- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- CheeseComfort FoodCooking
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 14
- Holiday emoji:
- 🧀
National Mac and Cheese Day melts hearts every July 14, celebrating America’s beloved comfort food. From classic baked casseroles to gourmet creations, there’s a cheesy delight for everyone. Gather your friends and family, whip up your favorite recipe, and share your cheesy creations online!
Want to sponsor National Mac and Cheese Day? Learn how
Expected National Mac and Cheese Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Mac and Cheese Day brings out some truly delicious deals. Expect major chains like Panera Bread to offer discounts on their signature Mac & Cheese bowls, while Noodles & Company often provides BOGO offers or free add-ons. Fast-food giants such as KFC and Chick-fil-A might feature their popular mac and cheese sides at reduced prices or as part of combo meals. Local restaurants and specialty cheese shops, including those carrying Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, are also likely to run specials on gourmet versions or offer tasting events. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s could have sales on premium boxed mac and cheese or ingredients for homemade dishes. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 14 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Mac and Cheese Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalMacAndCheeseDay. Share mouth-watering photos and videos of your favorite cheesy creations.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalMacAndCheeseDay. Film quick recipe tutorials, taste tests, or cheesy mukbangs.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalMacAndCheeseDay. Host a poll asking for favorite mac and cheese add-ins or share local restaurant deals.
National Mac and Cheese Day Hero
James Lewis Kraft
National Mac and Cheese Day timeline
Oldest known recipe for mac and cheese is included in the medieval English cookbook "Forme of Cury."
The first macaroni and cheese recipe is published in U.S. cookbook
“The Virginia House-Wife.”
Kraft introduces its boxed Macaroni and Cheese.
Crayola names a new crayon color "Macaroni and Cheese"
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Mac and Cheese Day
Local restaurants and cafes can celebrate National Mac and Cheese Day by offering special menu items, limited-time gourmet mac and cheese bowls, or discounts on their classic versions. Food trucks could create unique, portable mac and cheese fusion dishes to attract customers. Grocery stores can run promotions on cheese, pasta, and other ingredients for homemade recipes, or host in-store tasting events featuring local artisan cheeses. Even non-food businesses could participate by partnering with local eateries for employee appreciation events featuring mac and cheese.
National Mac and Cheese Day FAQs
When is National Mac and Cheese Day?
National Mac and Cheese Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, July 14. It’s the perfect mid-week excuse to indulge in your favorite cheesy dish.
How popular is mac and cheese in the U.S.?
Mac and cheese remains incredibly popular, with surveys consistently showing it as one of America’s top comfort foods. Approximately 60% of Americans consider it their favorite comfort food, consumed by millions weekly.
What are some popular mac and cheese variations?
Beyond the classic cheddar, popular variations include smoked gouda mac, lobster mac and cheese, truffle mac, and spicy jalapeño versions. Many add bacon, breadcrumbs, or different vegetables for extra flavor and texture.
What is the origin of mac and cheese?
The concept of pasta with cheese dates back to 14th-century Italy. While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with introducing it to America, the first modern recipe appeared in Elizabeth Raffald’s 1769 cookbook, ‘The Experienced English Housekeeper.’
National Mac and Cheese Day Activities
Find a food challenge
All over America, restaurants are enticing visitors to taking on food challenges that, if conquered, mean a free meal for those strong enough to finish them. This July 14, try to find a place with a mac and cheese eating challenge, like the Midnight Mac and Cheeserie in Chicago. Here, if you eat five pounds of the house mac and cheese in under an hour, you go down in Chicago cheese-story, not to mention get a free meal and a t-shirt out of it.
Get creative with your recipe
Break from the casserole mold this year and go big. For a fancier dish, try adding caramelized onions and prosciutto. To give it a fiery southwest flavor, toss in some bacon and jalapenos. Or, invite your friends to bring in a recipe of their own, and judge whose is best to determine who’s the big cheese of the evening.
Head to your favorite restaurants
If your local restaurant scene is getting in on the holiday, don’t miss out. Check out if any restaurants in your town are cashing in on the creamy craze, or simply visit a favorite spot and order up a classic.
Why We Love National Mac and Cheese Day
It reminds us of home
If you’re in the midwest, it’s a hotdish. If you live in the northeast, it’s a casserole. Down in the south, it’s a sometimes-spicy side dish that accompanies BBQ right along with potato salad. But wherever you’re from, there’s a version of mac and cheese that you grew up with, and will always taste like home. What do they serve in your neck of the woods?
It’s easy to make
Basic mac and cheese only requires a few ingredients, and most of the magic happens in the oven while you’re enjoying an afternoon drink outside with friends. But, when paired with any meal, it will likely be polished off long before your aunt’s green beans or twice baked potatoes. It’s a dish loved by all ages and is simple to make - why wouldn’t it be your contribution to the summer BBQ?
It’s international
While we often think of mac and cheese as an Italian-turned-American favorite, there are variations on the dish all over the world. In Hong Kong, for instance, it’s common to eat macaroni and cheese for breakfast, doctored up with several ingredients, including peas, ham, mushrooms, and eggs.
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