Description
This Chick-fil-A inspired Mac and Cheese recipe offers a creamy, cheesy, and indulgent homemade version of the restaurant favorite. Featuring a rich blend of yellow and white cheddar, American, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses, combined with perfectly cooked elbow pasta and baked to bubbly golden perfection, this dish is ideal for family dinners or comforting gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces dry elbow pasta (1 box)
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons salted butter (½ stick)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1½ cups freshly grated yellow cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1½ cups freshly grated white cheddar cheese (divided)
- 8 slices American cheese (diced)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Romano cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow pasta and cook until just shy of al dente (slightly undercooked). Drain the pasta and set it aside; it will finish cooking in the sauce and oven.
- Make Roux: In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the salted butter. Whisk in the flour and cook on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, whisking constantly to form a smooth roux and remove the raw flour taste.
- Add Milk and Seasoning: Slowly whisk in the milk, adding the kosher salt and ground black pepper. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce thickens, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Adjust heat as needed to avoid burning.
- Melt Cheeses: Gradually add cheeses to the thickened sauce to ensure smooth melting and prevent curdling. Stir in 1 cup yellow cheddar, 1 cup white cheddar, all diced American cheese, Parmesan, and Romano cheeses. Cook until all cheeses are completely melted and combined.
- Combine Pasta and Cheese Sauce: Gently fold the drained pasta into the cheese sauce until evenly coated. Transfer this mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining yellow and white cheddar cheeses evenly over the top of the pasta mixture in the dish.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the mac and cheese is bubbly and the top is slightly golden.
Notes
- Using a blend of different cheeses creates a complex, creamy flavor profile similar to Chick-fil-A’s classic mac and cheese.
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta in boiling water since it will continue to cook in the sauce and oven, preventing mushiness.
- Whisk the roux consistently to avoid lumps and achieve a smooth cheese sauce.
- For a crispier topping, consider broiling the dish for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Leftover mac and cheese can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
