Recipe

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A cheesy recipe for macaroni cheese Alfredo that combines the best of both worlds: a velvety smooth sauce and a hint of cheddar everyone loves.

With this 20-minute mac and cheese Alfredo, dinner is a breeze! Keep reading to learn the steps and all my tips to make this epic family meal.

Alfredo Macaroni and Cheese

Classic Alfredo sauce is my favorite pasta sauce. So why not combine all its cheesy goodness with the beloved macaroni? Exactly. Mac and cheese Alfredo is in the house!

My family has already given two thumbs up to my quinoa mac and cheese, so you can imagine how much they loved this oh-so-cheesy meal when I served it for the first time! You're going to love it.

Ingredients

Elbow macaroni is the star of this recipe, but any short pasta works. The creamy sauce is made with butter, garlic, heavy whipping cream (or half & half), milk, and Parmesan cheese. I highly recommend using nutmeg, but you can omit it if you don’t have it. Grated cheddar cheese is also optional but recommended to give this dish an irresistible cheesy crust!

How to Make Mac & Cheese Alfredo

Here’s how to make this mac and cheese Alfredo:

Cook the pasta
Once cooked, drain it and leave it in the colander since you’ll use the pot to make the sauce.
Make the sauce
Melt the butter and toast the garlic for a delish sauce starter. Add the cream, milk, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Always stir to combine. Now, cook the sauce for 5 minutes on low heat.
Combine
Add the macaroni to the Alfredo sauce and stir to combine. You can serve it now or add the following cheesy crust.
Make it super cheesy!
For a cheesy crust, transfer the mac and cheese Alfredo to a baking dish and broil it in the oven for 3 minutes. This step is optional but totally worth it if you ask me!

Mix-Ins and Toppings

These alfredo macaroni and cheese are a great meal on its own, but even a cheesy crust can get tastier with the most delicious mix-ins! Be careful because these mac and cheese topping ideas will make you drool immediately:

Sausage
Shredded rotisserie chicken
Diced ham
Meatballs
Bacon bits
Ground beef
Olives
Beans
Pesto
Broccoli
Shredded carrots

What to Serve with Alfredo Mac and Cheese

Pasta dinners are a terrific opportunity to sneak extra nutrition! I like to keep side dishes simple, so my top choices are quick pan asparagus, roasted frozen vegetables, or a fresh bruschetta salad.

Macaroni & Cheese Alfredo

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

A cheesy recipe for macaroni cheese Alfredo that combines the best of both worlds: a velvety smooth sauce and a hint of cheddar everyone loves.

5 from 6 votes

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Ingredients

16 ounces elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
1 garlic clove*, minced
1 cup heavy whipping cream, or half & half
½ cup whole milk
1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg, optional
1 cup grated cheddar cheese, optional

Instructions

Cook the pasta:

Cook the pasta following the instructions on the box. When the pasta is ready, drain the water and leave the pasta in the colander.

Make the sauce:

In the same pot from the pasta over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic and stir to toast it for about a minute, ensuring it doesn't burn.
Pour in the cream (or half and half) and milk and stir constantly. Add the grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) and combine. Reduce the heat, continue cooking the Alfredo sauce for about 5 minutes, and turn off the heat.

Combine:

Add the pasta to the Alfredo sauce in the pot and stir. Serve as is, or continue with the cheesy crust step below.

Cheesy crust:

Transfer the macaroni and cheese into an oven-safe baking dish and sprinkle the grated cheddar on top of the pasta.
Place the baking dish in the oven, with the top rack positioned a little higher than halfway up but not too close to the top of the oven. BROIL the cheesy dish for 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned but not burned. Remove it from the oven and serve.