Mac and cheese is basically its own food group. It's the perfect combination of tasty and easy to make. Kids love it, adults love, everyone loves it. Everyone has their own way of making the dish, though. There's easy kid-versions that last a few days, big "family dinner" mac and cheese recipes and even some, uh, questionable ones. It seems most parents stick to the noodles and melted cheese version. Or rather, the box of noodles with a packet of sauce version. But what if the grown-ups at the house want to graduate to an advance level of mac and cheese? It is possible.
Luckily, for the over 21 crowd, the Internet comes equipped with mac and cheese recipes that don't make the person eating it feel like a middle-schooler. Which, no offense to middle-schoolers, but sometimes a person needs a recipe to make them feel a little less Kraft and a little more Food Network's Ree Drummond. She just has a way of taking comfort food and turning it into five-star restaurant worthy. That's the idea with the recipes below. They're easy, but have a few added items to make them more sophisticated. They'll give the mac and cheese the appreciation it deserves — maybe a place at a potluck even.
But even if it simply becomes a family dinner staple, it still is going the extra mile. It's a small change, but one with big and delicious implications. Check out the recipes from the best food bloggers and Instagram foodies around.
Stovetop Fusilli & Gouda Mac & Cheese
Tablespoon nails this stovetop fusilli mac and cheese. The switch-up in noodle-type and cheese (hey Gouda) gives it the sophisticated boost it needs.
Cheesesteak Mac & Cheese
Cheesesteaks aren't the most sophisticated food, either, but this cheesesteak mac and cheese from Wine and Glue gives it the grown-up boost that it needs. If anyone asks, just call it deconstructed beef and meat cheese pasta.
Mac & Cheese Bites
Go to an adult-only party (or any party, tbh), with these baked mac and cheese bites from 2teaspoons. Note: These are baked not fried, making these cheesy pieces of heaven acceptable in the above 10+ crowd.
Gruyère Mac & Cheese With Balsamic Grilled Onions & Smoked Bacon
Anything with the word "balsamic" in it (and has onions, too) is automatically adult. Kids may not be big fans of onions, but that means there's more of this DMK Burger mac and cheese for the big people.
Jalapeno Mac & Cheese
Bring on the heat. Some children love spicy foods, but there's even more adults who can take hot peppers. Adult-i-fy the mac and cheese instantly with jalapeños like The Food Cafe did.
Crock-Pot Mac & Cheese
Mac and cheese not from the box is classy in itself, so going the slow cooker route is definitely upping the ante. This second mac recipe from The Food Cafe also saves time. Win-win.
Cauliflower Mac & Cheese
Just call Shannon from The Food Cafe the mac and cheese queen. She also created this cauliflower mac and cheese for the healthier adults in the bunch.
Creamy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole
Don't let the term "casserole" fool ya. This chicken and broccoli cheesy mix from All Recipes will satiate any and all mac and cheese needs.
Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese
Completely anecdotal, but Pennsylvania and its surrounding area has really good buffalo chicken recipes. So it's not surprise that this great grown-up mac and cheese buffalo chicken version comes from the state. Thanks Happy Valley Chow!
Gouda Bacon Macaroni & Cheese
Gouda bacon macaroni and cheese is what dreams are made of. The particular bacon-sprinkled mac and cheese from Shugary Sweets adds an extra layer of texture, plus it tastes so so good.
Homemade Mac & Cheese Casserole
Mac and cheese casserole will make its creator the most beloved person in the house — or the party. This particular batch from Spend with Pennies uses a roux-based sauce as its special ingredient.
Trinidad Macaroni Pie
This is mac and cheese with a Caribbean spin. Imma over at African Bites created this recipe that's what gooey, cheesy dreams are made of. Kraft, who?
Lobster Mac & Cheese
Pinky up. It does not get fancier than lobster mac and cheese. This one from African Bites is "decadent and filling."
Pumpkin Mac & Cheese With Roasted Veggies
This mac and cheese is seasonal and healthy. It's a pumpkin-flavored mac and cheese for all the pumpkin lovers out there with added Brussels sprouts and cauliflower from Skinny Taste.
Beer Mac & Cheese
This recipe is for 21+ and up. (JK, or are we?) The beer mac and cheese recipe comes covered in bacon and has a hint of beer. It's recipe is from a brewery, Hop Dogma, where they know a thing or two about comfort drinks — and food.
TexMex Cornbread Mac & Cheese
It's a Southwestern mac and cheese dish with cornbread breading on top. The Redheaded Baker used cavatappi noodles to increase the fancy level. But truly, doesn't look like it matters too much. The flavors, and lots of pepper jack and cheddar, will come through no matter what.
Jack Daniel's Mac & Cheese
OK, so we're not yet finished with alcohol-infused mac and cheese dishes. If beer isn't the right jam, The Slow Roasted Italian created a recipe that makes Jack Daniel's work equally well with the cheese and bacon goodness.
White Cheddar, Bacon & Rosemary Mac & Cheese
This recipe from Life as a Strawberry somehow finds a delicious bridge between bacon mac and cheese and rosemary. It's a classic dish but with an herb for flavor, which immediately brings it to the "adult" level.
French Onion Mac & Cheese
OK, this is mac and cheese level: expert. The Hungry Couple has brought us a seriously amazing dish (French onion soup) and concocted the flavor into a new breed of mac and cheese. Kudos, friends.
Cajun Shrimp Mac & Cheese
Calling all seafood lovers: This shrimp mac and cheese will transport its eater to someone near the ocean. Lemons for Lulu just smeared Cajun spices over her shrimp then put it on top of a hearty heap of mac. We'll take it and maybe, just maybe, share with the kids.
