We Tested 5 Celebrity Mac and Cheese Recipes—This Is the One We’ll Make Again and Again

Come cozy season, we can’t think of a dish more satisfying than gooey, cheesy, comforting mac and cheese. It’s a culinary icon—beloved for its versatility and near-universal appeal. It’s no wonder there are so many versions out there. Everyone has their own recipe with their own spin… Even celebrities.

So, where do we even begin when looking for a new recipe to try? Lucky for us, Senior Producer Nicole McLaughlin did the heavy lifting for us by testing a handful of popular mac and cheese bakes from our favorite stars.

From songstresses Dolly Parton, Patti LaBelle, and Trisha Yearwood, to culinary stalwarts Ina Garten and Giada De Laurentiis, Nicole has us covered with methods and reviews to get a steaming casserole dish on the table by dinnertime. “Which mac and cheese queen reigns supreme?” We’re about to find out.

Patti LaBelle’s Mac and Cheese

“Soulful stage legend” Patti LaBelle starts us off with a cheese-packed wonder. Monterey Jack, Munster, two kinds of Cheddar, and Velveeta are mixed with butter, cream, and—controversially—eggs to coat pasta in gooey goodness. Seasoned salt brings the flavor together before this recipe takes its time in a 350-degree-F oven.

“Spot on,” Nicole exclaims. The best part? If not the seasoned salt, then it’s the fact that this is an easy recipe that doesn’t require a separate cheese sauce on the stove.

Nicole’s Rating: 8/10

Dolly Parton’s Family Cookbook Mac and Cheese

From her “Good Lookin’ Cookin'” cookbook she co-authored with sister Rachel, Dolly Parton brings another version of the favorite dish to the table. Milk, sour cream, eggs (again!), Velveeta, and shredded cheese combine to create an extra creamy dish that bakes up bubbly and golden. Mustard powder adds zing to the rich sauce as well. “Now this is a pan of mac and cheese,” Nicole states.

If you like more cheese than macaroni, this one might be for you. “It’s not that it’s too much cheese,” Nicole clarifies (since there’s no such thing), “it’s just that it’s not quite enough pasta for the cheese.” And for that, Patti gets the slight advantage over Dolly in an otherwise dead heat for ease and comfort factors.

Nicole’s Rating: 7.9/10

Giada De Laurentiis’ Fontina & Mozzarella Cream Sauce Mac and Cheese

“Going a little untraditional” here, Giada gives us her mac and cheese twist starring Fontina and mozzarella for a creamy, satisfying plate. The cheese gets added to an uncooked roux of milk, cream, and flour. “Trust the process,” Nicole assures, before baking in a 450-degree-F oven for 20 minutes.

“This is not your Southern mac and cheese… It’s a whole different experience,” Nicole notes—perhaps making this the perfect special holiday side. While Nicole found this a little too soupy, other staffers loved it, making it their top choice. To cut the liquid, she suggests using just about 1 cup of milk instead.

Nicole’s Rating: 7/10

Ina Garten’s Gruyère & Sharp Cheddar Mac and Cheese

“You know good and well I can’t do a celebrity mac and cheese episode without including another chef turned celebrity, Ina—the Barefoot Contessa,” Nicole starts. Gruyère and Cheddar kick off this classic mac and cheese method with traditional bechamel sauce (complete with nutmeg). The extra elbow grease (and pan) proves more than worth it with the perfect ratio of sauce to cheese to pasta. A breadcrumb topping and a trip to the oven (375 degrees F for 30 minutes) give “golden brown and delicious” results.

“This is the one you serve to company,” Nicole exclaims. The only caveat she gives is that the Gruyère is a stronger taste that might not appeal to pickier eaters. If you want a milder taste, simply sub that out.

Nicole’s Rating: 9/10

Trisha Yearwood’s Classic Mac and Cheese

We’ve waxed poetic about Trisha Yearwood’s slow cooker mac and cheese before, but Nicole tested her baked version here. “This is your most straightforward mac and cheese,” she adds while grating a block of Cheddar. Classic cheese sauce coats elbows on the stove (you could stop here and serve it straight from the pot) before baking with a buttery breadcrumb topping for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. “This is the definition of comfort food.”

Nicole says she prefers more cheese, cream, and an extra punch of flavor than is offered here, but she appreciates the mild and delicate taste. “Trisha, you know a thing or two about southern cooking (maybe not quite as much as Patti and Dolly, though.”

Nicole’s Rating: 6.9/10

While Nicole’s overall opinion skewed toward Ina, “At the end of the day, whether you’re team Ina, team Dolly, or somewhere in between, the best mac and cheese is going to be the one that comes out of your kitchen.” And we’ve got all the recipes, from simple to crockpot Buffalo chicken to seafood stuffed, and more. They might not all have celebrity endorsements, but they’ve got our home cook stamp of approval.