Our Most-Saved Recipe of November Has More Than 1,500 5-Star Reviews

The month of November is all about turkeys, pies, sweet potatoes…and mac and cheese. 

Since November might be the ultimate month for comfort food, it’s no surprise to us that mac and cheese is our most-saved recipe of November. With well over 40,000 saves (yes, you read that right), our homemade mac and cheese recipe stands above the rest this month.

Whether you need a simple side for your Thanksgiving dinner or something to make when you don’t feel like pulling out all the stops, this recipe is a great option. Golden brown and bubbly, this might just be the best mac and cheese ever.

How to Make the Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

While macaroni and cheese can be as easy as using a box of Kraft, there are far more complicated ways to make this comforting meal. Thankfully, this recipe strikes a happy balance. While it is homemade, it is not difficult to cook. 

There are just 10 ingredients, most of which you already have in your house. Besides the macaroni noodles and cheeses, you’ll need butter, milk, flour, seasonings, and bread crumbs.

Here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make our top-rated macaroni and cheese recipe:

1. Boil and drain the macaroni.
2. Melt the butter in a pan, whisk in the flour, add the milk, and bring to a simmer. Toss in the Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and continue cooking until the sauce thickens.
3. Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni, then top with toasted bread crumbs. Season and cook until golden and bubbly.

Tips for Making Your Mac and Cheese Even Better

There are so many ways to customize this dish. For instance:

1. Use a different cheese. While this recipe uses Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, there are lots of great alternatives that can add a different (but delicious) flavor. Gruyère, Fontina, Pepper Jack, Swiss, and Colby are all great options. 
2. Vary the seasonings and spices. This recipe calls for salt, black pepper, and a pinch of paprika. If that’s not enough for you, take the recipe into your own hands: Jalapeños, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper are great ways to add spice. Other great seasonings include onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, cumin, and Creole seasoning.
3. Add meat. Shredded chicken and bacon bits are welcome additions if you want a heartier meal.
4. Add vegetables. Ingredients like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, or peas add a pop of color.

Here’s What Home Cooks Say About This Recipe

This recipe has more than 2,000 reviews and 1,500 5-star reviews from home cooks like you. If you need some encouragement or confirmation that this is really the best mac and cheese recipe around, see what the Allrecipes community says:

• “I have always made my mother's mac-n-cheese recipe,” says one Allrecipes reviewer. “I'm sorry Mom, but this mac-n-cheese was wonderfully creamy and tasty.”
• “This is by far my favorite macaroni and cheese dish! I make it often for potlucks and I never have leftovers and get rave reviews!” says reviewer B Red. “I prefer using Italian bread crumbs and am heavy handed with the smoked paprika.”
• “Couldn't find my mom's recipe and found this beauty instead!” says reviewer alexhogarth. “Never made a roux so easily, the cheese sauce was perfect, and all together it was delicious! SUPER easy to make and an instant favorite for comfort food, can't wait to do it again.”