List of 65+ Toppings for Mac & Cheese

With one of these toppings, you can transform your Mac and Cheese into an epic meal and keep it exciting to eat.

You can use homemade mac and cheese or the box as the base for one of these ingredients to add or mix in.

overhead view of macaroni and cheese with broccoli toppings and sliced ham on the side in a white plate

Best Toppings for Mac & Cheese

Pick one or more toppings for your mac & cheese to transform your meal. Below, you’ll find proteins, veggies, and sauces that will have your family asking for more. Consider adding:

Bacon Bits: everything is better with crumbly, crunchy bacon, especially our favorite carb.
Crawfish: Louisiana-style crawfish mac & cheese is a game changer.
Lobster: create your own at-home gourmet lobster mac & cheese!
Shrimp: shrimp and mac & cheese are the dream team you need at dinnertime.
Ground Beef: this combo creates an irresistible cheeseburger mac & cheese that is to die for.
Ground Turkey: need a better meat alternative? Turkey pairs just as well as ground beef because it is full of flavor without the extra fat.
Chopped Hot Dogs: this low-budget and kid-friendly topping is a great way to incorporate protein into traditional mac and cheese.
Sausage: chopped and smoky sausage is just what your dish needs to add delicious flavor and extra protein.
Chorizo: Spanish pork sausage full of paprika and other flavorous spices that will upgrade boring mac and cheese.
Pepperoni: pepperoni pizza mac and cheese, anyone?
Pulled Pork: the classic BBQ sandwich you enjoy can be repurposed as the ultimate mac and cheese topping.
Meatballs: homestyle meatballs are another excellent topping because they’re fun and will fill your family up fast.
Shredded Rotisserie Chicken: learn how to prep and shred a rotisserie chicken easily and without waste for mac & cheese.
Fried Chicken: a picky eater’s dream meal! Crispy fried chicken meets creamy, melt-in-your-mouth pasta.
Diced Ham: one of my family members uses diced ham when making holiday mac & cheese, and this one is a MUST try!
Chili: if you’ve ever tried chili mac, this is a bit like that dish but with extra cheese.
Corn: looking to fill with some veggies? Corn is a yummy veggie because it is a similar color and adds a bit of sweetness to mac and cheese.
Cauliflower: this white-colored veggie is another addition to mix into mac and cheese. Bonus points if you rice the cauliflower to hide the veggies.
Canned veggies: drain and rinse any canned veggies you have on hand and mix them into the pot.
Green Peas: another bite-sized veggie that is easy to slip into your fave dinner.
Green Beans: canned or fresh green beans are both easy options to upgrade regular mac & cheese and make it healthier.
Broccoli: broccoli and cheese get a pasta makeover!
Asparagus: round out dinner with this deliciously crunchy veggie that is worthy of being served with the main course.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: roasted Brussels pair great with creamy and cheesy mac, and they will round your dinner out for your family!
Bean Sprouts: little bean sprouts are superfoods packed with nutrition. If you don’t like greens, blend them up into the cheese sauce!
Tomatoes: mac & cheese and tomatoes are meant to be. The sweetness of tomatoes and the creaminess of the cheese tastes great.
Jalapenos: add a bit of spice to traditional mac and cheese with jalapenos!
Olives: black or green olives add a texture and flavor that tastes like Mediterranean mac & cheese.
Mushrooms: blend so well into the rich cheese that you may have found a new favorite veggie topping!
Shredded Carrots: looking to incorporate more veggies? Matchstick or shredded carrots blend seamlessly with mac and cheese.
White Beans: white beans hold the cheesy flavor and have a similar texture that blends in well.
Black Beans: beans may not seem like the best mac and cheese topping, but they are full of complex flavors with a similar texture to your favorite dish!
Pinto Beans: if you’re going for more of a chili mac vibe, beans add extra outstanding chili consistency.
Kidney Beans: A topping that is fast, nostalgic, and super healthy for mac and cheese night.
Onion: looking for a little bit of crunch? Thinly sliced and caramelized onions melt right into the cheesy dish.
Scallions: when paired with other toppings, scallions create an array of caramelized onion flavors that are tasty in pasta.
Chives: this garnish is perfectly sprinkled at the end of the finished dish to add oniony fragrance and flavor.
Garlic: have leftover garlic cloves? Peel them and mash them or serve them whole in your favorite pasta dish for an epic garlic mac.
Green Onion: this fancy garnish not only makes mac and cheese dishes pretty, but it also adds a subtle crunch that is irresistible.
Pico de Gallo: this combination is far from boring and adds subtle spice to plain mac and cheese.
Chipotles in Adobo: looking for a memorably smoky dish? Chipotle peppers are just the right amount of flavor and heat to mac n cheese without overdoing it.
Hot Sauce: put spicy mac & cheese on your dinner to-do list.
Sriracha: If Sriracha is more your jam, try out this legendary topping drizzled on mac & cheese.
Balsamic Vinegar: while traditionally used in salads, this dressing is tangy and blends wonderfully with the creamy cheese and pasta!
Everything Bagel Seasoning: sprinkle on top for a comfort dish that is out of this world!
Red Pepper Flakes: another great spice for creating a spiced mac and cheese is red pepper flakes! These flakes are AMAZING on pasta, pizzas, and other favorite dishes!
Cayenne Pepper: looking to create a spicy mac and cheese and don’t like hot sauce? Add cayenne for more flavor to your heat preference.
Garlic Powder: recreating a delicious garlic mac and cheese? Garlic powder is perfect to create that flavor you love.
Chili Powder: chili powder gives mac and cheese flavor like chili mac.
Basil: tomato & basil mac and cheese is what you’ve been longing for!
Black Pepper: for minimal addition, sprinkle some black pepper on top of mac and cheese for a combination of pepper and cheese.
Dill: while this may seem out of place, dill pickle mac & cheese is a pickle lover’s dream!
Cheetos: kids love this fun cheesy mac topping!
Crumbled Cheeze Its: crumbly and crispy Cheeze Its are an epic combination that kids will adore!
Crushed Doritos: instead of Cheeze Its or Cheetos, try any flavor of Doritos that you like for a superb crunchy topping.
Bread Crumbs: bread crumbs give this dish a holiday casserole feel, with no baking time!
Blue Cheese: blue cheese fans, sprinkle to your heart’s content for loaded mac and cheese flavor.
Salsa Con Queso: a little bit of creamy salsa with queso is just what you need to diversify the family mac and cheese night.
Feta: one thing to note is that the feta cheese does not blend into the mac and cheese, but stays soft and holds the creamy and tangy flavor.
Grated Parmesan: just say when to stop!
Shredded Pepperjack: looking to top with a little bit of spice that isn’t overbearing? Pepperjack cheese is the perfect topper when you want a little extra topping with mild heat.
Sour Cream: making mac and cheese with sour cream is a Southern tradition because the sour cream adds a sharp flavor with a mild sweetness. Top or mix into your family dinner night!
Mustard: Mustard pairs great because it blends perfectly with the color of mac and cheese while creating subtle flavor.
Ranch: Cheddar, bacon, and ranch mac and cheese are toppings you should include in your family meal rotation.
Guacamole: this guac + cheese idea is full of comfort and joy, and anything but boring. Try my homemade recipe and make for your heat tolerance.
Buffalo Sauce: buffalo mac and cheese? Yes, please!
BBQ: tangy and bold BBQ meets cheesy pasta for a dish that your family will not be disappointed with.
Pesto: looking to use old pesto or my pesto without pine nuts? Mac and cheese night will be epic.
Truffle Oil: turn a budget meal into a gourmet one. There is no limit on indulgence!