Add a flavor-packed twist to a comfort food classic with a tried-and-tested recipe for extra-creamy Roasted Garlic Macaroni and Cheese.

Table of Contents
As a mom of three boys ages 5 and under, mac and cheese is undoubtedly a food group in our house. My boys are noodle super-enthusiasts and will gobble up the carb covered in any sauce I can whip up, from bolognese to pesto to, of course, creamy cheddar cheese.

I’m all for a classic, but it was about time I elevated the ordinary into a loved-by-all casserole starring none other than Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese.
How to Make Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese
The debut of this iconic dish merited more than a classic preparation. Someone cue the whole head of roasted garlic. Yes, an entire head of garlic that’s roasted, mashed and then whisked into the easiest, cheesiest cheddar sauce.

The beauty of roasting the garlic before whisking it into the cheese sauce is that it both mellows the sharpness and intensifies the earthy richness of the garlic flavor. It’s subtle but oh-so-complementary to ooey, gooey noodles and cheese.

What Are the Best Noodles for Mac and Cheese?
Opt for any type of short pasta so that it can stand up to the thick and creamy cheese sauce. Any of the below options are all great noodles for mac and cheese:
- Shells
- Penne
- Elbows
- Cavatappi (a.k.a. corkscrew)
- Rigatoni

How to Make a Breadcrumb Topping for Mac and Cheese
I love the added textural contrast of crispy, toasted breadcrumbs atop a bed of creamy garlic mac and cheese. A simple mix of Japanese Panko breadcrumbs (superbly crunchy!), unsalted butter and freshly chopped chives makes for the ultimate mac and cheese topping.

Ready to get cooking? Bring the water to a boil and read on for my go-to recipe for Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese that can be made in advance and baked until bubbling right before serving.
- 30-Minute White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- French Onion Mac and Cheese
- 30-Minute Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
- Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Craving more? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, meal plans and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

Ingredients
For crumb topping:
- 4 Tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cups Panko Japanese bread crumbs
- 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives
For pasta and sauce:
- 1 head garlic
- Olive oil
- 1 pound uncooked pasta (such as cavatappi, shells or rigatoni)
- 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5 cups whole milk
- 5 1/2 cups coarsely shredded cheddar cheese (white, yellow or a mix of both)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Make the crumb topping:
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and chives, stirring to combine. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until toasted slightly. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
Make the pasta and sauce:
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Slice the top one-third off the head of garlic. Place the bottom portion on a piece of foil, drizzle it with olive oil, and season it with salt and pepper. Place the top portion back on the head of garlic and crumple the foil to create a sealed packet. Roast the garlic until golden and soft, about 45 minutes.
- Remove the roasted garlic from the oven and squeeze the cloves into a bowl. Using a fork, mashing the cloves into a paste. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of the cooking water. Butter a 13×9-inch shallow baking dish.
- In a large, heavy saucepot (such as a Dutch oven), melt 1 stick butter over medium-low heat. Stir in the flour and reserved garlic paste. Cook the roux, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes until golden. Whisk in the milk. Bring the sauce to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce it to a simmer and let it cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, mustard powder, salt and pepper until well combined.
- Add the pasta and the reserved ½ cup of pasta water to the pot, stirring to combine. (It will be soupy.) Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle it with the reserved crumb topping and place it on a sheet tray (in the event it bubbles over while baking). Bake the macaroni and cheese for 20 to 25 minutes until it’s golden brown and bubbling.
Kelly’s Notes:
- The garlic head can be roasted, and the garlic gloves mashed, 1 day in advance. Store the garlic paste, covered, in the fridge.
- The macaroni and cheese can be baked in a large baking dish or several smaller ramekins for individual servings.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Shoutout
Did you try this recipe?
Share it with the world! Mention @justataste or tag #justatasterecipes!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Recipe inspired by Epicurious.
I found this recipe soooo many years ago and it has been a dish for thanksgiving and Easter for us! Huge crowd pleaser!
Love reading this!
My favorite mac & cheese recipe, hands down! So creamy and delicious. Sometimes I add 3/4 lb of crumbled bacon and when I do, I add nearly a cup of the pasta/cooking water.
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy the recipe, Cathy and with bacon sounds great!
A friend made this for a party and I was so blown away I had to get the recipe. Now making it for the 2nd time for a Friendsgiving. I use a mix of three cheddars (regular, sharp, and Irish) and gruyere. Adore this recipe, thank you! :)
Hi Kelly!!
I want to make this recipe for about 20 people as a Thanksgiving side dish. Would you say to quadruple the recipe? (About 4 one-pound boxes of pasta). Or is that too much?
Hi! I think 3x the recipe would be plenty!
Hi Kelly,
I made two boxes, and it made so much that I only brought one huge pan of it with me and there were STILL leftovers because all the other food that everyone brought!
So, first of all, the recipe was a HUGE hit! My only self-criticism was that I put too much panko crumbs on the dish. Next time, I’ll use more of a dusting of them.
Second, what is the best way to reheat this? Is there a way to get the mac and cheese “gooey” again? I think it actually tasted better before I put it in the oven!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Dave! Best way to reheat it is either on the stovetop over low heat (in a pan; you can add a splash of milk to moisten it and cook it low and slow) OR in the microwave, stirring after every 30-second increment. Enjoy!
The best garlic macaroni recipe I’ve ever made! I make this for every family event and company party, all my friends request it for their birthdays. Definitely an absolute favorite of mine+
Love, love, LOVE reading this, Jessica! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
Fantastic! My son wanted Disneyland garlic Mac and cheese (DCA food festival) for his birthday – I swapped out 1 cup of cheddar for smoked Gouda. He said it is perfect! Just like Disney! In fact he thinks i asked for their recipe. I think they swiped it from you! This is a wonderful recipe. Clear, complete directions. Creamy and favor packed. Really the best Mac and cheese recipe I have ever made. My son is very grateful for making his birthday meal dreams come true. Thank you!!
I’m so thrilled to read this, Jennifer!
This was absolutely delicious. So much so, that we had it for dinner and I had it for leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day ( can’t let good food go to waste you know). I’d recommend it to anyone who loves tasty recipes. Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sonia!
Thank you for this superb recipe Kelly ! It came out perfect. Loved the garlic flavor in it too !
Have 2 queries for you :
1. My cheese curdled a bit when melting it in the pot . The milk was hot enough when I added the cheese, and I was stirring it consistently .
Why do you think it curdled ? Is it because the cheese I used was a bit cold due to being in the fridge ? Or the milk being too hot ?
2. My oven temp limit is 400 F. So every 7/8 mins it shuts off due to the temp slightly crossing 400 F. I had to restart the cooking a couple of times due to this . So would it be okay if I cooked it at a slightly lower temp, e.g. 380 F, but for a slightly longer period ?
Hi there! Make sure you’re using whole milk, as lower fat milks are more likely to curdle, especially if the sauce is brought to a boil. And yes, feel free to cook at a slightly lower temp until it’s golden brown and bubbling.
WOW this is an unreal recipe! I’ve always made homemade mac and cheese with DISMAL results and this is the first one that has been unreal good! I think it’s a combination of the amazing added flavour of the roasted garlic (vs the powdered that most recipes call for) and the extra liquid that’s added from the pasta water. This was AMAZING!
I also added some broccoli to my recipe (cooked it in the last few minutes with the pasta) so I felt like I was at least getting SOME veggies!
Thanks so much for the recipe! I will definitely be making again!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Allison! And I love your addition of broccoli :)
I absolutely love your recipe! I am writing vegetarian recipe round ups on my blog in 2019 for people who are trying to make more meat-free meals (everyone has to start somewhere). I would love to feature you. You can check out my blog (for beginner environmentalists) Sunshine Guerrilla. Is it alright if I share this link to your recipe?
Hi Barbara – I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe! Yes, you may share a link back to this recipe.
I used this recipe to make a vegan mac and cheese and it turned out sooo freaking YUM! Used Earth Balance vegan butter, Califia almond milk and Follow Your Heart cheddar and parmesan cheese to replace all the dairy ingredients. It was my first time making it from scratch but your recipe was so quick and easy to follow I shocked myself with how good it was lol. Thank you!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Could I possibly make this entirely a day ahead and refrigerate, and then bake before serving?
Hi Patty! I’ve never tried that before but I think as long as you keep it covered securely with plastic (so it doesn’t dry out), it should work. Would love to hear your results if you give it a shot!
This recipe was simple and delicious! I’ve tried a lot of I LOVE roasted garlic macaroni with garlic recipes, and with this one I feel like I finally hit gold! Full taste, beautiful colour, perfect salt, That is exciting! I am so happy for you!Thank you for this delicious recipe.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Made this last night, my husband and I LOVED it! The garlic was such a delicious touch. I plan on making this for Christmas this year mmm!
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Kelly!
Quick question: would you be able to make these the night before, and reheat the next day? I would wait to put the breadcrumbs on top until I was reheating them. Thanks!
Hi Kelly – I’ve never tried that before, but I think as long as you keep it covered securely with plastic (so it doesn’t dry out), it should work to make it, refrigerate it and then bake it. Let me know if you give it a shot!
My hubby and I LOVED this recipe. Thank you!!!!
SO glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rachel!