One of our favorite lunch spots is a wood-fire pizza place that makes a favorite amongst kids and adults alike. You guessed it… macaroni and cheese. They simply put macaroni and cheese on a pizza crust and bake it all up. The kids eat it up like candy.
Shake up family pizza night with this funky flavored macaroni and cheese pizza! This fun dish combines two American favorites—pizza and macaroni and cheese—into one epic dinnertime mashup experience!
Do you have a mac & cheese lover? Try my Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, Campfire Mac & Cheese, or Jalapeño Popper Mac & Chz for a new favorite!
It’s true that this is a pretty carb-heavy dish; however, it’s perfect to make for special occasions or as a “splurge” meal that the whole family can enjoy together. The hearty nature of the pasta pairs well with the gooey cheese sauce and the chewy pizza dough. When finished off with a couple of handfuls of crispy bacon, macaroni and cheese pizza becomes a dish that is not only rich and delicious but unique and fun.
What’s in Macaroni and Cheese Pizza?
- Premade Pizza Dough—You can buy premade pizza dough at most grocery stores or use your favorite recipe for homemade pizza dough.
- Precooked Bacon—Raw bacon that you chopped and cooked yourself or store-bought precooked bacon will both work to add a nice crunchy texture to this otherwise chewy pizza.
- Cooked Pasta—Elbow macaroni is my pasta of choice for this recipe; however, any shape or type of pasta will do! Just make sure that it’s fully cooked before adding it to your pizza.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese—This tangy, creamy cheese will be the base of your pasta sauce and will bring a lot of flavor to your finished dish.
- Butter and Flour—When combined correctly, the butter and flour in this recipe are used to form a roux that will eventually thicken your cheese sauce.
- Milk—Milk is used in this recipe to add body to and thin out your gooey cheese sauce.
- Spices—Chili powder and paprika add a little kick to the creamy and rich flavor profile of your macaroni and cheese pizza.
- Favorite additional toppings — Add your favorite toppings like green onions, mushrooms, olives
How do I make Macaroni and Cheese Pizza?
- Prep your ingredients and preheat your oven. If you haven’t already, begin by making your pizza dough, cooking your bacon, and boiling your pasta. You’ll also want to preheat your oven to 500°F—this will take a while, so don’t save this step for later!
- Prep your ingredients and preheat your oven. If you haven’t already, begin by making your pizza dough, cooking your bacon, and boiling your pasta. You’ll also want to preheat your oven to 500°F—this will take a while, so don’t save this step for later!
- Make your cheese sauce. Melt butter into a small saucepan. Once the butter is melted, add your flour and whisk until a thick paste forms. Slowly add your milk, a little bit at a time, allowing the mixture to get thick again before adding more liquid. Once you have a creamy white sauce, add your shredded cheese, chili powder, and paprika and mix until the cheese is melted and everything is thoroughly combined.
- Roll out your dough and top your pizza. Once your sauce is done, take it off the heat and add it to your cooked pasta. On a floured surface roll out your pizza dough and transfer to your pizza pan. Top your pizza with your mac and cheese and bacon. Optional… add mozzarella cheese to the top.
- Bake your pizza. Place your pizza into your 500°F oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the crust is firm to the touch.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy! Top your pizza with dried oregano or basil. Give your finished pizza a few minutes to cool before slicing, serving, and digging in! Serve with Parmesan cheese and crushed red peppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes well with Macaroni and Cheese Pizza?
Since macaroni and cheese pizza is a carb-heavy dish, I recommend serving it with lighter and side dishes with more nutrition. My family enjoys this dish with a light side salad, but it also pairs very well with steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or glazed baby carrots.
Can I make Macaroni and Cheese Pizza ahead of time?
Absolutely! There are a couple of different ways to do this. One way is by prepping all your ingredients ahead of time. For example, you can make your dough and cheese sauce and cook your pasta and bacon ahead of time and store in the fridge in separate airtight containers until you’re ready to assemble your pizza.
Additionally, you can even construct your pizza and keep it in the fridge for up to two hours before simply popping the whole thing into your oven to bake. Just be sure to start preheating your oven about an hour before you plan to bake your macaroni and cheese pizza!
Can I make Macaroni and Cheese Pizza in the Air Fryer?
Yes! Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Next, roll your dough out onto a pizza pan small enough to fit inside your air fryer basket. Top your personal-sized pizza with your homemade macaroni and cheese and bacon and air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes. Your pizza should come out delightfully crispy and chewy!
How to Store Leftover Macaroni and Cheese Pizza?
Simply place any leftover macaroni and cheese pizza slices in an airtight container or wrap them in some tinfoil and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to reheat your pizza, simply place a slice or two in a pan, on the stove, over medium heat. Let cook for a few minutes until the crust becomes crispy again. Once the crust is your preferred texture, add a few tablespoons of water to the hot pan and quickly cover with a lid. The steam will melt your cheese sauce, leaving you with a leftover slice of macaroni and cheese pizza that tastes just as good as when it was freshly baked.
One of the best parts about macaroni and cheese pizza is that it’s very quick to make, especially if you prep some of your ingredients ahead of time. I love delicious recipes that are prepped in under 30 min! Plus you most likely already have all of the ingredients you’ll need to make macaroni and cheese pizza sitting in your fridge and pantry right now!
Macaroni and Cheese Pizza Recipe
Ingredients
- Enough premade pizza dough to make 1 large pizza
- 6 slices precooked bacon
- 8 oz. precooked pasta
- 2-3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 500°F
- In a saucepan, melt your butter over medium heat and add to it your flour. Whisk together until a thick paste forms.
- A little bit at a time, add your milk to your butter and flour mixture. Each time, let the mixture thicken again before adding more milk.
- Once you have a thick, creamy white sauce, add your cheddar cheese and allow to melt.
- Add your paprika and chili powder to your cheese sauce and stir to combine.
- Add your cooked pasta to your cheese sauce and stir until all of the noodles are coated.
- Roll your pizza dough onto your pan and top with your macaroni and cheese and bacon.
- Place your pizza into your 500°F oven and bake for 8 minutes or until the crust is firm to the touch.
- Slice your pizza, serve, and enjoy!
GAH. I’m in love… whenever I order mac and cheese pizza, I always wish there was more mac and cheese and less bread. Wishes be gone! Delish!