Never miss a recipe!
Signup to always have the latest and greatest side dish recipes that always disappear first!
If you’ve ever had Costco Mac and Cheese then you know how delicious it is! And now it’s easier than ever to make it at home whenever you want. You will want to whip up this amazing recipe every week!
We have shared quite a few mac and cheese recipes around here, but I’m not sure any of them quite compare to this one!
Below you will find all the information you need to successfully make this recipe. We have provided a table of contents so you can quickly navigate to what you are looking for!
Table of contents
Step by Step Instructions
ingredients
- 16 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 cup whole milk
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Garlic Powder (to taste)
- 3/4 cup shredded romano cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
- 1/2-1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
instructions
Bring a pot of water to a boil – add cavatappi and cook according to directions on the package. Drain water and set aside.
Add butter to a large skillet and melt over low heat. Add heavy cream and milk and stir until combined.
Slowly mix in cheeses over medium-low heat until it thickens. If it doesn’t thicken, you can add in a mixture of 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 teaspoons cold water.
Add seasonings to taste.
Combine the pasta with the sauce and pour into a large baking dish.
Top with shredded cheddar cheese
Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Broil to caramelize cheese.
About This Recipe
Have you tried the mac and cheese at Costco? If not, you are really missing it out. It might be one of my family’s favorite things from there.
What we love about it is how it easily feeds a crowd and it is super creamy and cheesy!
It’s a huge step up from the boxed stuff!
We have perfected this Costco Mac and Cheese recipe so that you won’t ever have to go in-store to purchase it again. While I have no problem with store-bought foods- homemade always tastes better.
We recently served this for our family after a special event and it was the first thing gone! All the little cousins gobbled it up and then adults were even coming back for seconds.
And….I don’t think they cared that it didn’t come straight from Costco either!
While it is super easy to run to the store and buy mac and cheese at Costco- it’s almost just as easy to make it at home.
In my opinion, it might just taste a little bit better, too! But don’t take my word for it- check out the recipe and give it a try yourself!
Price Comparison
A pan of mac and cheese at Costco will cost you approximately $12.
I priced out the ingredients at my local Kroger store and after doing the math I calculate that to make this homemade it will be roughly $9.
Not to mention all the additives you will be losing by making it yourself.
I was slightly shocked to see how many big, unrecognizable words are included in the ingredient list on the Kirkland Mac and Cheese (Cultured Dextrose, Xanthan Gum, Nisin, Niacin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, and Annatto Extract just to name a few)! Yikes.
I don’t always read into labels and ingredients but knowing I can make this without all of that makes it a no-brainer for me.
What can I serve with this?
I can honestly say I have had this with so many things!
Mac and Cheese is a classic side dish you could add to any meal. It really doesn’t even have to “go” with the main dish.
It is a simple side to add to a grown up menu for when you have children to feed, too.
I’ve seen it at Thanksgiving dinners, neighborhood pot-lucks and church chili cook-offs!
Mac and Cheese would be great with:
- Steamed broccoli
- Rotisserie Chicken
- Baked Potatoes
- Salad
- Cheese burgers
- Ham
- Cole Slaw
Here are a few of our favorite recipes we love to pair it with to give you some inspiration.
Instant Pot Carolina BBQ Pulled Pork
Air Fryer Pizza English Muffins
Copy Cat Papa Murphy’s Garlic Chicken Pizza
Garlic and Bacon Mashed Cauliflower
Substitutions
This recipe calls for four different kinds of cheese. In our tests, these are the cheeses that work best and make it taste as close to the Costco Mac and Cheese as possible. So I would not recommend subbing for different cheeses but if you would like to experiment you most certainly can!
Costco’s mac and cheese uses cavatappi pasta but you could sub it for a different pasta such as penne or elbow, too.
You can sub heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk, evaporated milk or even sour cream- but be warned it will not taste the same!
FAQ
How many servings does this make? This recipe will make around 10 servings
How long will this stay good for? This mac and cheese will stay good in the fridge as long as it is covered properly for 2-3 days
Can I double this recipe? Yes!
How far in advance can I make it? You can make it up to two days in advance before baking it.
How do I reheat mac and cheese? You can reheat by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl and adding a little milk to it. Slowly reheat it in 30-second increments.
Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Broil to caramelize cheese.
Printable Recipe
Costco Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 1/2 cup whole milk
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Garlic Powder (to taste)
- 3/4 cup romano cheese
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese
- 1/2-1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil – add cavatapi and cook according to directions on package. Drain water and set aside.
- Add butter to a large skillet and melt over low heat. Add heavy cream and milk and stir until combined.
- Slowly mix in cheeses over medium-low heat until it thickens. If it doesn’t thicken, you can add in a mixture of 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 teaspoons cold water.
- Add seasonings to taste.
- Combine the pasta with the sauce and pour into a large baking dish.
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Broil to caramelize cheese.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 484Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 522mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 14g
Other Mac and Cheese Recipes:
Leave a Reply