INCREDIBLE Copycat Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese Recipe (Made In 20 Min.)

This copycat Chick Fil A mac and cheese recipe is every bit as flavorful and decadent as the original. A blend of three kinds of cheese combines to make the ultimate ooey, gooey, and creamy cheese sauce that's like no other. Plus, the best part about this recipe is that it only takes 20 minutes to make!

The Best Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese might just be one of my favorite noodle dishes there is. And if you've ever had Chick Fil A's mac and cheese before, you know it's one of the best things on the menu. And, since I'm pretty much obsessed with it, you know I had to make my own copycat version of it - spoiler alert, I think I nailed it.

Plus, in addition to tasting out of this world good, this copycat Chick Fil A mac and cheese is also a breeze to whip up. All you have to do is mix the ingredients together, then toss 'em in a baking dish, and let the oven do the rest. It's almost as easy as making boxed mac and cheese, but it tastes 10x better! 

Oh, and since this copycat Chick Fil A mac and cheese recipe is so easy to make, you'll have plenty of time to work on the main course. My go-to's to pair with it are these copycat Chick Fil A nuggets and this copycat Chick Fil A sauce.

Ingredients

This mac n cheese recipe is made entirely with kitchen/pantry staples. In fact, there's a good chance you'll have everything you need to make it on hand already!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make mac and cheese Chick Fil A style:

• 6oz. elbow macaroni noodles
• ⅔ cup milk
• 2oz. American cheese, chopped
• ½ tbsp unsalted butter
• Salt, to taste
• ⅔ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• ⅓ cup mild Cheddar cheese, shredded

And to top it off:

• ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• ¼ cup mild Cheddar cheese, shredded
• Sprinkle of parmesan cheese and romano cheese (optional)

How simple is that?

By the way, you can basically use every single one of these ingredients to make this old fashioned baked mac and cheese recipe as well. So if you love mac and cheese as much as I do, I highly suggest you try that classic macaroni and cheese recipe next! 

Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions

While I recommend making this Chick Fil A mac and cheese recipe with the above ingredients, there's still some wiggle room to switch things up and add your own spin to it. 

First off, this recipe calls for American cheese and two types of cheddar cheese, but with that said, you can really use any cheese you want. Some other great options are grated parmesan cheese, grated romano cheese, shredded white cheddar cheese, or shredded Colby jack cheese. Don't be afraid to mix it up since there are really no wrong answers here!

Now, if you want to add a crunchy topping to your Chick Fil A mac and cheese, then you can top it with some crushed crackers - Ritz are my favorite - or bread crumbs before baking it. This is definitely optional, but I have to say it's been a much-requested add-on with the fam when I make this creamy mac and cheese.

How To Make Chick Fil A Mac And Cheese

Now let's get down to the good stuff and go over the steps you'll want to follow to make this homemade Chick Fil A mac and cheese.

Again, making this recipe is as easy as the boxed stuff. Everything comes together in just one pot before being put in a baking dish and getting baked to perfection. How simple does that sound?

Anyway, let's stop wasting time and get cooking!

Step 1: Cook The Noodles

First, you'll want to preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and boil a pot of water. Then, as soon as it starts to boil, you'll want to cook the macaroni according to the package instructions.

Once your pasta cooks to your liking, you can drain it and transfer it to a baking dish. Next, you'll want to add the butter and gently stir the cooked pasta around until the butter melts. 

Step 2: Make The Cheese Sauce

Up next, you're going to make the deliciously creamy and cheesy sauce. To do this, take out a saucepot, add the milk to it, and heat it over medium heat. Then, once the milk is warm, you can add the American cheese and as much salt as you want to the pot.

Now you'll want to let it cook until the cheese has fully melted. As soon as it melts, you can add the mild and sharp cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese mixture melts together to make the rich sauce.

Step 3: Bake The Mac And Cheese

Once you've got your cheese sauce nice and creamy and melted, you can pour it over the pasta in the baking dish.

Then, to finish it off, you can top it with the remaining shredded cheeses and bake the macaroni and cheese for around 10 minutes. Oh, and if you want a more classic Chick-Fil-A flavor, you can add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and romano cheese on top of it before you do.

Anyway, you'll know the mac and cheese is done when the top layer of cheese is fully melted and bubbly. 

Finally, you can serve this Chick Fil A mac and cheese warm, and enjoy it!

How To Store Chick Fil A Mac And Cheese

This recipe for Chick Fil A mac and cheese makes 4 servings, so it should be the perfect amount for a big family dinner. If you're lucky, you may even end up with leftovers!

Speaking of leftovers, you can store any leftover macaroni and cheese in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. I recommend storing it in an airtight container, or if your baking dish has a lid, you can store it in that too.

Alternatively, if you want your mac and cheese to last even longer, you can freeze it. Again, you'll want to store it in an airtight container - or a freezer-safe bag - and it should last for up to 2 months.

How To Reheat Chick Fil A Mac And Cheese

When you're ready to enjoy your Chick Fil A mac and cheese again, it's definitely best reheated.

So, to reheat the mac and cheese, I suggest putting it back in a baking dish and reheating it at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts and it reaches your desired temperature.

Alternatively, if you want to reheat a single serving, you can microwave it in 20-second intervals until it's warmed through.

FAQs About This Chick Fil A Mac and Cheese Recipe

Does Chick-fil-A use real cheese in mac and cheese?

On its website, Chick-Fil-A says it uses a blend of cheddar, parmesan, and romano cheese. So yes, Chick-Fil-A uses real cheese in its mac and cheese.

What does evaporated milk do to mac and cheese?

Evaporated milk adds a little extra creaminess and thickness to mac and cheese. It's best used if you are cooking the mac and cheese in a pot the entire time. Personally, I don't think you have to add evaporated milk to this recipe since it's already so perfect made as is.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make Chick Fil A's mac and cheese!

As delicious as the mac and cheese from Chick Fil A is, I think this easy copycat recipe is even better. It's so fresh, and the rich and creamy cheese sauce with the crispy cheese topping is just so, so addictive.

Whenever my family craves homemade mac and cheese, this is always one of our go-to recipes, and it never disappoints. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this mac and cheese recipe as much as I/we do.

As always, if you give this recipe a try, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how it went!

More Copycat Recipes

If you enjoyed this recipe for Chick Fil A's mac and cheese, we have a ton of other copycat recipes on the blog you can try out next!

Check these out:

• Chick Fil A chicken noodle soup
• Zaxby's chicken fingers
• Olive Garden chicken alfredo
• Chipotle cilantro lime rice
• Chipotle chicken

Oh, and for even more deliciousness, be sure to follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. We post new recipes every day!

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