How to Reheat Mac and Cheese (4 Simple Ways)

If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to bookmark this post on how to reheat mac and cheese.

Because for some reason, I always make way too much! But luckily, I have four easy methods to ensure it’s reheats like it was fresh.

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese

Reheating mac and cheese can be tricky business.

In fact, even just a day in the refrigerator can often turn this classic comfort food into a dry pile of goo.

And if you don’t know how to reheat pasta, it can dry it out even further.

So if you have leftover mac and cheese, here’s how to reheat it without drying it out.

Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for every variety of this classic comfort food.

Whether you have the simple stove-top variety, baked macaroni and cheese, or even a casserole, I’ve got you covered!

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese in the Oven

Popping your mac and cheese in the oven is perfect for when you have a lot of it to reheat, like a whole casserole.

It also spreads the heat evenly so you won’t burn that perfectly gooey mac and cheese.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place your mac and cheese in a glass casserole.
3. Pour over whole milk or the same kind of milk you added to your cheese sauce and gently mix it in with your mac and cheese. Use one tablespoon of milk per cup of pasta. If your mac and cheese has a breadcrumb topping, you can skip this step.
4. Cover the dish with foil and leave the mac and cheese in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the foil cover and return the mac and cheese in the over for another 10 minutes.
6. Enjoy a warm bowl of creamy goodness!

If you made your mac and cheese in advance, it’s best to save the toppings for later so you can still add milk before reheating. This is because mac and cheese can dry out in the fridge. Adding milk brings back that creaminess to the dish.

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese in the Microwave

Reheating mac and cheese in the oven can take some time.

So if you’re only reheating a small portion for one or two people, you can also use the microwave.

1. Place your mac and cheese in a microwave-safe container.
2. Add whole milk or the same kind of milk you added to your cheese sauce and gently mix it in with your mac and cheese. Use one tablespoon of milk per cup of pasta.
3. Cover the mac and cheese with a microwave-safe wrap or lid, leaving one corner slightly opened to allow the steam to blow off.
4. Set the microwave to medium setting and heat your mac and cheese for 1 minute.
5. Remove mac and cheese from the microwave and stir. Check if it’s warm enough. If you think it needs more reheating, heat in 30-second intervals until you reach your desired temperature.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Microwave reheating is only recommended if you don’t have 30 minutes for oven reheating.

This is because heat won’t spread as evenly and this can affect the quality of your mac and cheese.

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese on the Stove

Here’s a method that is quicker than oven reheating.

The only downside to reheating your mac and cheese on the stove is that you have to do it perfectly and follow these steps carefully so you don’t end up with burnt mac and cheese!

This works best for small portions.

1. Place your mac and cheese in a saucepan or skillet.
2. Add whole milk or the same kind of milk you added to your cheese sauce and gently mix it in with your mac and cheese. Use one tablespoon of milk per cup of pasta.
3. Over low to medium heat, reheat your mac and cheese while stirring frequently but gently. Slowly add more milk to keep it moist. This will take about 10 minutes.
4. Remove the pan from the heat and serve.

When reheating your mac and cheese on the stove, don’t preheat your pan as this can cause the dish to burn!

It’s also important to constantly but gently stir to distribute heat evenly.

How to Reheat Baked Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is most commonly cooked on a stove top but if you made yours baked, reheating will be slightly different.

The best way to do this is to pop it back in the oven. Follow these steps and it’ll taste just like freshly baked mac and cheese.

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place the mac and cheese in a lightly buttered baking dish and cover with foil.
3. Bake for 20 minutes.
4. Serve.

As with regular mac and cheese, you’ll also want to hold out on the toppings if you know you’ll be reheating it later on.

How to Reheat Mac and Cheese Casserole

When it comes to comfort food, casserole is at the top of the list! And just about anything can be made into a casserole, including the almighty mac and cheese.

Combine your creamy mac with breadcrumbs, extra cheese, and even a little bacon for a cheesy casserole that no one can resist.

So, what’s the best way to reheat a casserole? The oven is almost always your best bet. So no need to learn a new method here. This one is tried and true.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place your mac and cheese in a glass casserole.
3. Once again, add add 1 tablespoon of milk for every cup of mac and cheese casserole. This is the secret to keeping your pasta rich and creamy. But, if your mac and cheese has a breadcrumb topping, you can skip this step. Or add the breadcrumbs seperately.
4. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the foil cover and return the mac and cheese to the over for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is starting to brown.
6. Serve and enjoy!

How to Reheat Frozen Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is PRECIOUS. If you make it at home, you never want to throw out any leftovers. Luckily, you can freeze mac and cheese and reheat it later on, no need for thawing.

This might take some time, but this cheesy dish is always worth the wait!

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Take your mac and cheese from the freezer and place in a baking pan uncovered.
3. Bake for 1 hour to 1 ½ hours.
4. At the one hour mark, take it out of the oven to see if it’s thoroughly heated. You can use a spoon to make sure that the bottom part is also warm.
5. Once your mac and cheese reaches the desired temperature and has a nice creamy texture, it’s ready to serve!

Freezing mac and cheese is an excellent way to save time if you’re having guests over or if you have kids who are always craving some mac!

Mac and Cheese Recipes You Have to Try

Ina Garten Mac and Cheese
Original Kraft Mac and Cheese
Sweetie Pie’s Mac and Cheese
Patti LaBelle’s Mac and Cheese