16 recipes that prove you deserve macaroni cheese for dinner

Nici Wickes shares her friend Fiona’s famous mac ‘n’ cheese recipe. This dish is so incredibly creamy and deliciously spiked with mustard that you’ll go back for seconds, and dare we say it, thirds!

Transform this popular hunger fix into a main meal fit for any occasion with the injection of shredded chicken.

The combination of hot, oozy, cheesy pasta and a crunchy toasted bread topping makes this recipe from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘Food For The Soul’ cookbook the ultimate comfort food.

Two comfort food favourites collide in this ribsticking recipe! Classic mac ‘n’ cheese gets an injection of flavour with French onion soup sauce and cheesy breadcrumb topping. It’s a cheat day must!

Macaroni cheese with peas

Super satisfying macaroni and cheese with a fresh twist of tomato and basil.

This recipe is based on a typical Swiss ‘alpine macaroni’. The béchamel sauce stars tasty gruyere cheese, and roasting the apple slices lends sweetness and helps balance out this rich, savoury dish

To make a really stunning mac ‘n’ cheese – one that deserves to be served with Champagne and serviettes – I add wine to the cheese sauce and chilli to the breadcrumb topping.

Give that old kid favourite a twist with the inclusion of veggies and tuna. Macaroni and cheese has never been tastier or more nutritious.

You can use canned tuna instead of salmon. Note

No individual ovenproof dishes? Use a 3-litre (12-cup) baking dish instead. Cooking time will vary. Cook pasta up to a day ahead. Add a little vegetable or olive oil to drained pasta; toss lightly. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

Swap grated cheddar cheese for parmesan. Make ahead: prepare this dish a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Bake close to serving. You’ll need 2 slices of sourdough bread to make crumbs. Note

Crock-pots aren’t just for stews and casseroles – they’re perfect for cooking everyone’s favourite: mac ‘n’ cheese!