Outback Steakhouse Mac-A-Roo from the kids’ menu is so popular because it’s creamy, comforting, and a wonderful choice for children dining at the restaurant. This copycat Mac-A-Roo recipe is often requested by parents who want to recreate this kid favorite at home. It only takes about 30 minutes to make at home
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What makes the Outback Macaroni and Cheese so good?Â
Outback Steakhouse serves many fantastic menu items, so who would order the Mac-A-Roo from the kids’ menu? Plenty of families with children. And why not, when it tastes this amazingly rich and creamy, yet perfectly mild for young palates?
But if you don’t want to skip your tried and true favorites on the next visit to the restaurant, try making this Outback Mac-A-Roo recipe at home.
Outback Mac A Roo Ingredients
To make steakhouse mac and cheese Outback style, you’ll need:
- Penne pasta or macaroni – Provides the perfect base that holds the creamy cheese sauce in every bite
- Velveeta cheese – Creates the signature smooth, creamy texture without any graininess or separation issues
- Heavy cream – Adds luxurious creaminess and helps achieve the perfect sauce consistency
That’s it! You will love this recipe as much as your kids do.
Ingredient Notes
Penne, shells, elbow macaroni noodles, and rigatoni pasta are popular choices, but you can use any short pasta you prefer.
You may want to substitute the heavy cream for half-and-half or even milk to reduce fat and calories.Â
How to Make Outback Steakhouse Mac and Cheese
To make Outback Steakhouse mac and cheese:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Cook the pasta according to the package’s instructions. You may want to add 30 or 60 seconds to the cooking time, as this recipe works best when the pasta is slightly softer than al dente.Â
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the Velveeta into small cubes.
- Set a small saucepan over low heat on the stovetop to warm.
- Add the Velveeta cheese cubes to the saucepan.
- Pour in the heavy cream.
- Stir or whisk continuously until the cheese fully melts.
- Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and return it to the large pot.Â
- Pour the sauce over the pasta and stir to combine.
- Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to cut the Velveeta into small pieces to make it easier to melt in the saucepan.
- While melting the cheese and heavy cream together, keep the heat on low to prevent it from boiling or burning.
- Make a big batch of the Mac and Cheese because it reheats nicely for other meals.
What to serve with Mac and Cheese
This Outback mac and cheese recipe can serve as both a side dish and a main course. Pair with fried chicken or grilled meat for a hearty meal, or enjoy with a side salad or steamed vegetables for something a little lighter
Storage & reheating instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: You can keep Outback Mac-A-Roo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days
- Reheating Method: Add a splash of milk to the thawed Mac-A-Roo and stir. Cover with a paper towel and heat on HIGH for 60 seconds. Stir and check the temperature. If the Mac-A-Roo isn’t warm enough, heat for another 30 seconds, and repeat as necessary
- Freezing: If you want to save it for longer, try freezing leftovers for up to three months. A good hint is putting the Mac-A-Roo in a single-serving microwavable container and then wrapping well in plastic and aluminum foil
Do you love Outback Steakhouse? Make your favorites at home!
Be sure to check out these copycat Outback Steakhouse recipes that taste just like they do at the restaurant.
- How to Make a Bloomin’ Onion
- Onion Ring Dip for Bloomin’ Onion
- Copycat Chicken Quesadilla
- Alice Chicken Outback Recipe
- Dill Sauce for Steak
- Salt Baked Potatoes
- Outback Cinnamon Butter and Sweet Potato
More Cheesy Side Dish Recipes
Because everyone loves cheese!
- Cheesy Creamed Corn
- Cheese Broccoli
- Cheesy Cauliflower
- Crockpot Bacon Cheese Potatoes
- Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Instant Potatoes
- Swiss Cheese Asparagus Casserole
Take a look at more of my copycat Outback Steakhouse recipes and easy side dish recipes too.
Outback Mac and Cheese – Mac-A-Roo
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry penne pasta
- 8 ounce Velveeta cheese cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Cut the Velveeta into small cubes so it can melt easily.
- In a small saucepan, combine cubed Velveeta cheese and heavy cream.
- Turn the heat to low. Cook and stir until all the cheese is melted.
- Reduce the heat to simmer until you are ready to combine with the pasta.
- Once pasta is done, drain and pour it back into the pot where it was cooked.
- Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and stir to coat the pasta with the sauce.
Video
Notes
- Make sure you cut the Velveeta into small pieces to make it easier to melt in the saucepan.
- While melting the cheese and heavy cream together, keep the heat on low. You will not want this to boil or burn.
- Make a big batch of the mac and cheese – it will never go to waste and it re-heats nicely for other meals.
This one is one of your few that is wrong for the side of Mac and cheese. It has bread crumbs and more seasoning. This may be the kid re open but it’s not what comes as a side.
Thank you for letting me know, I will have to try another Outback. My location does not distinguish the two. I appreciate the heads up.
They took this kind off of the menu! I love this recipe. I do not like the outback mac they have now. It’s the baked steakhouse mac and it is NOT anything like this – very dry and bland. I am not a huge fan of dry mac (basically any baked mac).
Ok, good to know. I’ll have to go back soon.
Thank you for having the old school recipe!!! I’m 27 and as a kid the Mac and cheese was always my favorite, it used to come in a huge bowl, now it’s only on the kids menu, and so much less. I was absolutely devastated when I took my son there and found they change it. So thank you for the REAL recipe and the nostalgia. It was delicious, and so much better then what they have now!
Yes!!! This is the old recipe and we made it and were so excited. It tastes exactly like the one from when I was little. Makes me think of my childhood.
well i ate at the outback on 71st in tulsa for 14 years. saw the prices go up and the portions go down. i also had seniority over the manager.
funny though, they called this “kidsmac”.
I worked at outback for 13 years, and my husband was the kitchen manger. This is exactly how they made it. Nothing spicy, etc!
So delicious and simple to make! Kids kept asking for more and more.
Thank you.
We loved it! Just made it for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. Thank you for sharing!!
Taking anything out of waitstaff pockets is a nasty form of robbery. If you can’t leave a 20% tip don’t eat out!
Well a 20% tip is something that should be earned. Don’t have the attitude that you deserve 20% right off the bat. I agree that people shouldn’t be leaving no tip but it’s obnoxious to expect 20%, regardless of service. I tip based on service (10%- poor; 15%- average; 18%- good; 20%- excellent).
Sorry this receipe is not correct….They hardly put a ton of cheese and they put this distinct seasoning on it to make it spicy but it delicious. The mac and cheese did not look like there was velveeta cheese nor heavy cream on it. I was there last week.
That is because this is the old BETTER recipe. I have been a customer at Outback since I was 4 and I am now 20 and am very disappointed that they changed the recipe.
Exactly, Katie!
It was my favorite food up until they changed it.
Very disappointed with the new mac and cheese…
Can’t believe the recipe is so simple!
Why would they change it when it was already amazing and I’m sure way simpler than the new stuff?!?!
Anyway, thanks Stephanie!
You a have restored a very small but important piece of my childhood. ♡
Order the kids macaroni the new one is indeed different. But the kids Mac a roo ni is what you’re thinking of.
Same! This recipe is THE classic old school Outback mac a roo n cheese that I remember. Outback circa late 1990s-early 2000s. Thank you!
This is the old recipe! My dad used to own an Outback Steakhouse and this is exactly how it was made! Way better then
This recipe is great. I salt the water to add a bit of flavor to the noodles. I also found the sauce was a little thick for my liking so I added a bit of milk, and it is great! Thanks for posting.
Velveeta cheese? Wow, what a disappointment!!
Have you tried their Macaroni and Cheese? I think everything has its place, even Velveeta.