheese mixture while it’s melting on the stovetop? Thanks!
Thanks for asking! I’ve corrected the recipe instructions to say add salt to the heavy cream and cheese mixture!
Sabrina,
This is so good. Chick fil a has my favorite Mac and cheese. This tastes so much like theirs. My kids loved it too. And it is so much cheaper making it myself. Thank you!
Heavy cream cannot be eaten here (lactose). Can anything be substituted?