Chick Fil A Mac n Cheese is deliciously creamy and easy to recreate at home. Enjoy it for dinner or a tasty addition to any comfort food meal.
A dreamy combination of Parmesan, Romano, two types of cheddar, and a few slices of American makes up the sauce that coats every bite of tender macaroni.
Even better, this copycat mac and cheese contains no eggs and can be made with your favorite gluten-free noodles instead!
While you’re here, take a look at all of my other restaurant-inspired recipes. There’s bound to be more to tickle your tastebuds.
How Is Chick Fil A Mac N Cheese?
It is so creamy, cheesy, and delicious with large macaroni noodles. The crispy, browned top makes it even better!The only thing I’m not a fan of is the price. When you’ve got an entire family to feed, takeout can start to get pretty expensive!
So, I ordered a container and set out to compare recipes, ingredients, and flavors. While it’s obviously not an exact match, I think this copycat mac and cheese is as close as you can get to the real thing.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Noodles - The macaroni in the restaurant version is bigger than the normal size, but not quite as big as the “large” elbows found at the store. Whatever you can find will work just fine.
- Cheese - One of the varieties listed in Chick fil A mac and cheese is BellaVitano. It’s supposed to be similar to Parmesan, but I wasn’t able to find any at my local stores. If you do get your hands on some, it would make a great substitute or addition to try.
- Spices - Paprika and turmeric add subtle flavor, but they are mainly for color. Feel free to leave them out if you prefer.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Skip the bagged shreds. These contain anti-caking agents that give the shreds a waxy texture and prevent them from melting down properly.
- Adjust the cooking temp. If the sauce seems to be taking a while to come together, you can turn the temp up to medium-low until everything is fully melted. Be sure to stir often and watch it closely so it doesn’t burn.
- Tip for easy broiling: Place the individual dishes on a baking sheet so it’s easier to get them in and out of the oven. Start checking around the 3 minute mark since the tops can burn easily.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Pot and Strainer for the pasta
- Large Skillet or Heavy Bottomed Pot - The wide surface area will help the sauce cook evenly and the capacity should be large enough to stir in the macaroni.
- Box Grater - Freshly grated cheese melts down so much better and creates a smoother sauce.
- Oven-Safe Bowls or ramekins for broiling at the end.
FAQ - Common Recipe Questions
Can I use regular milk instead of dry milk powder?
Absolutely! I recommend letting it warm to room temperature first since it can create lumps in the sauce if it’s cold.
Just measure out a cup and set it on the counter before you get started on the recipe.
What are the ingredients in Chick fil A mac n cheese?
At the time of writing, the official page seems to be missing, but the ingredients and nutrition information seems to have been duplicated here.
Regardless, there are a variety of flavorings and preservatives included that are typical in fast food recipes. That’s what makes this copycat mac and cheese that much more enticing!
Not only can you recreate it at home whenever you want, but you’ll feel good knowing it’s made using simple ingredients.
Enjoy!
With love from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Yield: 4
Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese
Chick fil A mac n cheese is deliciously creamy and easy to recreate at home. Enjoy it for dinner or a tasty addition to any comfort food meal.
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 40 Min
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni noodles
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 4 slices American cheese, chopped or torn
- 1/2 cup extra sharp cheddar, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup extra sharp white cheddar, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup Parmesan, freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons Romano, freshly grated
- 1 dash paprika
- 1 dash turmeric
garnish
- Garnish: shredded cheddar and white cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Boil water in a medium pot and cook macaroni noodles with salt according to package directions, continuing to cook for an additional 9-10 minutes or until noodles have doubled in size. Drain the water.
- In a mixing bowl combine water and dry milk powder. Set aside.
- In a large pot, add unsalted butter and melt over medium heat until melted. Whisk in flour to create a roux. Gradually add in the milk powder mixture, whisking to combine. Continue to cook until it simmers. Then, turn the heat to low.
- Slowly add in american cheese, stirring to combine until completely smooth. Slowly add in cheddar cheeses, parmesan, and romano. Stirring to combine. Continue to cook and stir often until smooth. Stir in paprika and turmeric. Remove from heat and allow to thicken.
- Preheat the oven to broil at 500°F.
- Stir the macaroni noodles into the cheese sauce. Divide the pasta mixture into 4 oven-safe individual dishes. Top each one with shredded cheddar and white cheddar cheeses.
- Broil for 5 minutes, or until the cheese on top has browned. Remove from the oven and serve. Enjoy!
Originally published April 2021
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