12 ‘Game-Changing Tips’ for Making the Best Ever Mac and Cheese, According to the Internet

Is there an American dish as iconic as macaroni and cheese? Cheesy, hearty, and endlessly customizable, macaroni and cheese is pure magic—and this time of year, we can’t get enough of it. It’s the star (sorry, turkey and ham) of our Thanksgiving and holiday feasts. It can be dressed up or kept simple, and it’s nearly universally beloved. So yes, macaroni and cheese really is that special. 

While perusing the internet for my next mac and cheese recipe, I stumbled upon this Reddit thread where home cooks share their “#1 game-changing tips” for making the best ever mac and cheese.” Whether you’re making a blue box dinner or spending hours crafting your signature recipe, try these 12 internet-certified tips, tricks, and add-ins to try the next time you make this beloved dish. These tips will “wow” your guests and cement your role as the certified mac and cheese master.

12 Tricks For Making The Best Ever Mac and Cheese 

Add a Few Glugs of Worcestershire Sauce

Did you know that Worcestershire Sauce is a form of fish sauce? Worcestershire has a base of anchovy with vinegar, molasses, tamarind, chiles, and other flavor-packed ingredients. One Redditor adds it to their cheese sauce, stating it “really elevates the dish.” And it’s no real wonder—we use the condiment to add zing and intrigue to so many casseroles, stews, and dips. The sauce won’t be the star of the show, but will work to amplify the cheesy and savory flavors of your favorite mac and cheese. 

Use Shell Noodles

One Redditor said that they always use shell noodles in their mac and cheese, stating that “all that yummy cheese gets scooped right into the shell, so it’s extra cheesy with every bite.” Unlike macaroni noodles, small shelled pasta holds on to more sauce. It adds little bursts of creaminess throughout the dish. For you cheese lovers out there, using shell noodles is a great way to ensure you get a big bite of cheese sauce in every scoop.

Make Cheese Sauce With Evaporated Milk

In 2023, food content creator @tinekeyounger went mega-viral for her mac and cheese recipe. There were many great suggestions and add-ins in her recipe, but the most stand out ingredient was evaporated milk. Tini’s evaporated milk trick became so popular, Carnation released a Kickin’ Jalapeño Flavored Evaporated Milk in collaboration with the content creator. 

Evaporated milk is a canned milk product. Around half of the water content is removed (or evaporated) resulting in a richer, creamier, and milkier product. It adds just a little more dairy “oomph” to your cheese sauce. When it comes to mac and cheese, go big or go home! “Evaporated milk is a game changer,” raved one Redditor. 

Add Cream Cheese For a Piquant Punch

Cream cheese is a kitchen MVP. It adds creaminess, heartiness, and a slight tang that takes so many dishes over the top. It’s the perfect addition to your mac and cheese recipe—and several Redditors agree. “Cream cheese! It makes your cheese sauce creamier and smoother,” one Redditor said. Another added that they add cream cheese to boxed mac and cheese. 

Utilize Starchy Pasta Water 

Starchy pasta water is the secret to achieving restaurant-worthy pastas at home. Starchy water makes the creamiest, dreamiest sauce, but also helps to “relax” a dairy-laden béchamel—resulting in a perfect viscosity. “PASTA WATER added to the final mix with the mornay sauce and noodles,” said one Redditor. “Loosens up a super cheesy mac with just the right consistency.”

Incorporate Mustard 

Mustard is a must-add for a dynamic mac and cheese—and several Redditors agree. Mustard is a vinegar-based condiment, and adding a spoonful of the mixture (grainy is best here, in my opinion) helps to cut through the fat in the cheese and “wakes up the taste buds.” Mustard powder also works, you can stir it in when you add your other spices. 

Try a Bit of Barbecue Sauce 

It’s no secret that mac and cheese is one of the best side dishes to a plate of delicious barbecued meats. The smokey, savory barbecue perfectly balances the rich and cheesy pasta dish. So why wouldn’t adding a smidge of barbecue sauce to your mac and cheese taste delicious? One Redditor likes to add a “very small bit” of barbecue sauce to add a “subtle sweet and smokey flavor.” Sounds delicious to us! 

Shred Your Own Cheese

Pre-shredded cheeses are very convenient, and have their place in the kitchen, but for the ultimate mac and cheese, grate your cheese straight from the block. Store-bought shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent, used to extend shelf life and keep the cheese from clumping. There’s nothing wrong or dangerous about this—it’s often just potato starch or corn starch—but it does change how the cheese melts. And when it comes to mac and cheese, you want the melt. 

Use Processed Cheese Products 

Unlike cheese you pick up from your grocery store coolers, processed cheese products are shelf stable—think: Velveeta or Kraft Singles. Processed cheese products are the ultimate melting cheese, helping all the “fancy” cheeses in your mac and cheese emulsify, blend, and beautifully melt. “It’s necessary to use processed cheese in your cheese sauce to bind everything together,” said one Redditor. “I use Land O’Lakes American cheese sliced fresh at the deli counter.” Alternatively, you can add in your own sodium citrate to create a similar result. 

Grate in a Pinch of Nutmeg

If you just use your nutmeg for holiday cookies, you’d be shocked how many savory applications this nutty spice really has. Certain cheeses, like Gruyère and aged Cheddar, have inherent nutty qualities that make them great additions to your mac and cheese. A pinch of nutmeg brings out that quality, and adds a warming quality that will bring dimension to your cheese sauce. “My mom always uses a tiny pinch of nutmeg in hers,” shared one Redditor. “It’s divine!”

Cut Your Cheese Into Big Cubes

You often see shredded or processed cheese in mac and cheese recipes, but next time you make the delicious dish, try adding cubed cheese as well. This Redditor suggests adding “about one-inch blocks of any stringy cheese (I use mozzarella) blended directly with the pasta.” It creates cheesy, melty pockets after it’s baked—great for those who just cannot get enough cheese in their mac. 

Stir in Sour Cream 

Several Redditors chimed in stating that they add sour cream to their mac and cheese. It’s bright, acidic, and creamy—a cheap and simple way to add tang and richness. If you don’t want to make your mac by scratch, add a scoop of sour cream to a box of Kraft dinner. It will go a long way in making a delicious and dynamic dish!