White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Perfectly gooey and cheesy, this white cheddar mac and cheese comes together in minutes and is amazing with garlicky toasted breadcrumbs on top!

Sometimes you just need a good ol’ classic mac and cheese recipe up your sleeve and this white cheddar version signs, seals, and delivers.

With no shortage of cheese and ALL the crispy garlic breadcrumbs on top.

We take our mac and cheese very seriously around here so you know we’re not messing around here today with this pot of goodness. This is one of those recipes that will easily work its way into your weekly menu rotation because everyone loves it so much.

Our favorite part about this mac and cheese is that it’s a blank canvas for SO many variations. You can add meat, veggies, different kinds of cheese, different pasta shapes, the sky’s really the limit here!

Also limitless is the absolutely ridiculous amount of this mac and cheese you will end up consuming.

This Mac and Cheese features…

• A rich and creamy white cheddar cheese sauce
• Tender pasta coated in every inch of the sauce
• Crispy garlic butter breadcrumbs
• Minutes to make and made entirely on the stovetop

Making the Mac and Cheese

(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)

Ingredients You Will Need

• Unsalted butter
• Garlic
• Panko breadcrumbs
• All-purpose flour
• 2% or skim milk
• Heavy whipping cream
• Dijon mustard
• White cheddar cheese
• Pasta

Choosing Your Cheese

Go for a nice block of white cheddar cheese for this recipe and shred it yourself using a box grater. Cheese shredded by hand will melt much better into the sauce than pre-shredded.

If you can’t find white cheddar, regular or sharp cheddar cheese also works great in this recipe. Feel free to use several combinations of cheese as well such as Parmesan, gouda, or asiago.

Tips for Perfect Mac and Cheese

1. Toast breadcrumbs – toss the breadcrumbs around in a pan over medium heat until golden-brown and crispy.
2. Make a roux – a roux is equal parts butter and flour and it is the base to your sauce. Cook the roux over medium heat, whisking constantly until a light golden brown.
3. Slowly drizzle in milk + cream – use a whisk to evenly incorporate the liquids into the roux to avoid lumps
4. Cook sauce over medium heat – once the milk and cream have been added, cook the sauce over medium heat and stir often to avoid burning. The sauce is done when it’s bubbly and can coat the back of a spoon.
5. Fold in cheese offheat – this will prevent the cheese from burning. Once the sauce is thickened, remove from heat and whisk in cheese until melted.
6. Cook pasta to al dente – be careful not to overcook your pasta during boiling as it will continue cooking a bit once added to the sauce.

Recipe Variations

Try these ideas for a different twist on this mac and cheese.

• Add vegetables – sauteed baby spinach, mushrooms, sweet peppers, peas, or zucchini are great mixed into this mac and cheese.
• Use a different pasta shape – this mac and cheese works great with penne, elbows, fusilli, or ziti.
• Make it meaty – try adding crispy bacon bits, cooked chicken, or sausage.
• Make breadcrumbs spicy – add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes to the breadcrumbs for a spicy version.

If you’re looking to seriously level up your mac and cheese game, this is the recipe that will make that happen! The white cheddar is so rich and gooey and plays perfectly with the crispy garlic breadcrumbs on top.

Just a bowl of pure comfort food that will almost always end up with you getting a second bowl.

Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.

More luxurious mac and cheese recipes to try next!

• Smoked Cheddar Green Chile Mac and Cheese
• Roasted Red Pepper Harissa Mac and Cheese
• Healthy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

This post was updated with new recipe tips and photos on 4/11/24.