Costco Mac and Cheese

Intro: With its mild, rich creaminess, the Macaroni and Cheese from Costco is a great main or side that goes with just about anything. Now, you can skip standing in line and prepare this easy Costco Mac and Cheese recipe at home.

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What makes Costco Mac and Cheese so good? 

Costco is known for its bulk deals, but the warehouse club has a pretty awesome prepared food section. With its great value, the ready-to-bake Macaroni and Cheese is a popular choice, but is Costco Mac and Cheese good? Yes, for many members, it is one of the store’s standouts when it comes to family-friendly prepared meals.

The luxurious, lightly seasoned cream sauce made with whole milk, heavy cream, parmesan, and romano cheese is mixed with perfectly cooked pasta, topped with shredded cheddar, and then baked to perfection. Whether you serve it as a side or main course, this is one recipe you’ll return to again and again.

Why you’ll love this recipe 

When you want an easy dinner that can please your entire family, it’s tough to beat this recipe. Unlike other versions of baked Macaroni and Cheese, this one uses very kid-friendly cheeses and seasoning. However, you can easily use different kinds of cheese or experiment with your favorite seasonings to make this recipe your own. 

Ingredients you will need 

For Mac and Cheese like Costco, you’ll need:

• Cavatappi pasta
• Garlic
• All-purpose flour
• Whole milk
• Heavy whipping cream
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• Unsalted butter
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• Romano cheese, grated
• Cheddar cheese, grated

Ingredient notes

The corkscrew shape of cavatappi pasta is fun, but feel free to use any short pasta, like elbow, penne, or fusilli. 

Mild or medium cheddar cheese will please your kids, but you may want to add sharp cheddar if you want a bit more bite. White cheddar cheese or gruyère cheese are also great options.

How to make Costco Mac and Cheese

To prepare the Costco Mac and Cheese recipe:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. 
2. Boil the short pasta in salted water according to the instructions on the package. 
3. While the pasta is cooking, you can make the sauce.
4. Start by mincing the garlic and set aside. 
5. In a bowl, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, salt, and black pepper. Reserve for later.
6. Melt the butter over medium heat in a saucepan. 
7. Add the minced garlic to the butter and saute until fragrant.
8. Sprinkle the flour into the saucepan and stir to form a blond roux. 
9. Whisk in the milk mixture and increase the heat to high. 
10. Bring the sauce to a boil while whisking, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer the sauce for about five minutes while whisking occasionally. 
11. When the sauce thickens, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the parmesan and romano cheeses. Taste and add more salt and black pepper to taste. 
12. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. 
13. Transfer the pasta and sauce to a 13 x 9 baking dish.
14. Cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese starts to crisp.
15. Wait a minute or two for the sauce to re-thicken before serving.

11. When the sauce thickens, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the parmesan and romano cheeses. Taste and add more salt and black pepper to taste. 
12. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat. 
13. Transfer the pasta and sauce to a 13 x 9 baking dish.
14. Cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese starts to crisp.
15. Wait a minute or two for the sauce to re-thicken before serving.

What to serve it with 

You can pair Costco’s Macaroni and Cheese with a wide range of dishes. Here are several suggestions for filling out your meal: 

• Get your veggies in. Up the nutrition by including one or two vegetable sides. Steamed string beans with garlic is an easy and tasty addition. This recipe for Air Fryer Broccoli turns what can be a boring vegetable into something delightfully crispy. 
• Break out the protein. For a complete meal, try one of these classic pairings: baby back ribs, meatloaf, and pulled pork. Go vegetarian with bell peppers stuffed with quinoa or veggie burgers. 
• Add a little on top. Let each person switch things up a bit and add more flavor with a selection of garnishes. Bacon bits, sliced scallions, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, hot sauce, and BBQ sauce are all good options. 

How to store cooked macaroni and cheese 

This makes a lot of food–so it’s great for leftovers. Extra mac and cheese will keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to three days.

If you are wondering, can you freeze Costco mac and cheese, the answer is YES! Try portioning the food into separate freezer bags before freezing. Frozen Mac and Cheese should last a month or slightly longer.  

What is the best way to reheat it?

To reheat the Mac and Cheese in the oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Transfer the chilled Mac and Cheese to a baking dish. Add a little milk and stir to loosen up the sauce. 
3. Cover the top of the baking dish with aluminum foil. 
4. Bake chilled Mac and Cheese for 20 to 25 minutes and frozen Mac and Cheese for 40 to 45 minutes. Stir the food halfway through the cooking time. 

More Costco copycat recipes

• Chicken Bake
• Quinoa Salad

Love mac and cheese? Try these recipes!

• Boston Market Mac and Cheese
• Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Luby’s Mac and Cheese
• Sausage Mac and Cheese
• Spicy Mac and Cheese
• Stouffer’s Mac and Cheese
• Sweetie Pie Mac and Cheese

Favorite DIY recipes

• Boursin Cheese
• Brekki Overnight Oats
• Pepperoni Hot Pockets

Check out more of my DIY recipes and the best recipes for side dishes on CopyKat!

Costco Mac and Cheese

You can make macaroni and cheese like Costco with this copycat recipe.

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Costco Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 6

Calories: 710kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• 1 pound cavatappi pasta
• 1/4 cup butter
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Cook the pasta al dente in salted water according to the package directions. Drain, but do not rinse.
• While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly add the flour and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
• In a small bowl, combine the milk, cream, salt, and pepper. Pour the mixture into the saucepan in a slow, steady stream, stirring constantly. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the Parmesan and Romano cheeses, stirring until melted. If desired, add additional salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the cooked pasta to the saucepan and stir to coat.
• Transfer to a 13×9-inch baking dish and top with the grated cheddar cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories: 710kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 678mg | Potassium: 412mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1280IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 470mg | Iron: 1mg