Ranch Mac and Cheese

If you’re the type of person who orders a side of ranch with everything, your cheesy pasta dreams are about to come true with ranch mac and cheese. It’s the kind of recipe that understands your soul on a deep, zesty level. Mac and cheese with ranch is what happens when creamy comfort food meets cool, herby perfection. The sauce is silky, rich and just the right amount of tangy, coating every twist of pasta with the flavors of your favorite condiment. The buttery cracker topping gives it crunch, the sour cream adds richness, and the ranch dressing mix ties it all together in a way that’ll make you wonder why you hadn’t thought of this before.

As a self-proclaimed ranch enthusiast who loves any recipe with ranch dressing, I declare my full-throated support for this dish. It’s ideal for family dinners, game nights and those I-deserve-a-carb-based-trophy-for-surviving-today evenings. It’s simple enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough to make you feel like you’ve unlocked a new level of comfort food greatness.

Ingredients for Ranch Mac and Cheese

• Elbow macaroni: This curved pasta shape and its hollow center are ideal for holding onto every bit of the creamy ranch cheese sauce. For a fun twist, try substituting shells or cavatappi pasta—anything with ridges that can trap the sauce will work well.
• Milk: Using 2% milk creates a smooth, balanced sauce that’s creamy but not too heavy. Use whole milk for a richer texture.
• Butter: Cubed butter adds silky richness to the base of the sauce. When melted into the milk, it creates the velvety texture that ties the ranch and cheese flavors together. Stick to unsalted butter; you’ll add salt later.
• Ranch salad dressing mix: One envelope of dry ranch mix infuses the sauce with zesty herbs, onion powder and garlic, giving it that unmistakable ranch tang.
• Seasoning: Garlic salt, garlic pepper blend and lemon-pepper seasoning work together to deepen the overall flavor and balance the richness of the cheese sauce.
• Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey Jack is the perfect melting cheese for this sauce, creating a smooth, creamy base.
• Colby cheese: Colby cheese adds a mellow, buttery flavor and helps achieve that perfect stretchy, cheesy pull when you scoop it up. You can also use Colby Jack for a blend of creaminess and color.
• Sour cream: Stirring sour cream into the sauce at the end adds silky texture and tangy flavor.
• Saltine crackers: Crushed saltines added to the sauce add buttery contrast to the creaminess. Crushed Ritz crackers or panko bread crumbs make great substitutes.
• Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty finish. When sprinkled on top, it melts into a golden layer that seals in flavor and adds a subtle crispness.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the macaroni

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to the package directions until tender.

Editor’s Tip: Save about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining. It’s liquid gold if you need to loosen up your sauce later.

Step 2: Make the ranch cheese sauce

In a Dutch oven, combine the milk, butter, ranch dressing mix, garlic salt, garlic pepper blend and lemon-pepper seasoning. Stir the mixture occasionally until it’s heated through. Add the Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses, stirring until melted.

Editor’s Tip: Keep the heat on medium. If it’s too high, your cheese can turn grainy instead of creamy.

Step 3: Add the sour cream and pasta

Stir in the sour cream. Drain the macaroni and stir it into the cheese sauce with the saltines.

Step 4: Finish it with Parmesan

Sprinkle the mac and cheese with grated Parmesan cheese.

Editor’s Tip: For a crispy top, put the whole dish under the broiler for a few minutes.

Ranch Mac and Cheese Variations

• Add bacon: Add cooked, crumbled bacon for smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with ranch’s tang.
• Choose chicken: Add shredded rotisserie chicken to turn this into a complete meal.
• Go green: Toss in chopped broccoli or peas to sneak in some greens without sacrificing flavor.
• Make mac bites: Spoon the mac into mini muffin tins and bake it for a fun, party-friendly version.
• Crisp up the top: Mix the Parmesan with extra crushed saltines and bake the mac for 15 minutes or until the topping turns golden brown.

How to Store Ranch Mac and Cheese

Store leftover ranch mac and cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Let it cool completely before sealing it, so condensation doesn’t make it soggy.

Can you freeze ranch mac and cheese?

Yes, you can freeze ranch mac and cheese. Cool it completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze it for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.

How should you reheat ranch mac and cheese?

Reheat ranch mac and cheese gently on the stove over low heat, or in the microwave. Add a splash of milk to revive its creaminess. Stir it often to prevent it from sticking or curdling.

Ranch Mac and Cheese Tips

What other pasta shapes can you use for mac and cheese?

Mac and cheese recipes don’t always require macaroni. Other pasta shapes that work include tubes like penne and ziti, and those with ridges or curly cues, like rigatoni, rotini or shells.

What can you serve with ranch mac and cheese?

Ranch mac and cheese pairs well with everything from barbecue chicken to a crisp green side salad or roasted vegetables. Or why not have an entirely ranch-themed dinner party featuring all recipes that start with ranch dressing mix? Have some pizza and fries for dipping, and explore all the ways ranch dressing makes everything it touches just that much better!