The ORIGINAL Copycat Costco Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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 copycat Costco Macaroni and Cheese recipe on a regular basis!

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.

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.

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 – plus you can control the ingredients a little bit more and adjust to your liking (such as adding bacon. YUM!).

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

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil – add cavatappi and cook according to the directions on the package. Drain water and set aside.
2. Add butter to a large skillet and melt over low heat. Add heavy cream and milk and stir until combined.
3. 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 of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of cold water.
4. Add seasonings to taste.
5. Combine the pasta with the sauce and pour it into a large baking dish.
6. Top with shredded cheddar cheese
7. Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Broil to caramelize cheese.

How Much Does This Cost Compared to Costco’s Version?

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 Should You Serve with Mac and Cheese?

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
• Turkey Breast and Gravy
• Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie
• Air Fryer Pizza English Muffins
• Dutch Oven Pizza
• Copy Cat Papa Murphy’s Garlic Chicken Pizza
• Garlic and Bacon Mashed Cauliflower
• The Best Quick Dinner Rolls

How do I reheat mac and cheese?

You can reheat it by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl and adding a little milk to it. Slowly reheat it in 30-second increments.

What are substitutes I can use in this recipe?

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 use 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!

Costco Mac and Cheese

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Do you love Costco mac and cheese? We do, too! This is the copycat version that tastes like the original!

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

See Also

Sheet-Pan Gochujang Chicken and Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil – add cavatapi and cook according to directions on package. Drain water and set aside.
2. Add butter to a large skillet and melt over low heat. Add heavy cream and milk and stir until combined.
3. 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.
4. Add seasonings to taste.
5. Combine the pasta with the sauce and pour into a large baking dish.
6. Top with shredded cheddar cheese
7. Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Broil to caramelize cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 484Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 522mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 14g

Please verify this information with your preferred nutrition calculator.

How Long is Mac and Cheese Good For?

This mac and cheese will stay good in the fridge as long as it is covered properly for 2-3 days

Can Mac and Cheese be Frozen?

Yes! It can be frozen and reheated. We do recommend preparing the recipe in its entirety and then freezing it before cooking.

If you want to cook it from frozen, it will take at least twice as long. You can also remove it 24 hours beforehand and place it in the fridge to defrost. Then you can just cook it according to the instructions above.

Is Mac and Cheese Healthy?

While homemade mac and cheese can be healthier than store bought, it’s not something I would really call “healthy”. It sure is delicious, though!

Other Mac and Cheese Recipes:

• Classic Homemade Mac and Cheese
• Longhorn Steakhouse Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Easy Baked White Macaroni and Cheese

We hope that you enjoy this Costco Mac and Cheese recipe as much as we do. Be sure to leave a rating and let us know what you think.