Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe
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Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese is buttery, creamy, and just maybe the ultimate comfort food! This easy stovetop recipe is over-the-top delicious and always a crowd-pleaser.
Great for potlucks and weeknight meals alike, this recipe is modeled after my favorite side dish from Cracker Barrel restaurant.
Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese
If you’re a lover of mac and cheese and the blue-box variety, promise me now you’ll try this recipe! You’ll never go back to the blue box. This recipe is just as easy, almost as quick, and the flavor is above and beyond the boxed variety.
This has a cheesy sauce and chewy pasta.
Recipe Tips
- First of all, I don’t recommend using pre-shredded cheese. It is coated with cornstarch to keep it from clumping. It will alter the recipe, especially the thickness of the sauce. As well, it tastes different.
- Additionally, you can omit the last step. You don’t have to be bake it. I like the cheese to get slightly crispy around the edges though.
- If you are putting it in the oven, be sure not to overcook your pasta. It will continue to cook and absorb moisture in the oven. I like pasta to be al dente. (firm when bitten)
- As well, you can substitute any cheese. Use your favorite or what you have on hand. Yes, it will alter the taste, but if you like the cheese you’ll like it mixed into pasta.
- Finally, try different mix-ins like ham, bacon, vegetables, caramelized onions, and peppers to add a change to traditional mac and cheese.
More Mac and Cheese Recipes
Reader Tip
It tastes 99% cb if ya follow recipe 💯, just ADD 1/2cup VELVEETA…BAM tastes 99% CB. JUST NEEDS SMIDGE OF VELVEETA (found it in another copy cat recipe and it made ALL the difference). Keep all other measurements the SAME AS THIS RECIPE, literally just add that lil VELVEETA 😋 😉 😘
Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 and ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 and ½ cups shredded Colby cheese
- 2 and ½ cups uncooked pasta
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- optional add-ins 1 cup diced ham, 1 cup cooked bacon, 1 jar drained diced pimentos, 1 cup caramelized onions, or 2 cups steamed broccoli spears.
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a separate pot; add salt and pasta. Cook the pasta until al dente then drain.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add the flour a little bit at a time whisking to combine to make a roux. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Heat the broth.
- Add the broth to the roux, stirring constantly with the whisk.
- Add cream until it reaches the desired consistency. Remember it will thicken more as it cooks.
- Add shredded cheese to the cream sauce stirring until cheese melts.
- Add the pasta and stir to combine.
- Pour the mix into an oven safe dish and bake uncovered in a preheated oven set to 350°F for about 10 minutes or until brown around the edges.
- Remove and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are important to you, I recommend calculating them yourself.
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This is delicious! It turned out perfect! It was smooth and creamy and flavorful! Thank you!
Where in the directions does it say to add the broth?
steps 3 and 4
Not exactly Cracker Barrel ( they probably add a ton of salt anyway) but it was good and creamy. And came together pretty quick. Next time I may use half cheddar for a sharper flavor. The kid liked it, and that’s most important.
It tastes 99% cb if ya follow recipe 💯, just ADD 1/2cup VELVEETA…BAM tastes 99% CB. JUST NEEDS SMIDGE OF VELVEETA (found it in another copy cat recipe and it made ALL the difference). Keep all other measurements the SAME AS THIS RECIPE, literally just add that lil VELVEETA 😋 😉 😘
Thanks for that tip Jackie!
Absolutely delicious. I added slightly more cream and I also added some chopped bacon that I’d fried. Then topped with breadcrumbs and popped under broiler for a couple of minutes. Probably THE BEST mac n cheese I’ve ever made. Thanks!!!
Delicious! I used 1/2 colby and 1/2 extra sharp cheddar. I also added a little dry mustard.
Now a family favorite.
Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Just cooked for a side dish for a high school event. Can’t wait to hear the reviews. It looks amazing. Stars to follow.
This looks amazing! I will definately give it a try!
I hope I will manage as I am not a great cook!