Copycat Boston Market mac and cheese is made with rotini pasta in a creamy cheese sauce that’s just like the restaurants signature version.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
Oh my goodness, this copycat Boston Market Mac and cheese was so incredibly delicious and as close to the restaurants version as you can get.
Boston Markets are closing down left and right here in Jersey. Their mac and cheese was my favorite side dish. Now that I don’t have a restaurant open near me, I figured why not give making my own version a try. What a great idea that turned out to be.
I served this to my family for our Sunday Dinner and it was such a huge hit. Everyone just loved it and couldn’t believe how close to the original it was. Myself included, I was so happy with the way it turned out. This recipe is fantastic because it’s super easy to make, requires very few ingredients and is absolutely delicious. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Why You'll Love It
- Easy to make - Everything comes together quickly on the stovetop with simple, straightforward steps.
- Super creamy and cheesy - The combination of American, cheddar and Parmesan makes the sauce incredibly smooth, rich and flavorful.
- A nostalgic copycat - If you grew up loving Boston Market mac and cheese, this is such a fun way to recreate that comfort-food favorite at home.
- Perfect for almost any meal - Serve it as a side dish for a weeknight dinner, Sunday dinner, holidays, BBQs or family get-togethers.
Ingredients
Heres how to make this delicious meal. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
- Cooked Rotini Pasta
- Butter
- Flour
- Heavy Cream
- American Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese, hand shredded
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder
How To Make It
Heres how to make this awesome mac and cheese. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
- In a large skillet melt the butter over medium high heat and whisk in the flour for 2-3 minutes. Slowly pour in the cream and whisk until thick. This should take about 3-4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and add in the American cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese. whisk in the cheese in until it’s melted into the sauce.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Add the cooked rotini pasta and gently stir it into the sauce until the pasta is evenly coated. Serve warm and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Shred the cheddar yourself. Freshly shredded cheese melts much more smoothly than the pre-shredded kind and helps keep the sauce nice and creamy.
- Turn the heat down before adding the cheese. High heat can cause cheese sauce to become grainy or separate. Low heat will give you that smooth, velvety texture.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook the rotini just until al dente so it holds its shape once it's stirred into the warm cheese sauce.
- Add the cream slowly. Gradually whisking it into the butter and flour mixture will help prevent lumps and create a smooth base for the sauce.
- Serve it right away. This mac and cheese is at its absolute creamiest straight off the stove. If the sauce thickens while sitting, stir in a small splash of cream or milk to loosen it back up.
Variations
Changing the recipe will take it a little farther away from the classic Boston Market-inspired version, but there are plenty of ways to make it your own.
- Pasta: Rotini gives this recipe that signature look, but elbows, shells, cavatappi or another short pasta will work, too.
- Cheese: Swap some of the cheddar for Monterey Jack, Colby Jack or another good melting cheese.
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce for a little kick.
- Extra cheesy: Sprinkle a little additional freshly shredded cheddar or Parmesan over the top just before serving.
- Add-ins: Try stirring in crispy bacon, diced ham, shredded chicken or steamed broccoli to turn it into more of a complete meal.
What To Serve With It
This creamy mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food side dish, so it goes with just about anything. I love serving it with roasted chicken, meatloaf, BBQ chicken, ribs, pulled pork or steak. Add some green beans, broccoli, corn or a simple salad on the side and you've got an easy, family-friendly dinner.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat, add a small splash of milk to help loosen the cheese sauce and keep it nice and creamy. Warm it in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. For larger portions, reheat it on the stovetop over low heat, adding a little milk as needed until creamy and warm.
Other Mac & Cheese Recipes
Theres nothing that quite hits the spot as well as a big bowl of warm macaroni and cheese. I've rounded up all my Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipes so you can find them easily in one place.
Copycat Boston Market Mac And Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Rotini Pasta (cooked in salted water)
- 4 Tbs Butter
- 4 Tbs Flour
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- 15 Slices American Cheese
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, hand shredded
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Tbs Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
- In a large skillet melt the butter over medium high heat and whisk in the flour for 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the cream and whisk until thick. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, and add in the American cheese, cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese. Whisk in the cheese in until it’s melted into the sauce.
- Season the sauce with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Stir it into the cheese sauce.
- Add the cooked rotini pasta and gently stir it into the sauce until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Erin Evers says
So I was really looking forward to this recipe. I have to say it tastes nothing like boston market, macaroni and cheese. It's pretty tasty. I think the recipe requires too much parmesan. But even with less parmesan, I don't think it would taste like boston market at all. We enjoyed it, but was not what I was looking for