7 Creative Ingredients to Upgrade Your Gourmet Mac and Cheese

In many food surveys, both older and younger folks rank mac and cheese as one of their favorite foods. 

Which makes it a true family favorite for mealtimelog/2021/8/16/why-busy-families-should-hire-a-personal-chef. 

But if you want mac and cheese that is far from boxed–something that has “grown up” a little bit–you need gourmet mac and cheese. And it is easier to do than you think. 

You have to begin with the right cheeses, of course. Gouda, gruyere, and cheddar are the go-tos. We don’t stray much from these three varieties much at La Bonne Vie either because… well… they’re the best! But you can play a lot with flavor profiles with just these three types! From sharp to mild to nutty to sweet–these cheeses are incredibly versatile. 

But while cheeses are the heart of any good mac and cheese dish, we like to go a step further. 

These flavors are some of our favorite “secret” ingredients we love to include in our gourmet mac & cheese parties. 

Which one will you try?

Easy additions to make the perfect gourmet mac & cheese

Hatch Chiles

Hatch chiles are the perfect pairing for mac and cheese (it is no wonder Trader Joe’s dupe recipes abound on the internet!). For this, it is easier to use frozen or otherwise “already-prepared” Hatch chiles. Bake or stir them right in for a flavor profile that is oh-so-smoky, savory, and just the right amount of spicy. 

Double-Smoked Bacon

Throw away the diet plan, folks! Crispy, double-smoked bacon piles on the savory goodness and flavor–and it's well worth the calories. 

Smoked Paprika

Want to elevate a bland cheese sauce? Add a bit of paprika. The spice complements cheese sauces perfectly. 

Truffle Oil

There is nothing as decadent as a bit of truffle oil added to your mac and cheese. The earthy, nutty taste is simply decadent. 

Fresh Chives

Fresh chives add not only add a delicious and healthy herb to your classic dish–but a bit of color too! 

Dill Pickles 

Yes, pickles! Pickles and cheese are the ultimate made in heaven. But tasting is believing. Trust us; once you’ve tried our Dill Pickle & Ranch Mac and Cheese, you’ll never go back to the basic stuff. 

Ranch Dressing

The tanginess of ranch dressing spices is the perfect complement to the sharpness of the cheddar. 

Tried one of the above on your mac and cheese? Take a pic, tag us on Instagram @lbvcooking and let us know what you think! 

FAQs About Mac And Cheese

We couldn’t let you go without answering some of the questions we get asked most often as professional chefs… so without further ado, here are a few FAQs about your fave comfort food!

Can dogs eat mac and cheese?

We wish pups could share the one-of-a-kind experience of eating a good bowl of mac and cheese. Unfortunately, it is best not to feed your dogs mac and cheese–their tummies aren’t built to handle the lactose found in dairy products.

Can cats eat mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese in its simplest form is not toxic to your cat–but it certainly isn’t good for them either. And if you’ve included spices like garlic or onion in your recipe, that’s bad news bears, because those ingredients are toxic to cats. Best steer clear of feeding mac and cheese to your feline friends.

Can you make mac and cheese without milk?

You can definitely make mac and cheese without milk! Both coconut milk and almond milk are great substitutes—oat milk tends to clump up too much.

Can you freeze mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese can certainly be frozen–it is a great dish to make in bulk and then pop into an air-tight container in the freezer. If you plan to do this, it is best to prepare for extra sauce from the beginning (or choose a mac and cheese recipe that is extra creamy). This makes the reheating process go much smoother later on–and results in reheated pasta that isn’t too dry.

How to keep mac and cheese warm…

The only thing worse than bad mac and cheese is a phenomenal gourmet mac and cheese past its prime. Make sure your culinary masterpiece is kept warm the right way so that it stays safe not only for consumption–but for your tastebuds. The best way to do this? Your slow cooker! Just add a splash of cream from time to time to keep your mac and cheese moist.

How long can mac and cheese sit out?

Mac and cheese is the same as any other perishable food–you shouldn't leave it sitting out at room temperature for longer than two hours. Anything past this and the food could become unsafe to eat–not to mention just plain gross!

We hope our round-up of gourmet mac and cheese ingredients and tips helps you indulge in one of the world’s most popular dishes.  

If you want to try all of these mac and cheese variations (but don’t want to put in the work), why not let someone else do the cooking? 

The cheesy, gooey possibilities are endless. We invite you to explore them with us.  

We love making things like mac and cheese from scratch because we believe that natural ingredients are the best ingredients. But not everyone has time to make homemade comfort foods. If you want to add a healthy lineup to your daily meals, and you live in the Lexington, Kentucky, or surrounding areas, check out our meal delivery services! 

And if you live elsewhere in the country, definitely give a local chef a try! They know local ingredients where you live better than any mass-produced meal kit service ever could.