As you can see, most recipes use salt and pepper! Dry mustard or dijon will enhance the flavour and help cut the creaminess of the dish, making it easier to shovel more mac and cheese into your face. Cayenne pepper does a similar job, but with a bit of added heat. Fresh parsley gets a shoutout for making your baked macaroni and cheese look fancy AF. We recommend always adding salt and pepper, and trying out a combo of the spices listed here to see what you like best!

What Can You Mix In Macaroni and Cheese?

There are a lot of different ingredients you can add to your baked mac and cheese to make it a complete meal. Below are just a few ideas:

Protein:

Shredded Chicken

Crumbled Bacon

Chopped Hot Dogs

Lobster

Vegetables:

Broccoli

Diced Tomatoes

Sauteed Mushrooms

Caramelized Onions

Spinach & Artichokes

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Frozen Peas (Or, you could not.)

Sauces:

Hot Sauce

Ketchup

Ranch Dressing

Other:

Jalapeños

Pesto

Garlic

Cheetos (Don’t. Just don’t.)

This isn’t a comprehensive list, as you can really add anything to mac and cheese, but it will point you in the right direction. Don’t know where to start? If you want to add in some extras, we recommend choosing at least one protein and one vegetable to make a balanced meal. Don’t add too many vegetables — remember, you’re making mac and cheese, not a vegetable medley with noodles!

We think mac and cheese is fine as it is, but if you want to add mix-ins, go for it!

How to Make the Best Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Baked macaroni and cheese can be super simple or super complicated. Ultimately, the best macaroni and cheese recipe is up to your tastes, but we recommend following a few simple (and scientific) guidelines to make great mac and cheese every time: