How to Reheat Mac and Cheese (3 Best Ways)
on Mar 04, 2022, Updated Nov 19, 2023
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Learn How to Reheat Mac and Cheese, so it’s just as tender and creamy as it was the day you made it. Mac and Cheese is a classic favorite among pasta lovers. Its creamy texture and cheesy sauce pair well with a variety of meat and vegetables.
While it’s great to have leftover macaroni and cheese to enjoy later, it can be a challenge to keep it from becoming hard and dried out. You’ll learn all the tips and tricks to reheat mac and cheese like a pro in this post.
How to Reheat Mac and Cheese without Drying it Out
Method 1: Reheating Leftover Mac and Cheese in a Microwave
By following a few steps, you’ll have mac and cheese that’s creamy and tender after just a few minutes in the microwave.
- Place the mac and cheese into a microwave safe container. You only want to reheat the mac and cheese once, so only heat the amount you’re going to eat.
- Add about 1 tablespoon of milk, half-and-half, or cream, (whatever you used when you made the mac and cheese) for each cup of mac and cheese. For extra flavor, you can add grated cheese, diced veggies, or even crumbled bacon. Stir until combined.
- Place the container in the microwave and cover with a plate or a microwave-safe cover. Heat the mac and cheese for one minute and then stir. Continue heating and stirring at 30 second intervals until the mac and cheese is heated through.
Method 2: Reheating Mac and Cheese in the Oven
If you have a lot of mac and cheese to reheat, the oven is your best option.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the mac and cheese into a casserole dish.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of milk, half-and-half, or cream (whatever you used when you made the mac and cheese) for every 1 cup of pasta over the mac and cheese and gently mix. Note that you can skip this step if your mac and cheese has a breadcrumb topping. For extra flavor, you can add grated cheese, diced veggies, or even crumbled bacon.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
Method 3: Reheating Mac and Cheese on the Stove
Use your stove top to reheat mac and cheese in about 10 minutes.
- Place the mac and cheese into a skillet or a saucepan.
- Add 1 tablespoon of milk, half-and-half, or cream (whatever you used when you made the mac and cheese) for every 1 cup of pasta to the mac and cheese and gently mix.
- Reheat the mac and cheese over low to medium heat, stirring frequently but gently for about 10 minutes. Add a touch more milk if needed to keep the pasta moist.
- When the mac and cheese is heated through, remove the pan from the heat and serve.
Tips for Reheating Mac and Cheese without Breaking the Sauce?
You can avoid breaking the sauce by adding one tablespoon of milk, half-and-half, or cream (whatever you used when you made the mac and cheese) for every 1 cup of pasta to the mac and cheese, and then mixing gently to combine.
How to Reheat Frozen Mac and Cheese
If you have a container of mac and cheese in your freezer, you can reheat it in the oven, directly from the freezer without thawing.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Place the frozen mac and cheese into a baking pan uncovered.
- Bake for 1 to 1 ½ hours.
- Check the mac and cheese after it has baked for one hour to see if it’s completely heated through. Return it to the oven if it is not heated through.
- The mac and cheese is done when it’s completely hot and creamy.
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How to Reheat Mac and Cheese (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Ingredients
- 1 cup leftover mac and cheese
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Place the mac and cheese into a microwave safe container.
- Add milk to the container.
- Place the container in the microwave and cover with a plate or a microwave-safe cover.
- Heat the mac and cheese for one minute and then stir. Continue heating and stirring at 30 second intervals until the mac and cheese is heated through.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
