What to Serve with Mac and Cheese: 30+ Delicious Pairings

Complementing the Comfort: Main Dishes to Pair with Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese brings back memories of childhood weeknight dinners or weekend picnic potlucks. The cheesy pasta dish provides comforting carbs and protein. But on its own, mac and cheese can feel like an incomplete meal. The right entree transforms basic mac and cheese into a hearty and balanced dinner.

Lean Proteins

Pairing macaroni and cheese with a lean protein adds filling fiber and nutrients. These lighter meats prevent the meal from becoming too heavy or rich.

Chicken

Chicken and mac and cheese makes a dynamic duo. Bake, grill, or sauté chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks to serve alongside the pasta. Try crisp panko-crusted chicken tenders or juicy roasted chicken. For extra flavor, coat the chicken in barbecue sauce or buffalo sauce.

Turkey

Sliced oven-roasted turkey breast or turkey meatballs bring out the comfort food factor. Ground turkey stir-fries or turkey sausage links also work nicely. For a twist, cook Italian turkey sausage with tomato sauce and pasta shells, then mix in cheddar mac and cheese.

Fish

Delicate white fish fills out the meal without overpowering the mac and cheese. Bake mild cod, halibut, or tilapia fillets to serve with the cheesy pasta. Blackened or pan-seared salmon fillets make a rich, more flavorful fish pairing. Shellfish like shrimp and scallops also balance well with creamy, smooth mac and cheese.

Pork

Pork tenderloin medallions, bone-in pork chops, or baked ham steak add a meaty bites to the pasta. Try breading pork cutlets with panko crumbs for a crispy texture contrast to the soft mac and cheese. For families, serve baked or grilled sausages like bratwurst on the side.

Hearty Vegetables

Vegetables provide lighter pairings that keep the meal balanced. Bright vegetables add FRESH flavors and textures to rich macaroni and cheese.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasting cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes caramelizes their natural sugars. The browned veggies offset salty, creamy mac and cheese. Toss vegetables with olive oil, salt, pepper, and spices like garlic powder or cumin before roasting.

Greens

Leafy greens give a fiber, vitamin, and mineral boost to heavy mac and cheese. Make a warm spinach, kale, collard green, or Swiss chard salad. Or, sauté the greens with olive oil and garlic. Crisp raw greens also cleanse the palate between gooey bites of mac and cheese.

Green Beans

Blanched, sautéed, roasted, or grilled green beans add texture and color contrast. Green beans pair especially well with pesto or basil mac and cheese varieties. When baking the pasta, mix some blanched green beans right into the casserole itself.

Complementary Starches

While mac and cheese provides plenty of heavy carbs on its own, extras starches make the meal complete. Starchy foods soak up cheese sauces and prevent waste.

Breads

Bread gives you an edible implement for scooping up melted cheese sauce. Thick slices of crusty bread can sop up creamy pasta sauce. Flaky biscuits, soft dinner rolls, or crispy garlic bread are other great additions. For impressive plating, serve macaroni and cheese bowls atop thick bread slice croutons.

Potatoes

Mashed, baked, or fried potatoes provide an additional comforting, filling element. Potatoes absorb rich sauces while adding smooth or crisp textures. Garlic mashed potatoes or cheesy scalloped potatoes especially complement the cheese and carbs in mac and cheese.

Rice

Rice soaks up extra sauce to prevent leftovers from getting soggy. Rice's mild flavor lets the mac and cheese take center stage. Serve baked mac and cheese over rice pilaf studded with peas. Or, top both dishes withFallback chili for a hearty feast.

7 Simple Ways to Make Box Mac Healthier

While home baked mac and cheese takes time and effort, convenient boxed versions rely on processed cheese powder for fast flavor. These tips help you healthify store-bought mac without sacrificing much comfort or convenience.

1. Use Whole Grain Pasta

Substitute regular enriched elbow noodles with 100% whole grain pasta shapes. Choose modern whole grain macaroni that retains a pleasant texture when baked. The extra fiber and nutrients from whole grains will help fill you up.

2. Boost Vegetables

Mix frozen or fresh vegetables right into the pasta while baking. Leafy greens, onions, carrots, broccoli, and peas work well. For creamier veggie mac, try roasting vegetables first before stirring them into the cheesy mix.

3. Add Lean Protein

Studding store-bought mac and cheese with extra protein makes the meal more filling while lowering the overall carbohydrate content. Cooked chicken, beef crumbles, shrimp, or beans mix in nicely with the cheesy noodles. The added protein balances out blood sugar levels.

4. Use Reduced-Fat Dairy

Substitute regular milk and cheese in packaged mac and cheese mixes with lower-fat versions. Try using 1% or nonfat milk and reduced-fat shredded cheddar or American cheese. The pasta still comes out creamy while cutting back on saturated fat and calories.

5. Upgrade the Cheese

Real, grated cheese ups both the flavor and nutrition compared to powdered cheese packets. Shred your own cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Parmesan to mix into the pasta. A cheese upgrade makes the comfort food feel more like an indulgent treat.

6. Add Nutrient Boosts

Stir in extra ingredients to add nutrition lacking from processed box macaroni and cheese powder. Mix in pureed butternut squash for vitamin A. Sprinkle on sesame seeds or pine nuts for vitamin E, magnesium, and fiber. Stir in canned tomatoes for lycopene and vitamin C.

7. Use Less Butter & Oil

The fat from butter or oil gives boxed mac and cheese richness and creaminess. But you can use less by adding starchy pasta water to the mix instead while baking. Start by boiling noodles in water as directed. Before draining, scoop out a few tablespoons of the starchy water to add to the pasta and cheese for moisture.

The Ultimate Stovetop Mac and Cheese

This easy mac and cheese recipe comes together right on the stovetop, no baking required. Melting cheese into a smooth Mornay sauce coats every noodle with creamy richness. Serving crisp panko-crusted chicken on the side completes this decadent but balanced meal.

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup freshly grated extra-sharp cheddar
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 large chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
• Olive oil
• Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni 2 minutes less than package directions.

Step 2: Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and stir until thickened to a sauce consistency. Stir in mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat.

Step 3: Drain pasta and return to pot. Immediately add cheese sauce and stir until melted and coats noodles. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4: While mac and cheese cooks, place panko in a shallow bowl. Brush chicken breasts with olive oil then coat with panko, patting to adhere crumbs.

Step 5: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Slice chicken diagonally.

Step 6: Serve crispy chicken breast cutlets atop stovetop mac and cheese. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.