Mac and cheese is honestly the best — hearty, comforting, and oh-so-satisfying.

And while I’m not one to shy away from a big bowl of mac & cheese for dinner, it is often served with accompaniments (or even as a side itself).

It’s hard to go wrong with something as delicious as mac and cheese, but there are certain pairings that can upgrade your meal to the next level.

I’ve gathered all of my favorites in this list when it comes to what to serve with mac and cheese, including:

Jump to:

• Meats & BBQ
• Breads
• Salads & Vegetables
• Soups
• Desserts & Sweets
• Drinks
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Ready to get your menu sorted? Let’s get into it!

Meats & BBQ

BBQ Ribs

If you're wondering what goes with mac and cheese for dinner, these juicy, easy-to-pull-apart ribs pair so well with mac and cheese!

Their smoky, hearty flavor complements the creamy, more subtle palette of the beloved pasta dish — making you want more of both!

This recipe uses both a complex dry rub (with spices and brown sugar sweetness) and homemade barbecue sauce!

Going the extra mile by making your own sauce is 100% worth it, and only takes about five minutes!

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Onion Bombs

Another barbecue delight is this crazy side dish! If you’re a carnivore (as I am), this recipe is for you.

Inside an outer shell of BBQ sauce-slathered, crispy bacon, you’ll find a perfect layer of crunchy, caramelized onion which is then finished with a decadent and flavorful ground beef meatball.

And just when you think it can’t get any better, you’ll hit the gooey, melted cheese core.

Pairing these bombs with mac and cheese is the ultimate indulgent and delicious meal!

Cracker Barrel Meatloaf

Craving Cracker Barrel, or just looking for a really good meatloaf? This recipe is the way to go!

It makes a perfectly tender and moist meatloaf that still doesn’t just fall to bits when you slice it.

This loaf pairs well with mac and cheese as it has a firm bite, savory flavor, and is just straight-up scrumptious!

Grilled Chicken Tenders

Mac and cheese with chicken tenders was my go-to meal growing up, so it had to have a spot on this list. There’s just something so pleasant, homey, and comforting about the combo!

These chicken tenders aren’t just straight from the kid’s menu though. They’re marinated in garlic, lemon, olive oil, pepper, Italian seasoning, and paprika — giving them a complex, zesty flavor.

These tenders are quick and easy to make, and they’re a great choice for a lighter option to pair with your decadent, fatty mac!

Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin

On a list of what to eat with mac and cheese, this pork tenderloin is a can’t-miss!

The honey in the sauce gives it just the right level of sweetness, as well as making it glossy and a little bit sticky (in a good way)

The meat is cooked in a dish with the sauce, infusing it with garlicky savory flavor as well and the honey notes.

One tip for this recipe is to make sure to pour your sauce around the tenderloins before baking (or put the sauce in the dish first) rather than putting the sauce all over them.

Putting sauce on top of the meat before cooking prevents browning, so it’s better to drizzle it over once the dish has cooked instead!

Brisket

What meat goes well with mac and cheese? This lean, dry-rubbed brisket!

It’s smoky, salty, and has a nice bite to it while still staying tender.

What more could you want?

This recipe takes a little more time than some of the others in the list, but it’s mostly just leaving it in the oven and letting it rest!

Prep is only five minutes at most, so you won’t need to be standing at the stove all day.

That also makes this brisket a great option for parties or gatherings, as you can serve everyone from one dish rather than making individual servings.

Gourmet Hot Dogs

Another party favorite is these gourmet hot dogs!

They’re super easy to make — simply grill them up like any other hot dogs.

However, the secret is in the toppings. Having a great condiment selection is what takes your BBQ from basic to blast off!

Plus, you can set up a fun topping bar and have your guests create their own.

Topping ideas include caramelized onions, pickle spears, smoked or sauteed peppers, pickled jalapenos, crispy bacon, and pico de gallo.

You can also include cheese or cheese sauce if you want to double down alongside your mac and cheese!

Pepperjack, Swiss, and good ol’ fashioned cheddar are great choices for topping your hot dogs!

Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

This is the last pulled pork recipe you’re ever going to need. Seriously, it’s that good!

Dr. Pepper adds a super subtle, syrupy sweetness that’s not overpowering and makes cooking up a killer barbecue sauce so easy! You can also make the sauce ahead for faster prep on the day.

You can serve this pulled pork on burger buns with some coleslaw or other veggie if you’re looking to keep it classic.

But if you’re looking for something new, try it on top of your mac and cheese!

That way, you get the smoky BBQ goodness and creamy gooey cheesiness in every bite.

Do you have vegetarian guests attending?

You can also make a close mock pulled pork using shredded jackfruit!

Meatballs

If you want some extra protein to turn your mac and cheese into a fuller meal, try these scrumptious meatballs!

They keep things pretty traditional, using sausage, beef, eggs, milk, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings; some things are classics for a reason.

If you’re feeling hungry, prep these meatballs with marinara sauce and make some subs to serve alongside your pasta.

You can also top your mac and cheese with the meatballs, though I prefer to break them up a bit for better distribution.

When looking for what protein goes with mac and cheese, these meatballs are a delicious option that complement the flavors perfectly

Sloppy Joe

If you’re not feeling meatball subs, sloppy joes are another excellent sandwich choice to serve with mac and cheese.

This recipe is so flavorful as it uses plenty of garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic and onion powder, and black pepper.

It uses ground beef as the meat, but you can sub turkey if you want!

This recipe only takes twenty minutes, so you can whip it up while your mac and cheese is in the oven.

If you’re not feeling like bread, the meat can also be mixed straight into the pasta!

Pigs in a Blanket

Looking for some spectacular finger food? You’ll never go wrong with pigs in a blanket!

The combination of savory cocktail sausages (although I’ve been known to cut up cooked hot dogs in a pinch) with the buttery, flakey crescent pastry dough is just so satisfying.

This recipe is great because there’s so little prep required and it uses canned dough — though you can of course make your own if you’re feeling fancy!

The cook time is only fifteen minutes, and these little piggies are always such a hit at parties or even as a lowkey dinner made extra special when served with mac and cheese!

Little Smokies

If you’ve got extra cocktail weenies left over from your pigs in a blanket or prefer to double up on your meat, these little smokies are the perfect bite of savory, sweet, bacony goodness.

All you need to do to make them is wrap your sausages in bacon, secure them with a toothpick, and coat them in brown sugar. Then, pop them in the oven for around thirty minutes!

It’s simple to prepare and is sure to be devoured as soon as they’re cool enough to eat (be careful as the sugar can be quite hot).

I sometimes find that I end up with spare bacon or weenies if my ratio isn’t quite right.

If this happens to you, try cooking the bacon until it’s close to burnt, then crumbling it on top of your mac and cheese!

The extra sausage is amazing when cut into coins and stirred in as well.

Breads

Trader Joe's Copycat Cornbread

I’ve tried a lot of excellent cornbreads in my time, but I keep coming back to the one from Trader Joe’s.

This recipe is much cheaper than buying the bread, and (in my opinion) even tastier!

It’s a great choice with mac and cheese, especially if you’re going Southern-style or having a barbecue.

Homemade Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is a go-to side for any pasta dish, but with mac and cheese, it just amps up the delicious indulgence.

This recipe isn’t your average pre-made garlic bread — but trust me, the couple of added steps are so worth it!

It uses fresh garlic and parsley, high-quality butter, and a little bit of salt, and it only takes about twenty minutes altogether.

I tend to reduce the salt slightly and use salted butter to ensure it’s evenly distributed, but you should play around with this recipe and make it your own!

You can even top your garlic bread with extra cheese if you just can’t get enough.

Salads & Vegetables

Southern Baked Beans

These baked beans are bursting with Southern flavor and complement the milder mac and cheese so well!

Their kick comes from chili powder while their depth and sweetness is from the combination of onion, bacon, garlic, BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and liquid smoke.

If you want to keep things meat-free, it’s okay to omit the bacon. I’d just add a little extra liquid smoke, some butter, salt, and paprika to compensate for the loss of fat and umami!

Roasted Broccoli

This veggie medley uses broccoli, green beans, and zucchini as well as sesame seeds; it’s a lighter (but still super tasty) side to your mac and cheese!

If you’d rather do a pasta bake than a side, you can also reduce the roasting time and stir the veggies into your mac.

I might swap out the sesame seeds for bread crumbs or omit them entirely if I combined my veggies, but that’s totally up to you!

Roasted Lemon and Cherry Tomato Salad

This salad is unique — and a total game-changer!

You roast lemon slices (after blanching), which leads to a softer, more palatable flavor that stays citrusy and zesty without being too sour.

Combining the cooked lemon slices with fresh cherry tomatoes, parsley, mint, red onions, and red wine vinegar leads to a light and bright side salad that is the perfect accompaniment to the heavier mac and cheese dish.

Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic

Green beans might be the go-to vegetable side for mac and cheese. They’re light, delicious, fun to eat, and so easy to prepare.

This recipe keeps it simple: all you need are green beans, garlic, and oil, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Sometimes all that’s required next to a complex and decadent mac and cheese is a fresh and garlicky green bean!

Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts are an underappreciated veggie in my book. Too many soggy, smelly sprouts when I was a kid led to me ignoring their potential.

However, these sprouts are nothing short of delicious! Roasting keeps the veggies soft, crisp, and dry, with distinct layers that you can fill with flavor.

This recipe uses balsamic, olive oil, and honey to make simple sweet sprouts that will shine as a side. They go especially well with sharper mac and cheese.

Red Cabbage Slaw

This easy slaw is bright and colorful, and will be the star of any barbecue even as a simple side dish!

It uses red cabbage, carrot, chili, green onion, and parsley to keep things light and flavorful.

I prefer this recipe to other slaws when I’m accompanying mac and cheese as it uses oil rather than mayo — keeping things fresh and crunchy.

While I love a creamy dish, there can be too much of a good thing!

Grilled Bell Peppers

These peppers are sweet and smoky and come together in about ten minutes. What’s not to like?

Serve them as a veggie side for your mac and cheese, cut up and stirred in, or as a sandwich topping for a meat accompaniment.

They’re even more convenient if you’re already having a barbecue or using the grill for some part of your meal!

I like to use a couple of different colors of bell peppers for variety (and to make things pretty).

Soups

Spiced Lentils Soup

Try serving your mac and cheese alongside these spicy lentils!

There’s a lovely contrast in flavor and texture between the two, and this soup adds veggies and healthy proteins to your meal.

Chili

If you’re gunning for the king of the cookout, go all out and serve chili and mac and cheese!

This classic Southern chili can be made in a slow cooker, so it’s super easy and you won’t need to stand there stirring the day away.

Plus it’s packed full of flavor and prize-winning ingredients - you’ve got this! Bonus points if you whip up a cornbread as well.

Desserts & Sweets

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

This dessert is a bit of a throwback, but it’s still a favorite!

You can make it using canned fruit and panty ingredients, so no slicing is required!

Salted Apple Crisp

Tart apples are known for how well they pair with cheese, why not take full advantage and follow your mac with this delicious crisp?

It’s sweet, tart, buttery, and just a little salty — you’ll be finishing your meal off right.

Brown Sugar Brownies

You can never go wrong with brownies.

This recipe elevates homemade brownies by using brown sugar, giving it a slightly more complex, homey sweetness that’s sure to leave you and your guests satisfied.

Drinks

We don’t have too much space today to go over exactly what to drink with mac and cheese, but all four categories below are great options!

1. Wine (Chardonnay White wine)

Dry or sweet white wine goes amazingly with rich cheesy dishes!

1. Beer

You can’t go wrong with beer! Keep them light, simple, and ice cold for the best complement to mac and cheese.

1. Dry Cider

If you want something a little sweeter, crisp apple cider is the perfect pairing.

1. Iced Tea

You don’t need booze to have a delicious drink. Iced tea is sweet, refreshing, and pairs especially well with Southern-style mac!

📖 Recipe