Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese

Make this easy Cracker Barrel mac and cheese copycat recipe with just 8 ingredients. It's rich, creamy, and absolutely comforting, just like the real thing!

Print Pin

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cracker barrel mac and cheese

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 50

Servings:

Calories: 388kcal

Author: Food Plus Words

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups elbow macaroni
1 stick salted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
3 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded
Salt to taste
Extra salt for pasta water
Black pepper to taste
Parsley for garnish

Instructions

Gather the ingredients for your Cracker Barrel mac and cheese.
Follow the package instructions and cook your macaroni until al dente. Drain the pasta.
Melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Add the flour and season with salt and pepper. Mix to combine and cook the roux for 2 minutes.
Add the milk to the pan a couple of tablespoons at a time, stirring constantly until the sauce is nice and smooth.
Cook the white sauce until it thickens. Remember to stir it continuously, or it can burn on the bottom of the pan!
Next, add 2 and 1/2 cups of cheese to the sauce, mixing until smooth.
Stir in the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce.
Transfer the mac and cheese to a casserole dish. You can also use a cast iron pan!
Top the mac and cheese with the remaining shredded cheese.
Broil the mac and cheese in the oven for 4 minutes or until brown around the edges.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving, and enjoy your copycat Cracker Barrel mac and cheese!

Notes

Do not rush when making your white sauce! If you want a luxuriously smooth sauce for your mac and cheese, you want to add the milk little by little to avoid lumps. And, of course, stir the sauce often to avoid burning.
Other than stirring your copycat Cracker Barrel mac and cheese sauce frequently, scrape the bottom of the pan as you stir to prevent burning it. Keep the heat to medium and use a wooden spatula.
Broiling your mac and cheese Cracker Barrel copycat is totally optional, but for those who love mac and cheese that's slightly crispy and golden around the edges, this extra step is worth it!

Nutrition