10 Variations To Try On National Mac And Cheese Day

Forbes

11-07-2025

Mac and cheese just may be the ultimate comfort food. So many have comforting nostalgic memories associated with that cheesy indulgence, and we all have our favorite family recipes. Mac and cheese is beloved in its versatility as well, as it can be easily made from a stovetop mix in minutes, but yet can be a multi-layered baked casserole that takes generations to perfect – and both are completely delicious.
National Mac and Cheese Day is celebrated each year on July 14, and just may be the perfect opportunity to find a new favorite variation on a classic.
Million Dollar Black & White Mac and Cheese
Million Dollar Black & White Mac and Cheese at RED HORSE by David Burke.
Available RED HORSE by David Burke, located in New Jersey in Rumson and Bernardsville, as well as White Plains, New York, Million Dollar Black & White Mac and Cheese is made with squid ink pasta, parmesan cheese cream sauce, garlic rock shrimp, prosciutto crumbs, candied lemon, and gold spray.
Chef Burke shares his thoughts on what makes his fish a unique mac and cheese, "It's more refined and it doesn't become boring, bite after bite. The noodles stay silky, not gummy. The shrimp can be eaten separately or with the cheese sauce. The prosciutto crumbs and candied lemon, together, add both zest and salt. The gold spray is the golden touch."
Shells & Cheese
Shells & Cheese at Voltaggio Brothers Steak House at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, ... More Maryland.
At Voltaggio Brothers Steak House at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, a delicious cacio e pepe-inspired spin to the classic mac made with fontina cheese.
'At Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, we're all about making our guests feel right at home with dishes that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Our cacio e pepe-inspired mac and cheese gives the ultimate comfort food a refined twist, topped with a cloud of fontina and pecorino cheese that nods to our favorite boxed classic from childhood," shared Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.
Chicken Tikka Mac-N-Cheese
Chicken Tikka Mac-N-Cheese at Assembly Food Hall in Nashville.
At Assembly Food Hall in Nashville, rich, creamy queso mac gets a bold twist with marinated chicken simmered in a tomato-based tikka masala sauce, infused with garlic, ginger, warm spices, and a touch of cream. It's comfort food with global flair.
'At Assembly Food Hall, we love seeing guests explore the endless flavors our eateries bring to the table. The Chicken Tikka Mac-N-Cheese merges the smoky richness of Queso Mac from eatery Smokin Chikin with the bold, aromatic spices of Saffron Kitchen's Chicken Tikka Masala. It's a flavorful menu mash-up that's unexpected and 100% guest-inspired—a perfect example of what happens when global flavor meets Southern comfort," said Matt Reynolds, Assistant General Manager, Assembly Food Hall.
Loaded Housemade Mac 'N Cheese with Brisket
Loaded Housemade Mac 'N Cheese with Brisket at Melvin's BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina.
At Melvin's BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina, a pint-sized container filled with Melvin's signature Housemade Mac 'N Cheese, piled to the brim with juicy chopped brisket and topped with green onions.
"Our Mac 'N Cheese is a southern delicacy, and we still make it the same way my grandfather, who founded Melvin's BBQ in 1982, made it. Pile on some of our juicy chopped brisket, top it with green onions, and there you have something worth writing home about," said David Bessinger, owner of Melvin's BBQ and third-generation pit master.
Lobster Corn Cheese
Lobster Corn Cheese at SAE RON in New York City.
At SAE RON in New York City, butter poached lobster with sweet corn, mozzarella and herb crumbs.
'Our lobster corn cheese is a playful fusion that evokes the comfort of Mac and cheese, the nostalgic sweetness of Korean cheesy corn, and the indulgence of a New England Lobster roll, creating rich, creamy bites that feel both familiar and unexpected. It's a dish that captures SAE RON's spirit - rooted in tradition, but always with a twist," said Jess Lee-An, Executive Chef & Co-Owner of SAE RON.
Parisian Mac Et Cheese
Parisian Mac Et Cheese at Félix Cocktails et Cuisine in Charleston.
At Félix Cocktails et Cuisine in Charleston, gruyère, béchamel sauce, crispy prosciutto, and baked brioche crumbs.
'Growing up in a French family, my maternal grandmother always made this mac and cheese for us. It's a great little dish and one of our top sellers," said Félix Landrum, owner.
Lobster Mac & Cheese
Lobster Mac & Cheese at Blu on the Hudson in Weehawken Township, New Jersey.
At Blu on the Hudson in Weehawken Township, New Jersey, this dish is made with lobster béchamel and white cheddar mac and cheese.
"Lobster mac and cheese with lobster béchamel and white cheddar is unique because it brings together the richness of lobster and the smoothness of a creamy béchamel. The white cheddar adds a sharp bite, balancing the sweetness of the lobster, making it a comforting yet elevated twist on a classic dish. Plus, who doesn't love lobster in the summer?" said Executive Chef Juan Carlos 'JC' Ortega.
Miso Mac N' Cheese
Miso Mac N' Cheese at Ini Ristorante in Fountain Valley, California.
At Ini Ristorante in Fountain Valley, California, known for its fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisines, the Miso Mac & Cheese is made with elbow pasta, crisp bacon, a velvety miso-cheddar sauce, and a dusting of nori,
'Mac & cheese is western comfort food at its core — creamy, familiar, and satisfying. This version keeps that spirit, but adds a touch of Japanese flavor. Smoky bacon and umami-rich miso add depth, while our cheese blend ties it all together. Still classic, just a little elevated," said Chef Tony Wang.
Caribbean Macaroni Pie
Caribbean Macaroni Pie at LoLo's on the Water at Market 57.
At LoLo's on the Water at Market 57, the waterfront food hall in Manhattan's Hudson River Park, is a rectangular slice of heaven: baked, golden brown mac and cheese with a unique Caribbean twist, a creamy perfection topped with a spicy Jack pepper cheese sauce.
'Caribbean Macaroni Pie boasts a savory and rich flavor, thanks to the combination of sharp cheddar cheese, and a blend of spices like mustard, black pepper, garlic powder, a touch of Scotch bonnet pepper for a subtle kick, and evaporated milk which adds a creamy richness. Caribbean macaroni pie tends to have a firmer, almost cake-like texture because the cheese isn't melted into a sauce; instead, it's mixed with the macaroni and other ingredients before baking, resulting in distinct pockets of cheese throughout the dish," said Chef Leti 'LoLo' Young-Mohan, co-owner and chef at LoLo's on the Water.
Crawfish Mac & Cheese
Crawfish Mac & Cheese at The Little Jewel of New Orleans, and sister bar next door, Evangeline Swamp ... More Room in Los Angeles.
At The Little Jewel of New Orleans, and sister bar next door, Evangeline Swamp Room in Los Angeles, Rotini pasta, with a savory crawfish tail-laden white wine-based cheese sauce marries High Street and Main Street.
"The delicate taste and texture of crawfish tail meat plays well with a bold 'Easy Cheesy' sauce base that clings to the grooves of the rotini. Cheese pulls come with every bite," said Eunah Kang Beniger, co-owner.