If you plan on baking mac and cheese, cook the pasta just before it turns al dente (about a minute less) because it will continue to cook in the oven.Should you bake mac and cheese or not? Well, it’s entirely up to you! But if you want to make the perfect Cracker Barrel copycat, you will want to bake it for 10 minutes post-cooking to get those crisp golden edges.Plus, grating your own cheese is easy, not to mention much cheaper. Speaking of cheese, grate it yourself! Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent cheese from reaching its maximum melting potential.But don’t worry, just because it only calls for one kind of cheese doesn’t mean it lacks flavor. Most recipes call for a combination of cheeses, but the classic Cracker Barrel mac and cheese only requires Colby. Some recipes call for milk, but this one uses chicken broth to give it that signature Cracker Barrel flavor. The magic combo that makes up the roux, which is responsible for thickening the sauce. Cook until al dente to get that wonderful, chewy consistency.īutter and Flour. Elbow, fusilli, rotini, or any tubular pasta. Since it’s such a simple dish, Cracker Barrel mac and cheese is easy to replicate.Ĭalling for the most basic ingredients and less than an hour of cooking, you get to enjoy this decadent mac and cheese in no time. The pasta is cooked to a perfect al dente, giving it the right balance of soft and chewy. In fact, it’s ridiculously rich, creamy, and cheesy. That’s not to say it’s nothing special, though. What it is, though, is a pure, unadulterated, classic mac and cheese. It has no special ingredients and no extra spices or seasonings. Honestly, there’s nothing too crazy about it.

I am a huge fan of Cracker Barrel mac and cheese. Cracker Barrel Mac and CheeseĮveryone has their own version of the best mac and cheese, and this one is mine. Think you have the perfect recipe for mac and cheese? Give this one a try, and I’m sure you’ll change your mind. It’s perfect for the holidays, but since it’s also super easy to make, you can serve it any day of the year. It’s such a simple combination, but the taste and texture are out of this world.

A recipe for homemade mac and cheese