Company Mac and Cheese

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Nov. 06, 2023
This is by far the creamiest, tastiest and most special macaroni and cheese I have ever tried. I'm not usually a fan of the homemade kind, but when a friend served this mac and cheese with cream cheese, I had to have the recipe. Since it's so little fuss and well received, it's a terrific potluck dish. —Catherine Odgen, Middlegrove, New York
Company Mac and Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1-3/4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 6 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
  2. Reduce heat; add cheeses, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce and stir to coat.
  3. Transfer to a greased shallow 3-qt. or 13x9-in. baking dish. Melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs and parsley. Sprinkle over macaroni. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 15-20 minutes.

Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese Tips

What are some variations of this mac and cheese recipe?

Mix up the mustard and try Dijon, yellow or stone-ground instead, or change up the cheddar cheese by using pepper jack, Gouda or gruyere. Top with bacon, or stir in cubed ham and Swiss for a blue ribbon twist. For inspiration on all the variations you can make, check out our top mac and cheese recipes.

Should I rinse the pasta before adding it to the cheese sauce?

Don’t! You’ll lose starch, which helps the sauce stick to the noodles. Make sure you are avoiding these other mistakes everyone makes when cooking pasta, too.

How do you store mac and cheese with cream cheese?

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Its crunchy topping will taste best if you reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, but you can also warm it on the stovetop with a splash of milk to keep it creamy. If you loved this recipe, try more of our cream cheese recipes!

—Elizabeth Harris

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 468 calories, 31g fat (18g saturated fat), 86mg cholesterol, 604mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 15g protein.