Skip to Content

Crispy Mac and Cheese

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. View our Privacy Policy.

This Crispy Mac and Cheese recipe is perfectly cheese and has a crunchy topping. Chips are crushed and sprinkled on top of your favorite Velveeta macaroni and cheese recipe.

I am a HUGE Mac n Cheese fan. I grew up in Wisconsin and am all about that cheese and butter. Give me noodles and cheese and/or butter, like in this Garlic Parmesan Noodles Recipe, and I’m a happy gal.

Adding crushed chips on top of macaroni gives it a nice crispy topping. I used Barbecue flavored chips. I love BBQ but it can overpower the macaroni and cheese, when I really want the cheese to be the star. So how do we fix that? Well we just make the toppings BBQ flavored!

BBQ Crusted Mac and Cheese Recipe

Crispy Mac and Cheese Ingredients

To make this easy mac and cheese recipe, you will need the following ingredients (scroll down to the recipe below for precise amounts):

  • shell pasta
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Velveeta Cheese
  • Chips: I used BBQ Chips, but you can use any flavor.

For this recipe you will need a food processor (I use this one and it gets the job done. If you want something more heavy duty, check out this one.)

Crispy Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

How to Make Crispy Macaroni and Cheese

  1. Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Once the noodles are fully cooked, drain and pour prepared noodles in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. No need to grease the dish. Make sure you do not overfill the dish. You do not need to use all of the noodles. Set aside any leftover noodles.
  2. Place the chips in a food processor and process into fine crumbs. Set aside. [If you do not have a food processor, you can use a ladle to smash the chips in the bag into fine pieces.]
  3. Melt down your butter in a skillet. Once melted down, add in your flour and milk, and whisk until smooth.
  4. Add in shredded cheese, and stir until melted and mixed well. Remove from heat. Pour mixture over noodles and stir until mixed well.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven, and dump half of the chip crumbs into mac n cheese and stir until mixed well. Spread evenly throughout dish.
  6. Slice the Velveeta cheese into 1/4 inch thick squares and place on top of the mac n cheese. Reduce oven to 325 degrees, place the dish back in the oven, and bake until cheese is fully melted.
The Best Crispy Mac n Cheese

More Mac and Cheese Recipes

Crispy Mac and Cheese

This Crispy Mac and Cheese recipe is perfectly cheese and has a crunchy topping. Chips are crushed and sprinkled on top of your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Pasta
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 649 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz shells pasta
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz Velveeta cheese
  • 1 bag BBQ chips

Instructions
 

  • Cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Once the noodles are fully cooked, drain and pour prepared noodles in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
  • Place the bag of chips in a food processor and process into fine crumbs. Set aside.
  • Melt down your butter in a skillet.
  • Once melted down, add in your flour and milk, and whisk until smooth.
  • Add in shredded cheese, and stir until melted and mixed well. Remove from heat.
  • Pour mixture over noodles and stir until mixed well.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, and dump half of the BBQ chip crumbs into mac n cheese and stir until mixed well. Spread evenly throughout dish.
  • Slice the Velveeta cheese into 1/4 inch thick squares and place on top of the mac n cheese.
  • Reduce oven to 325 degrees and bake until cheese is fully melted.
  • Remove from oven, stir once more, sprinkle top with remaining BBQ chip crumbs.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 649kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 21gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 810mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 873IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 360mgIron: 2mg

The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.

Tried this recipe?Mention @emilyenchantedfood or tag #emilyenchanted!

The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.

Recipe Rating




Emily Enchanted

Sunday 21st of August 2022

I love this recipe because it just has the right amount of added favor and crunch.