Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Recipes


Homemade macaroni and cheese is a classic family meal and a useful recipe for kids who are learning how pasta, sauces and cheese work together. Kids can measure ingredients, grate cheese, whisk a sauce, stir cooked pasta and help assemble a casserole while practicing important kitchen skills.

Start with our homemade baked macaroni and cheese, try an easy crockpot mac and cheese, or make the simple 3-ingredient camp macaroni and cheese. You'll also find ideas for changing the cheese, adding vegetables or protein and turning basic mac and cheese into a complete meal.

Homemade macaroni and cheese recipes for kids

Start Here: Choose a Mac & Cheese Recipe

Classic Homemade

Want to learn how cheese sauce is made? Start with Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese and practice making a sauce from butter, flour, milk and cheese.

Slow Cooker

For a more hands-off family dinner, try Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese. Kids can help measure, pour and stir the ingredients.

Only 3 Ingredients

Try 3-Ingredient Camp Macaroni & Cheese, a reader-submitted recipe made with macaroni, Colby cheese and tomato juice.

Add Protein

Turn macaroni and cheese into a heartier main dish with Beefy Mac & Cheese or add cooked chicken, ham or another family favorite.

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Macaroni and Cheese Recipes on This Page

What Kids Learn Making Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese can teach several basic cooking skills in one familiar recipe. Choose jobs that match your child's age and kitchen experience.

Cooking Pasta

Practice following package directions, checking pasta for doneness and learning why an adult should help with boiling water and draining.

Making a Cheese Sauce

Learn how butter and flour form the base of a sauce, how liquid is whisked in gradually and how cheese melts into the finished sauce.

Measuring & Mixing

Kids can measure milk, cheese and seasonings, grate cheese at their skill level and combine cooked pasta with sauce.

Using the Oven

Baked macaroni and cheese gives older kids practice assembling a casserole while learning safe oven and hot-pan habits.

Learn How to Make White Sauce Easy Pasta Recipes

Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

This homemade baked macaroni and cheese starts with a creamy cheese sauce made from butter, flour and evaporated milk. Cheddar, Gouda and Parmesan give it plenty of cheesy flavor, while an optional breadcrumb topping adds a little crunch.

Homemade baked macaroni and cheese
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Prep: About 20 minutes | Bake: 15-20 minutes | Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni or other small pasta
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon or prepared mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups evaporated milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, such as Tabasco, optional
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Gouda cheese
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, optional

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish.
  2. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions until just tender. Drain and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  5. Whisk in the mustard and salt.
  6. Gradually pour in the evaporated milk, whisking constantly so the sauce stays smooth.
  7. Cook over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens enough to lightly coat a spoon.
  8. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the hot pepper sauce, if using.
  9. Add the cheddar and Gouda a handful at a time, stirring until melted. Stir in 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese.
  10. Add the drained macaroni and gently stir until the pasta is evenly coated with cheese sauce.
  11. Pour the macaroni and cheese into the prepared baking dish.
  12. If desired, combine the breadcrumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and sprinkle over the top.
  13. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the macaroni and cheese is hot and bubbling around the edges.
  14. Let stand for about 5 minutes before serving.
Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the ingredients, grate cheese at their skill level and help stir the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Making the sauce is also a good way to practice whisking and learn how butter, flour and milk thicken into a basic white sauce. An adult should supervise the stovetop, boiling pasta and hot baking dish.

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

This easy crockpot macaroni and cheese uses cooked pasta, evaporated milk and plenty of shredded cheese. A little Worcestershire sauce and optional hot sauce add flavor without making the dish complicated. Because the macaroni is already cooked, it only needs enough time in the slow cooker for the cheese to melt and the sauce to become creamy.

Crockpot macaroni and cheese
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Prep: About 15 minutes | Cook: About 1 1/2-2 hours on Low | Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked just until al dente and drained
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar cheese blend, divided
  • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2-3 dashes hot sauce, optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Lightly coat the inside of a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
  2. Cook the macaroni just until al dente according to the package directions. Drain well. Do not overcook it because the pasta will continue to soften in the slow cooker.
  3. Add the cooked macaroni to the slow cooker.
  4. In a bowl, stir together the evaporated milk, regular milk, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and black pepper.
  5. Pour the milk mixture over the macaroni.
  6. Add the butter and 2 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese. Stir gently to combine.
  7. Cover and cook on Low for about 1 1/2-2 hours, stirring after about 1 hour. Begin checking early because slow cookers vary and the macaroni can become too soft if cooked too long.
  8. When the sauce is creamy and the macaroni is hot, stir well. If the sauce seems too thick, stir in a small amount of additional milk.
  9. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese over the top. Cover for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese melts.
  10. Serve warm. Once the macaroni and cheese is ready, avoid leaving it in the slow cooker for an extended time because the pasta will continue to soften.
Kid Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the milk and seasonings, add the cheese and help stir the ingredients together before cooking. This is also a good recipe for practicing slow cooker skills. An adult should handle the hot cooked pasta and supervise the slow cooker.

3-Ingredient Camp Macaroni & Cheese

Reader recipe submitted by Jeri F., Kentucky.

This simple old-fashioned macaroni and cheese uses just three ingredients: macaroni, Colby cheese and tomato juice. It's different from creamy mac and cheese-the pasta bakes in the tomato juice while cubes of cheese melt throughout the dish. With very little prep, it's an easy recipe for camp cooking, cooking classes or beginner cooks.

Macaroni and cheese made with Colby cheese and tomato juice
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Prep: About 10 minutes | Bake: About 50-65 minutes | Makes about 4–6 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 8 ounces Colby or Colby Longhorn cheese, cut into small cubes
  • 4 cups (32 ounces) tomato juice

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish.
  2. Add the uncooked macaroni, cubed Colby cheese, and tomato juice to the casserole dish. Stir well so the pasta is evenly distributed and well coated with liquid.
  3. Cover the dish tightly with foil.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes, then carefully remove the foil and stir well. If the macaroni is still firm and the dish looks dry, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup additional tomato juice, stir, cover tightly, and continue baking until the macaroni is tender.
  5. Remove the foil and bake for about 5-10 minutes more, if needed, until the macaroni is tender and the sauce has thickened.
  6. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Kid Cooking Tip: This three-ingredient recipe is a good choice for beginner cooks because there is no separate pot of pasta to boil. Kids can measure the macaroni and tomato juice, add the cheese and help stir everything together in the casserole dish.
What is Colby Longhorn cheese? Longhorn refers to the traditional cylindrical shape in which cheeses such as Colby were made. Regular Colby cheese works well in this recipe and is usually easier to find. For the best melting, buy a block and cut it into small cubes.

More Ways to Make Macaroni and Cheese

Once you have a favorite macaroni and cheese recipe, it's easy to turn it into a different dinner by adding vegetables, cooked meat or other favorite ingredients. You can use homemade mac and cheese or start with a prepared version when you need a quicker meal.

Beefy Mac & Cheese

Add cooked ground beef or meatballs to make macaroni and cheese into a heartier main dish. Try our Baked Beefy Mac & Cheese for a complete recipe.

Chicken Mac & Cheese

Stir in chopped or shredded cooked chicken. This is an easy way to use leftover or rotisserie chicken.

Broccoli Mac & Cheese

Add lightly steamed broccoli during the last few minutes of preparation. Cut the broccoli into small pieces so it mixes easily with the macaroni.

Ham & Peas Mac & Cheese

Stir in diced cooked ham and thawed peas for an easy all-in-one meal. Add them near the end so they only need to heat through.

Easy Macaroni and Cheese Add-Ins

Macaroni and cheese is easy to customize. Let kids choose one or two extras to stir into the finished dish and create their own variation.

Add Vegetables

  • Broccoli
  • Peas
  • Spinach
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Roasted cauliflower
  • Cooked carrots

See our How to Cook Vegetables lesson for preparation ideas.

Add Protein

  • Cooked chicken
  • Diced ham
  • Cooked ground beef
  • Meatballs
  • Tuna
  • Cooked bacon

Try Different Cheeses

  • Sharp cheddar
  • Colby
  • Monterey Jack
  • Gouda
  • Mozzarella
  • Parmesan

For good flavor and texture, use at least one cheese that melts smoothly rather than replacing all of the cheese with a very hard cheese.

Add a Topping

  • Breadcrumbs
  • Crushed crackers
  • Extra shredded cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Chopped fresh herbs
Homemade macaroni and cheese recipes for kids
Kid Cooking Activity: Set out a few prepared add-ins and let each child create a small bowl of personalized mac and cheese. This is an easy way to encourage kids to experiment with flavors while starting with a familiar food.

How to Make Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

  • Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it just until tender, especially when the macaroni will be baked or cooked again in a slow cooker.
  • Add milk gradually when making a sauce. Whisking as you pour helps prevent lumps.
  • Shred cheese from a block when possible. It generally melts more smoothly into a homemade cheese sauce.
  • Turn down the heat before adding cheese. Very high heat can make a cheese sauce less smooth.
  • Add cheese gradually. Stir in a handful at a time and allow it to melt before adding more.
  • Don't overbake it. Once baked mac and cheese is hot and bubbling around the edges, leaving it in the oven much longer can dry it out.

For more practice making creamy sauces, see our basic white sauce lesson and homemade sauce recipes.

Watch Macaroni and Cheese Being Made

Watching another cook make macaroni and cheese can help kids see how the ingredients come together before trying a recipe themselves. In this video, Paula Deen demonstrates her version of homemade macaroni and cheese.

Watch & Compare: Ask kids to compare the video recipe with the baked macaroni and cheese recipe above. What ingredients and cooking methods are the same? What does the cook do differently?

Plan your Weekly Meals

Submit your favorite kids recipe

Do you have a favorite recipe your kids love to make? Or a recipe your kids ask you to make again and again? Share it with us!

Macaroni and Cheese FAQ

What cheese is best for homemade macaroni and cheese?

Cheddar is a good starting cheese because it has plenty of flavor and melts well. Colby, Monterey Jack, Gouda and other melting cheeses can also be mixed with cheddar. Parmesan adds flavor but is usually best combined with a softer melting cheese rather than used as the only cheese.

Why isn't my homemade mac and cheese creamy?

Macaroni and cheese can become dry if there isn't enough sauce, the pasta is overcooked or the casserole is baked too long. When making a cheese sauce, use moderate heat and stir the cheese in gradually after the sauce has thickened.

Should you cook macaroni before baking mac and cheese?

For most baked macaroni and cheese recipes, yes. Cook the pasta until just tender or slightly firmer than you normally would because it will continue cooking in the oven. If a recipe is specifically designed to use uncooked pasta, follow those directions instead.

How do you keep baked macaroni and cheese from drying out?

Use enough cheese sauce to generously coat the pasta and avoid overbaking it. Take the casserole out when it is hot and bubbling around the edges rather than continuing to bake it after the sauce is already hot.

Can kids make macaroni and cheese?

Yes. Kids can measure ingredients, grate cheese at an appropriate skill level, whisk sauce, add toppings and help assemble a casserole. An adult should supervise boiling water, the stovetop, slow cooker and hot baking dishes.

What can you add to macaroni and cheese?

Try adding broccoli, peas, spinach, diced tomatoes, cooked chicken, ham, ground beef, meatballs, tuna or bacon. Breadcrumbs, crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese or extra shredded cheese can also be added on top.

Can you make macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker?

Yes. Our Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese uses cooked macaroni, evaporated milk and shredded cheese. Because pasta continues to soften as it sits in a slow cooker, begin checking it early and serve it when the sauce is creamy and the pasta is tender.

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