Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe Food Network Stars Make at Home

This guide covers top Food Network mac and cheese recipes from chefs like Alton Brown and Ina Garten, essential ingredients for creamy results, cheese sauce techniques, baking methods, and easy variations with proteins and vegetables.

Top Food Network mac and cheese recipes worth trying

Food Network stars have perfected the homemade mac and cheese recipe over decades. Each chef brings their own spin to this comfort food classic.

Most Popular Recipes

Quick Options

• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese - ready in 30 minutes with just 5 ingredients
• Quickest Mac and Cheese - uses heavy cream and cream cheese for fast sauce

Alton Brown's baked macaroni and cheese ranks as one of the most downloaded Food Network recipes. His method uses a roux-based cheese sauce with sharp cheddar. The panko breadcrumb topping adds crunch.

Ina Garten takes a richer approach. Her baked mac and cheese combines Gruyere with extra-sharp cheddar for depth. She adds nutmeg for subtle warmth.

Kardea Brown offers Southern-style recipes with eggs and evaporated milk. Her Grandma's Old-Fashioned version creates a custard-like consistency many Southerners prefer.

For stovetop lovers, Ree Drummond's recipe skips the oven entirely. Her method creates a creamy sauce with seasoned salt for extra flavor punch.

Food Network Kitchen developed a creamy homemade mac and cheese using cream cheese for tang and richness. The result stays velvety even after baking.

Key ingredients for creamy homemade mac and cheese

The right ingredients separate average mac and cheese from exceptional. Food Network chefs rely on specific components for that signature creaminess.

Essential Cheese Selection

Block cheese melts better than pre-shredded. Pre-shredded contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Grate your own for best results.

Dairy Components

• Whole milk - creates rich base for cheese sauce
• Heavy cream - adds extra richness and thickness
• Evaporated milk - Southern-style recipes use this for custard texture
• Butter - essential for roux and flavor

A homemade mac and cheese recipe with evaporated milk creates the silky texture found in Southern versions. The concentrated milk proteins help bind the sauce.

Pasta Choices

• Elbow macaroni - classic choice, holds sauce well
• Cavatappi - corkscrew shape traps more cheese
• Shells - cup shape catches sauce inside
• Gemelli - twisted shape adds texture

Seasoning Essentials

• Salt - crucial, don't undersalt the pasta water or sauce
• Black pepper - adds mild heat
• Nutmeg - Ina Garten's secret ingredient
• Dry mustard - enhances cheese flavor
• Garlic powder - adds savory depth

For a homemade mac and cheese recipe with Velveeta, the processed cheese provides unmatched meltability. Many Food Network chefs mix Velveeta with real cheese for best of both worlds.

Butter and flour form the roux base. This mixture thickens milk into b chamel before cheese enters. The ratio matters: equal parts butter and flour by weight creates the perfect consistency.

How to make the perfect cheese sauce base

Every great homemade mac and cheese starts with a proper cheese sauce. The technique matters more than the ingredients.

The Roux Method

The roux creates the foundation. Equal parts butter and flour by weight works best. Cook the flour long enough to lose its raw taste but not so long it turns dark.

Critical Tips

• Warm the milk first - cold milk causes lumps
• Whisk constantly when adding milk - prevents clumping
• Add cheese off the heat - prevents separation
• Grate cheese fresh - melts smoother than pre-shredded
• Add cheese gradually - allows even melting

For a homemade cheese sauce recipe for mac and cheese, the temperature control is everything. Too hot and the sauce breaks. Too cool and the cheese won't melt fully.

Alternative Methods

• Heavy cream base - skip the roux, reduce cream with cheese
• Evaporated milk method - whisk eggs with evaporated milk for Southern style
• Cream cheese shortcut - melts into heavy cream without roux

Alton Brown's method uses a traditional roux. He adds hot sauce and mustard powder to the b chamel before cheese. These ingredients amplify cheese flavor without overpowering.

Ina Garten warms her milk separately before whisking into the roux. This technique ensures a silky smooth base every time. She then adds nutmeg along with salt and pepper.

For 3 ingredient homemade mac and cheese, skip the roux entirely. Heavy cream reduced with cheese creates a simple but effective sauce.

Baking tips for golden bubbly mac and cheese

Transforming stovetop mac and cheese into a baked masterpiece requires proper technique. The oven creates that golden crust and bubbly interior.

Temperature and Timing Guide

For a baked mac and cheese recipe oven temp matters. Most Food Network recipes use 350°F to 375°F for even heating without drying out the pasta.

Topping Options

• Panko breadcrumbs - extra crispy, light texture
• Crushed Ritz crackers - buttery, golden finish
• Additional shredded cheese - melty, gooey top layer
• Crushed potato chips - salty crunch
• Buttered breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan - classic combo

Alton Brown tops his baked macaroni with panko mixed with butter and Parmesan. The panko stays light and crispy rather than soggy.

Baking Dish Matters

• Deep casserole dish - retains moisture, creamy result
• Shallow baking pan - more crispy top per serving
• Cast iron skillet - crispy edges, even heating
• Individual ramekins - portion control, crispy all over

Let the baked mac and cheese rest 10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set slightly for cleaner servings.

For baked mac and cheese recipe panko topping, toss breadcrumbs with melted butter before sprinkling. This ensures even browning and prevents dry spots.

Southern-style recipes like Kardea Brown's use eggs in the custard base. These require gentle baking at 350°F to prevent curdling while still achieving a golden top.

Trisha Yearwood bakes her mac and cheese at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly. She uses a deep dish to maintain creaminess throughout.

Easy variations to customize your mac and cheese

Basic mac and cheese works as a blank canvas. Add proteins, vegetables, or spices to create entirely new dishes.

Protein Add-Ins

A baked mac and cheese recipe bacon topping adds smoky crunch. Cook bacon until crisp, crumble over the top before baking.

Cheese Combinations

• Two-cheese blend - cheddar and Gruyere for depth
• Three-cheese mix - cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan
• Four-cheese blend - add Fontina for creaminess
• Seven-cheese extreme - maximum flavor complexity

Try a 2 cheese mac and cheese for simplicity or go bold with a 7 cheese macaroni and cheese recipe for ultimate indulgence.

Flavor Twists

• Buffalo chicken - add hot sauce and diced chicken
• Jalape o popper - diced jalape os and cream cheese
• BBQ - pulled pork and BBQ sauce swirl
• Truffle - truffle oil drizzle before serving
• Ranch - ranch seasoning in the sauce

Vegetable Mix-Ins

• Broccoli - steamed florets folded in
• Peas - frozen peas thawed directly in hot pasta
• Spinach - fresh leaves wilt into hot sauce
• Tomatoes - diced fresh or sun-dried

For homemade lobster mac and cheese recipe, use cooked lobster meat folded in just before baking. The sweet seafood pairs perfectly with sharp cheddar.

Black folks' mac and cheese often includes extra cheese varieties and eggs for custard texture. Try a black homemade mac and cheese recipe for that soul food tradition.