Popeyes' Mac and Cheese Recipe: Creamy Thanksgiving Delight

Whether it’s been a long and tiresome day or you’re just feeling the blues, it doesn’t matter. Everyone has comfort food, and mac and cheese is high on the list. And when it comes to that, little could top Popeyes’ mac and cheese recipe.

Admittedly, mac and cheese doesn't have high nutritional value and is not on your average gym-bro’s diet. Regardless, it’s a comfort food. Thus, what matters is the flavor and the flair. This copycat of Popeyes’ mac and cheese recipe brings the best of the famous fast food restaurant to your home, allowing you to replicate the dish at your convenience, and it takes just under half an hour.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions 
• Dietary Restrictions
• Variations 
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips 
• Popeyes' Mac and Cheese Recipe: Creamy Thanksgiving Delight
• Comments

Ingredients

• Elbow macaroni — 1 pound (4 cups)
• Butter — ½ cup
• All-purpose flour — ½ cup 
• Heavy cream — 1 cup 
• Whole milk — 2 cups
• Sharp cheddar cheese — 4 cups, shredded 
• Gouda cheese — 2 cups, shredded 
• Mustard powder — 1 tsp. 
• Garlic powder — 1 tsp. 
• Salt — 1 tsp. 
• Black pepper — ½ tsp. 
• Paprika — ½ tsp. 

Instructions

1. Set your oven to 350°F degrees and generously grease a 9x13 baking dish with food spray.

2. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. 

3. In the meantime, prepare the roux by combining flour and butter in a pan. Cook for a minute, whisking now and then. 

4. Add the milk and the heavy cream. Cook until the mixture thickens, which should take a few minutes. 

5. Combine the two cheeses, which should total about six cups. 

6. Add three cups of cheese mixture to the pan and let the cheese melt. 

7. Once the cheese has melted, remove from the heat and add salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and mustard powder. 

8. Transfer half the pasta to the baking dish and sprinkle 1 ½ cups of cheese mixture to create the first layer. 

9. Lastly, add the other half of the pasta and top with the remaining 1 ½ cups of cheese mixture. 

10. Bake for 15 minutes and serve hot. 

Substitutions 

• All-purpose flour — While all-purpose flour works great, and there is nothing wrong with it, there are other alternatives as well. Cornstarch and arrowroot are some of the most common substitutes for all-purpose flour when it comes to making a roux, and you will be satisfied with both. Gluten-free flour, on the other hand, doesn’t usually work. 

• Heavy cream — Just like the original one, this copycat Popeyes’ mac and cheese recipe makes the best of heavy cream. With that being said, remember that heavy cream comes with lots of calories, and if that’s a problem for you, you might want to consider using evaporated milk. Not only can you substitute the two in a 1/1 ratio, but the latter also provides a great alternative in terms of flavor, though the texture won’t be as creamy. 

• Whole milk — If you don’t have any dietary restrictions, it is recommended to stick to whole milk. If whole milk is not an option, sour cream will work well. Half-and-half would be another alternative, and so is Greek yogurt. 

Dietary Restrictions

• Dairy-free — If you have any dietary restrictions, swap the whole milk for non-dairy milk. While alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, and cashew milk work great, oat milk and coconut milk are the closest to whole milk in terms of texture due to their fat content. Swap heavy cream for coconut cream and butter for oil. Lastly, instead of the cheese, you can go with nuts. Cashew works great! 

• Gluten-free — You can still make Popeyes’ mac and cheese recipe even if you are following a gluten-free diet. It should be easy enough to find gluten-free elbow macaroni, and when it comes to all-purpose flour, keep in mind that regular gluten-free flour might not work well in roux. The solution is adding a splash of water to the mix, and you should be good to go!

Variations 

• Cheesy — How could this recipe get any cheesier? Well, it’s all about the toppings. Simply top your dish with shredded cheese while it’s still hot and bubbly. Half a cup of mozzarella and cheddar should do the trick. 

• Buffalo chicken — While the recipe makes quite a filling dish, it’s not exactly meaty. If that’s a problem, add some sliced chicken breast to the mix. Finish off your dish by drizzling some hot sauce on top. Tabasco would do fine, and so would Sriracha. 

• Earthy — You can always add some herbs and spices like rosemary, thyme, and oregano for an earthy flavor. Some chopped parsley would be fine as well. 

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Mixing bowls 

• 9x13 baking dish 

• Food spray 

• Oven 

• Whisk 

Storage

• Allow the leftover mac and cheese to cool completely. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Once refrigerated, the leftovers will last for up to four days.

• You could also freeze the leftovers by transferring them to a ziplock bag and storing them in your freezer. If you opt for freezing, the leftovers will last for up to four months. 

Pro Tips 

• Experiment — While Popeyes’ mac and cheese recipe makes a great dish on its own, you can always experiment with toppings. Breadcrumbs are always a safe option, as are fresh herbs and maybe even hot sauce. 

• Baking — While it is clear that you should bake the mac and cheese for 15 minutes, you should also keep an eye on the dish. If it’s golden and bubbly, it might be time to stop.