This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Craving creamy Chick-fil-A mac and cheese? This homemade recipe captures the iconic taste. Get ready to indulge in cheesy goodness!
A Cheesy Favorite!
Our kids are obsessed with Chick-fil-A, especially their nuggets and Mac and Cheese. Since we have already mastered the chicken, we set out to find a copycat recipe for the Mac and cheese, and today’s recipe tastes just like it.
Now you can skip the drive-thru and bring the Chick-fil-A magic home! This copycat Chick Fil A mac and cheese bakes in about 30 minutes and can feed the whole family.
Whether enjoyed as a heartwarming main dish on its own or as a cheesy side dish to your favorite protein, this classic pasta dish is sure to be loved by the whole fam.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Budget-friendly. Recreate this easy pasta recipe at home for a fraction of the cost.
- Feeds a crowd. This family dinner idea makes a 9×13 casserole dish full of creamy cheesy comfort for the entire family to enjoy!
- Creamy comfort food. This copycat recipe delivers that signature creamy texture. It’s the perfect dinner idea for kids that’s easy to whip up at home.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 32 minutes
Pasta
- 3 cups elbow macaroni, 12 ounces – you can also use small shell noodles, cavatappi, rotini, or even penne
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Cheese Sauce
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk – whole milk makes a creamier sauce but a lower fat milk can be used
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups medium cheddar, freshly grated – you can also use sharp cheddar or smokey cheddar cheese.
- 2 cups white cheddar, freshly grated
- ½ cup Romano cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste – Include a pinch of cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, or paprika for a touch of heat.
How to Make Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
- PREP. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- PASTA. In a large pot, add water and bring to a boil. Add 3 cups elbow macaroni and 1 teaspoon salt and boil for 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta and add pasta back to the pot with 1 tablespoon butter and mix to coat.
- CHEESE SAUCE. Make a cheese mix by combining 2 cups medium cheddar, 2 cups white cheddar, ½ cup Romano, and ½ cup Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. Remove 1 cup of the combined cheeses and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce by adding 5 tablespoons butter to a large skillet over medium heat and melting. Add the 5 tablespoons flour and whisk for about 1 minute, to create a roux. Whisk in 2½ cups milk and ½ cup half and half and cook, whisking often, for 6-7 minutes.
- Turn heat to low and add 4 cups combined cheese mix to the roux/sauce mixture. Whisk until melted and smooth.
- BAKE. Add buttered pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine, adding about 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, to taste.
- Pour this mixture into a lightly greased 9×13 dish and sprinkle with the reserved 1 cup of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Complete The Meal
Side Dishes
Desserts
More Mac And Cheese
More Collections
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
Craving creamy Chick-fil-A mac and cheese? This homemade recipe captures the iconic taste. Get ready to indulge in cheesy goodness!
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups medium cheddar, freshly grated
- 2 cups white cheddar, freshly grated
- ½ cup Romano cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a large pot, add water and bring to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and salt and boil for 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta and add pasta back to the pot with the butter and mix to coat.
- Make the cheese mix by combining medium cheddar, white cheddar, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses in a small bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the combined cheeses.
- Make the cheese sauce by adding the butter to a large skillet over medium heat and melting. Add the flour and whisk for about 1 minute, to create a roux. Whisk in the milk and half and half and cook, whisking often, for 6-7 minutes.
- Turn heat to low and add the remaining combined cheese mix to the roux/sauce mixture. Whisk until melted and smooth.
- Add pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to combine, adding salt and pepper, to taste.
- Pour this mixture into a lightly greased 9×13 dish and sprinkle with the reserved 1 cup of combined cheese. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve warm.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1g, Calories: 582kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 89mg, Sodium: 1182mg, Potassium: 333mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 891IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 679mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Additions?
- Protein. Add cooked and chopped bacon or shredded chicken.
- Veggies. Mix in roasted vegetables like broccoli florets, diced red peppers, or chopped spinach.
Make it Ahead of Time?
- Prepare the Chick-fil-A mac and cheese according to the recipe. Do not bake, instead allow it to cool. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- To freeze, wrap it again with aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To enjoy, thaw if needed, and bake per recipe directions.
How to Store Leftover Chick Fil A mac and cheese?
- Leftovers can be divided into individual airtight containers and stored in the fridge for 2-3 days in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat. Add a little extra milk to help revive the creamy texture and reheat in a saucepan, on the stove, or in the microwave.
Wow this mac and cheese was absolutely wonderful and creamy and just like the original!
Indeed cheesy goodness! Sooo easy, delicious and the best!
This mac and cheese is the bomb!! We love this dinner as a family. It has so much flavor!