A little reason to celebrate
National Mac and Cheese Day
Food ยท July 14
A food day for macaroni and cheese, the baked or stovetop pasta dish of elbow noodles in a creamy cheese sauce, loved across the United States.
National Mac and Cheese Day falls on Wednesday, July 14, 2027. That is 260 days away.
Macaroni and cheese is pasta, usually short elbow noodles, folded into a sauce of melted cheese. That is nearly the whole recipe, and it has fed a great many Americans on weeknights, at potlucks and beside holiday hams.
It comes in two broad styles. The stovetop kind is quick and loose, the sauce clinging to every curve of the noodle. The baked kind goes into a dish, often under a layer of breadcrumbs or extra cheese, and comes out with a firm, golden top that people quietly compete for at the table. Many home versions start with a roux of butter and flour, then milk, then cheese stirred in until smooth.
Cheddar is the familiar choice, and its sharpness keeps the dish from tasting flat. Cooks also mix in Gruyere, Monterey Jack or a little cream cheese for extra silkiness. Some add mustard powder or a pinch of paprika, which wake up the flavor without announcing themselves.
People mark the day by making a pan from scratch, ordering it at a barbecue joint or soul food restaurant, or reviving the boxed version they grew up eating. Add-ins are their own conversation: bacon, broccoli, jalapenos, lobster or a spoonful of hot sauce. Every family seems to have a rule about whether peas belong.
One kitchen habit helps any version. Cook the pasta a minute short, since it keeps softening once it meets the hot sauce.
Ways to celebrate
- Make a baked macaroni and cheese with a crisp breadcrumb topping.
- Try a cheese you have never used in it before.
- Share a family mac and cheese recipe with a friend.
- Compare a stovetop version and a baked version side by side.
- Look for mac and cheese on a local restaurant menu.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, July 14 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, July 14 |
| 2028 | Friday, July 14 |
| 2029 | Saturday, July 14 |
| 2030 | Sunday, July 14 |
Also on July 14
Categories: Food days