Cheesy. Gooey. Crunchy. Golden goodness! If anyone ever tries to tell you cheese doesn't make everything all better, they're wrong! Take that creamy cheese sauce and dump it over pasta, and you can pretty much solve all of your problems.
It can take a cranky child and make them a happy one. It can turn a cold, chilly night into the coziest memory. Heck, it could probably even cure a broken heart. (See? It's actually good for you!)
So, let that liquid gold warm your soul and make one of these drool-worthy recipes tonight.
1.Basic Mac 'n' Cheese (with 5-ingredient sauce!)
Rachael Ray Show
Let's start with the basics, shall we? Perfect for picky eaters, or for those days when you want a no-fuss, classic mac 'n' cheese. It's easy to make and can be whipped up quickly even on the busiest of nights.
GET THE RECIPE:Basic Mac 'n' Cheese (with 5-ingredient sauce!)
In the video above, Rach shows you how to make this basic version.
2. Garlic Bread Mac and Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Rach's fool-proof mac and cheese base gets a tasty dose of garlic breadcrumbs in this yummy comfort food mash-up.
GET THE RECIPE:Garlic Bread Mac and Cheese
3. Green Chile and Bacon Mac and Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Rach's fool-proof mac & cheese base gets the Tex-Mex treatment with green chiles + crispy bacon.
GET THE RECIPE:Green Chile and Bacon Mac and Cheese
4. Pimiento Cheese Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Jarred pimientos and some spice give Rach's foolproof mac & cheese base a Southern spin.
GET THE RECIPE:Pimiento Cheese Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
5.Mac 'n' Cheese with Crab and Old Bay Oyster Cracker Topping
If you're having a dinner party, or maybe you just really enjoy seafood, this amped up mac 'n' cheese dinner is perfect for you! Rach cleverly uses crushed-up oyster crackers tossed with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and chives as the crunchy topper.
GET THE RECIPE:Mac 'n' Cheese with Crab and Old Bay Oyster Cracker Topping
6.Mac, Cheese, Bacon, Onions and Beer with Buffalo-Mustard Pretzel Topping
Rachael Ray Show
OHHHH RACH. She's really outdone herself here (because the staff practically dove after this once it was made. No shame.) It's topped with crushed up mustard pretzels, hot sauce and salty bacon for goodnesssake, how could we resist?!
GET THE RECIPE:Mac, Cheese, Bacon, Onions and Beer with Buffalo-Mustard Pretzel Topping
7.Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese with Garlic Bread Breadcrumbs
Rachael Ray Show
Spinach and artichoke dip, meet garlic bread and mac 'n' cheese. We think you'll be good friends.
GET THE RECIPE:Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese with Garlic Bread Breadcrumbs
8.Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
This is one of our most popular mac 'n' cheese recipes on the site. Sometimes you just want buffalo wings and mac and cheese, but it's so messy to eat! Now, you don't have to choose. Make this casserole, grab your fork, and be happy.
GET THE RECIPE:Buffalo Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese
9.Queso Dip Mac 'n' Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
This tex-mex style mac 'n' cheese might just be too pretty to eat. (We said MIGHT.) As you could probably guess, the base of this cheese sauce is a creamy, spicy queso, and the mac is topped with fresh pico de gallo and lots of crunchy tortilla chips.
GET THE RECIPE:Queso Dip Mac 'n' Cheese
10.Mac and Blue
Rachael Ray Show
This classic mac 'n' cheese gets a grown-up twist. Rach uses Gruyère and blue cheeses to give this dish extra flavor.
GET THE RECIPE:Mac and Blue
11.Honey-Mustard Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese with Caramelized Red Onions and Potato Bun Crumb Topping
Rachael Ray Show
Got leftover chicken fingers? Toss 'em in honey mustard and make mac 'n' cheese! Between the bites of juicy meat, the cheesy sauce and crunchy topping, this will be your new go-to recipe.
GET THE RECIPE:Honey-Mustard Chicken Mac 'n' Cheese with Caramelized Red Onions and Potato Bun Crumb Topping
12.Carbonara Mac 'n' Cheese Soufflé and Spring Salad
Rachael Ray Show
Just look at that picture. Look at it! Don’t you just want to go rogue and dive straight in and eat it with your hands? It's filled with white cheddar, Gruyère, meaty pancetta, and eggs —we give you full permission to eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
GET THE RECIPE:Carbonara Mac 'n' Cheese Soufflé and Spring Salad
13.Jeanette's Turkey Chili Verde Mac 'n'Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Mmm! Curl up on the couch with this cheesy, chili pasta for a great night!
GET THE RECIPE:Jeanette's Turkey Chili Verde Mac 'n'Cheese
14.Grant's Healthy Pimento Mac
Rachael Ray Show
Mac 'n' cheese gets a healthier spin by using whole wheat pasta and a crunchy topping made with whole wheat pita chips!
GET THE RECIPE:Grant's Healthy Pimento Mac
15.Sweetie Pie's Mac 'n'Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
If you're craving Southern comfort, look no further than this straight-outta-the-South version of mac 'n' cheese. Indulge, and enjoy!
GET THE RECIPE:Sweetie Pie's Mac 'n'Cheese
16.
Rachael Ray Show
Mac & cheese goes southwestern in Rach's latest crowd-pleaser made with roasted green chilies.
GET THE RECIPE:
17.Instant Pot Taco Mac and Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Taco-flavored mac and cheese gets the Instant Pot treatment for a dinner recipe that's faster, easier and healthier than it sounds.
GET THE RECIPE:Instant Pot Taco Mac and Cheese
18.
Rachael Ray Show
Fiber-rich canned pumpkin gets stirred into the cheese sauce—and the whole thing is topped with crunchy spiced pumpkin seeds.
GET THE RECIPE:
19.Bacon and Truffle Mac and Cheese
Rachael Ray Show
Gruyere, bacon, and truffles take comfort food to another level.
GET THE RECIPE:Bacon and Truffle Mac and Cheese
20.One-Pot Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
YouTube star Donal Skehan shows you how to save time by cooking the pasta in milk so you can make your sauce in the same pan!
Rachael Ray Show
GET THE RECIPE:One-Pot Cauliflower Mac and Cheese