Costco Mac and Cheese Easy Copycat Recipe – Rich & Creamy

There’s something magical about walking through Costco and spotting that golden pan of mac and cheese in the prepared foods section. The rich, creamy sauce clinging to perfectly cooked cavatappi pasta, topped with bubbling cheddar cheese. It’s comfort food at its finest, feeding a crowd without breaking the bank. Now you can skip the warehouse lines and create this beloved family favorite right in your own kitchen.

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What makes Costco Mac and Cheese so good? 

Costco’s mac and cheese stands out because of its luxurious three-cheese sauce made with parmesan, romano, and cheddar. The combination of whole milk and heavy cream creates incredible richness, while the cavatappi pasta’s corkscrew shape holds onto every bit of that creamy goodness. The final baking step creates a golden, slightly crispy top while keeping the interior perfectly creamy.

Ingredients you will need 

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

• Cavatappi pasta – The corkscrew shape captures and holds the cheese sauce better than traditional elbow macaroni
• Garlic – Adds aromatic depth and savory complexity to the cheese sauce base
• All-purpose flour – Creates the roux that thickens the sauce to the perfect creamy consistency
• Whole milk – Provides the liquid base with richness while keeping the sauce smooth and creamy
• Heavy whipping cream – Adds luxurious richness and prevents the sauce from breaking during baking
• Salt – Enhances all flavors and balances the richness of the cheese and cream
• Fresh ground black pepper – Provides gentle heat and aromatic complexity
• Unsalted butter – Creates the roux base and adds essential richness to the sauce
• Parmesan cheese (grated) – Contributes a sharp, nutty flavor and helps create the signature taste profile
• Romano cheese (grated) – Adds tangy, salty depth that complements the parmesan perfectly
• Cheddar cheese (grated) – Provides the classic mac and cheese flavor and creates the golden bubbly top

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. 

Storage & Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator Storage: Store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days in airtight containers
• Reheating Method: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, covered with foil. Add a splash of milk if needed to restore creaminess. Stir halfway through reheating time
• Freezing: Freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Frozen portions reheat in the oven for 40-45 minutes

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 & Cheese – Easy Copycat Recipe

Recreate Costco's famous rich and creamy mac and cheese at home! Three-cheese sauce with cavatappi pasta. Perfect family-friendly comfort food.

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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