Ingredients Pasta + Noodles Mac and Cheese Food & Wine's Best Macaroni and Cheese Recipes By Food & Wine Editors Updated on August 9, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Creamy, cheesy, and piping hot, macaroni and cheese is a nostalgic classic for a reason — and when you need something hearty, these mac and cheese recipes should be your go-to. Some of our favorites include Raclette-Gruyère Mac and Cheese with Pickled Shallots, Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese, and Buttermilk Macaroni and Cheese with Baby Kale. If shells are your favorite, Baked Shells with Gremolata Breadcrumbs is the way to go. No matter which one you choose, you're only a few steps away from a cozy, wonderful meal. 01 of 10 Grant's Mac and Cheese JOHN KERNICK Chef Grant Achatz's personal touch for his macaroni and cheese recipe is a tablespoon of paprika (to enhance the color of the sauce) and lots of smoky, crisp bacon bits. Get the Recipe 02 of 10 Leek Mac and Cheese Cooks usually reserve dark, tough leek greens for stock. Here, F&W's Grace Parisi sautés them until they're soft and supple, then folds them into a luscious macaroni and cheese made with nutty Manchego. Get the Recipe 03 of 10 Pickled Pepper Macaroni and Cheese Con Poulos Crispy panko breadcrumbs add crunch to this rich and cheesy pasta casserole, studded with sweet and spicy pickled peppers. Get the Recipe 04 of 10 Macaroni and Cheese with Buttery Crumbs © Matthew Armendariz Small chunks of cheddar and Colby cheeses throughout give this macaroni and cheese a perfect hit of flavor and a fabulous gooey texture. Get the Recipe 05 of 10 Andouille Mac & Cheese © Cedric Angeles Chef Paul Nanni grinds and smokes his own andouille sausage for super-generous portions of this Cajun-inspired macaroni and cheese, but you can swap in pre-made sausage when making it at home. Get the Recipe 06 of 10 Auntie Monica's Seafood Mac and Cheese Stacy Howell Loaded with fresh shrimp, crab, and lobster and layered with a rich mixture of cheeses, this macaroni and cheese gets an extra boost of spice from liquid shrimp-and-crab boil. The boil seasoning lends its long-cooked flavor to the casserole without overcooking the delicate seafood. Get the Recipe 07 of 10 Buttermilk Macaroni and Cheese with Baby Kale Kelly Marshall A quick sauté renders baby kale leaves perfectly tender, allowing them to almost melt into the buttermilk-enriched béchamel in chef and cookbook author Alexander Smalls' version of mac and cheese. For a smooth sauce, make sure all of the dairy is at room temperature. Get the Recipe 08 of 10 Raclette-Gruyère Mac and Cheese with Pickled Shallots Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Inspired by älplermagronen, Alpine farmers' macaroni, this Swiss twist on a Thanksgiving classic gets rich flavor from Gruyère and a lush creaminess from Raclette. Traditional versions of this dish are served with applesauce; as a nod to that flavor play, we've added some shallots that are quickly pickled in apple cider vinegar to balance the cheesy richness. Get the Recipe 09 of 10 Baked Shells with Gremolata Breadcrumbs Photo by Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee Macaroni and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. This version features a combination of fontina for optimal gooey texture and cheddar for its tangy flavor, and a crispy mix of toasted panko, parsley, lemon, and garlic that cuts through the richness of the ultra-creamy baked shells. Get the Recipe 10 of 10 Southern-Style Mac 'n' Cheese Photo by Noah Fecks / Food Styling by Drew Aichele / Prop Styling by Ethan Lunkenheimer Three different kinds of cheese — extra-sharp cheddar, Colby-Jack, and cream cheese — go into this creamy, savory macaroni and cheese recipe, which also gets layers of flavor from fresh bay leaves and dry mustard. Southern-style mac 'n' cheese is typically made with a milk-and-egg base rather than a roux. Here, the milk component is an infused milk-and-cream mixture reserved from cooking the noodles (which adds even more richness to the dish). Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit