Description
Recreate Popeyes Mac and Cheese at home — creamy, cheesy, and perfectly indulgent! 🧀🍴 A crowd-pleasing copycat comfort food recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional topping: 1 cup panko breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour for 1–2 minutes to make a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk and cream until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Add cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until fully melted and creamy.
- Combine cooked macaroni with cheese sauce. Pour into a greased baking dish.
- Optional: Top with panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter for a golden crust.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden. Serve hot!
Notes
💡 Tip: For extra richness, add a splash of cream cheese or a pinch of cayenne for a subtle kick. Perfect as a side for fried chicken or a comfort meal!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Comfort Food, Copycat Recipes
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Popeyes mac and cheese, copycat mac and cheese, creamy baked macaroni, comfort food, cheesy pasta