If you love creamy, rich, and cheesy comfort food, this Arby’s Mac And Cheese Recipe is exactly what you need. Inspired by the popular fast-food favorite from Arby’s, this homemade version delivers the same smooth white cheddar flavor and velvety texture — but even better because you make it fresh in your own kitchen.
This recipe is simple, easy to follow, and perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or holiday gatherings. With just a few basic ingredients like macaroni, heavy cream, butter, and white cheddar cheese, you can create a restaurant-style mac and cheese that tastes luxurious and comforting at the same time.
Whether you serve it as a main dish or side dish, this copycat Arby’s white mac and cheese will quickly become a family favorite.
What Is Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
Arby’s Mac and Cheese is a creamy white cheddar macaroni dish served as a side item at Arby’s restaurants. Unlike traditional yellow mac and cheese, this version features white cheddar cheese blended with cream and seasonings for a smooth and rich flavor.
It has:
- A thick and creamy white sauce
- A mild, slightly sharp cheddar taste
- A smooth texture without breadcrumbs
- A rich, buttery finish
This homemade Arby’s mac and cheese recipe recreates that signature flavor using simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
There are many reasons to love this creamy white mac and cheese recipe:
- ✔ Super creamy and smooth texture
- ✔ Made with real white cheddar cheese
- ✔ Perfect copycat of Arby’s mac and cheese
- ✔ Easy step-by-step instructions
- ✔ Ready in just 35 minutes
- ✔ Great for large gatherings (serves 12)
- ✔ No baking required
It is comfort food at its best — warm, cheesy, and satisfying.
Equipment’s
To make this Arby’s white mac and cheese, you will need:
- Stove
- Large pot (for boiling pasta)
- Medium saucepan (for cheese sauce)
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients With Amounts
Here are the exact ingredients you need for this creamy mac and cheese recipe:
- 1 ½ lb elbows enriched macaroni pasta (cooked, drained, rinsed)
- Water (for boiling pasta)
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp ground white pepper
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ tsp onion powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 3 cups grated white cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup grated Romano cheese
- ¾ cup cream cheese
These ingredients create a rich, smooth, and flavorful white cheese sauce.
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to make Arby’s mac and cheese at home:
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Boil water in a large pot. Add macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the Roux
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Stir continuously until it forms a smooth paste.
Step 3: Add the Cream
Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
Step 4: Add the Cheese
Reduce heat to low. Add grated white cheddar, Romano cheese, and cream cheese. Stir continuously until all cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
Step 5: Combine
Add the cooked macaroni to a large bowl. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix until evenly coated.
Step 6: Serve
Serve immediately while hot and creamy. Garnish with extra cheese if desired.
Notes
- Do not overcook the pasta. Slightly firm (al dente) works best.
- Use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest sauce.
- Stir constantly when adding cheese to prevent clumping.
- Keep heat low when melting cheese to avoid grainy texture.
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Variations
Want to customize your Arby’s mac and cheese? Try these ideas:
Baked Version
Transfer to a baking dish, top with cheese, and bake at 375°F for 15 minutes.
Spicy Mac and Cheese
Add cayenne pepper or diced jalapeños for heat.
Protein Boost
Add grilled chicken, bacon bits, or smoked sausage.
Lighter Version
Replace part of the heavy cream with whole milk (texture will be slightly less rich).
Tips
- Always whisk the sauce while adding cream.
- Let the cheese melt slowly on low heat.
- If sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of warm milk.
- Serve immediately for the creamiest texture.
What To Serve With Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
This creamy mac and cheese pairs well with many dishes:
- Roast chicken
- Grilled steak
- Fried chicken
- BBQ ribs
- Garlic bread
- Fresh green salad
- Steamed broccoli
It works perfectly as a holiday side dish or weeknight comfort meal.
How To Store Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
Refrigerator
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer
Freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months.
Reheating
Reheat on the stove over low heat. Add a little milk or cream to restore creaminess. Stir frequently.
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Arby’s Mac And Cheese Recipe
Equipment & Tools
- Stove
- Large pot (for boiling pasta)
- Medium saucepan (for cheese sauce)
- Mixing Bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb elbows enriched macaroni pasta cooked, drained, rinsed
- Water for boiling pasta
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¾ tsp ground white pepper
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ tsp onion powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 3 cups grated white cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup grated Romano cheese
- ¾ cup cream cheese
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot. Add macaroni and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.
- Step 2: Make the Roux
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the flour, white pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Stir continuously until it forms a smooth paste.
- Step 3: Add the Cream
- Slowly pour in the heavy cream while whisking. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
- Step 4: Add the Cheese
- Reduce heat to low. Add grated white cheddar, Romano cheese, and cream cheese. Stir continuously until all cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Step 5: Combine
- Add the cooked macaroni to a large bowl. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix until evenly coated.
- Step 6: Serve
- Serve immediately while hot and creamy. Garnish with extra cheese if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions On Arby’s Mac And Cheese Recipe
Can I Use Low-Fat Or Whole Milk In Place Of Heavy Cream?
It is possible to substitute heavy cream with something with less fat, however, the mac and cheese will not be as creamy and rich. To substitute whole milk or 2 percent milk or 1% milk or skim milk in place of the heavy cream, you’ll need more flour used to make the same thick base sauce.
How Can You Enhance The Flavor Of Cheese And Macaroni?
Add any of your favorite spices to make it your own! In addition to salt and pepper, I use garlic powder and onion powder, but chili powder, red pepper flakes, Cajun spice, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning are also excellent additions.
What To Serve With Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
The best side dishes for Arby’s Mac And Cheese are Meatloaf, Coleslaw, BBQ Pulled Chicken or Pork, Cornbread, Roasted Vegetables, Brussels Sprouts, Sloppy Joes, and Grilled meats – chicken, pork, or steak.
How Do You Refrigerate And Freeze Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
The leftovers can be stored in Arby’s Mac & Cheese inside an airtight container for up to 3 days. I suggest eating the leftovers within 1 to 2 days to ensure freshness.
Keep your cooked cheese and macaroni in a freezer storage container for up to a couple of months. For the best taste, your macaroni is most enjoyable within the first two months after being frozen.
How Do You Reheat Arby’s Mac And Cheese?
t is best to heat the Mac over the stove. Divide the desired quantity into a pan and then heat the serving at a low temperature. Add additional milk as needed to keep the mac smooth.
To microwave just small portions of the leftovers heat at high for approximately 2 minutes when refrigerated. 4 minutes for frozen items, more if necessary. You can add milk as you need to keep the sauce smooth.
Is Arby’s Mac And Cheese Healthy?
While having macaroni, butter, cream, and cheese, Arby’s Mac and Cheese is not a healthy meal because of its high-calorie content.
This mac and cheese contains a lot of carbohydrates and is therefore not recommended for a ketogenic diet. It has a lot of calories because it has pasta, cheese, and butter.
Vegans shouldn’t eat mac and cheese because it contains dairy. Pasta, cheese, butter, and cream make up this filling dish. It is not vegan-friendly because it only contains dairy components and contains no other plant-based ingredients.
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Conclusion
This homemade Arby’s Mac And Cheese recipe brings the creamy, white cheddar goodness of your favorite fast-food side dish straight to your kitchen. It is rich, smooth, and incredibly satisfying. With simple ingredients and easy steps, anyone can recreate this comforting dish at home.
Whether you serve it for family dinner, special occasions, or holiday meals, this creamy white mac and cheese will always impress. Try it once, and it may become your go-to mac and cheese recipe.
This recipe looks very similar to arby’s mac and cheese when it’s finished but it tastes bad. Something is missing and it’s hard to explain what, maybe it calls for too much cheese or pepper? It’s got a bland yet somehow almost bitter taste. Adding milk takes away the bitterness but it still is bland. I hope someone releases an actual recipe for this soon.