Make Halloween dinner simple and fun with this Halloween Macaroni & Cheese. A quick stove-top pasta dish using festive Halloween-shaped pasta in a creamy cheese sauce — ready in about 20 minutes and perfect for kids to help make.
Halloween is approaching, so I put together a small series of easy, playful recipes for the season. These recipes are quick, use readily available ingredients, and are designed to be kid-friendly — perfect for lunches, snacks or Halloween parties. This macaroni and cheese is the first in a five-recipe lineup arriving over the next week.
All recipes in the series focus on simplicity and fun. If you’re looking for uncomplicated seasonal ideas that don’t require a lot of time or special ingredients, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in the posts to come.
Everything You’ll Need To Make Halloween Macaroni & Cheese
- Halloween-shaped pasta (or any small pasta shape)
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Cheddar cheese, grated
- Gouda cheese, grated
- Milk
- Butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- Garlic powder
- Oregano (or your preferred dried herb)
- Parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- Salt
- Black pepper
REMEMBER, the full recipe and instructions are included below in the recipe card.
What is Halloween Pasta?
Halloween pasta is simply pasta shaped into spooky motifs like pumpkins, bats or spiders. Many supermarkets and seasonal sections carry themed pasta; if you can’t find it locally, plain small pasta shapes work just as well. The festive shapes make the dish more exciting for kids but don’t affect the flavor or cooking method.
How To Make This Easy Macaroni and Cheese
Make the cheese sauce
- Make the sauce – In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and garlic powder and cook for 1–2 minutes until bubbling and slightly thickened. Gradually whisk in the milk, pouring slowly and whisking continuously. The sauce will thicken as you add milk; this usually takes 3–4 minutes.
- Cook the pasta – Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
Assemble and Serve
- Drain pasta – Shake the drained pasta in a colander to remove excess water so the sauce clings well.
- Combine with sauce – Remove the sauce from heat and stir in the grated cheeses, oregano, salt, pepper and parsley (if using). Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir until evenly coated and smooth. Serve warm.
Substitutions and Tips
- Cheese – I used equal parts Parmesan, Cheddar and Gouda for a balanced flavor. You can swap any of these for what you have on hand. If you use mozzarella, combine it with another cheese to avoid a too-stringy texture.
- Herbs – Dried oregano adds nice flavor, but dried basil or no herbs at all work fine if your children are picky. A sprinkle of fresh parsley brightens the dish before serving.
- Milk choice – Whole milk creates a richer sauce; semi-skimmed or skimmed will produce a slightly thinner sauce.
Turn This Into a Baked Dish
If you prefer an oven-baked macaroni and cheese, prepare the stovetop recipe, then transfer to a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish (or similar). Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Top with about 1/2 cup breadcrumbs mixed with 1/3 cup grated cheese, then bake 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
This dish makes a fun Halloween lunch or weeknight dinner the whole family can enjoy. Keep an eye out for more simple, festive recipes in the coming days — next up will be an easy appetizer perfect for parties.
Get The Recipe!
Halloween Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients
- 10 oz Halloween shaped pasta
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1/3 cup Gouda cheese grated
- 3 cups milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- parsley finely chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until al dente. Drain well.
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While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and garlic powder and cook 1–2 minutes until bubbly and slightly thickened.
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Gradually whisk in the milk, pouring slowly and whisking constantly. Continue until all milk is added and the sauce has thickened, about 3–4 minutes.
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Remove from heat and stir in all the cheeses, oregano, salt, pepper and parsley if using. Stir until smooth.
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Return the drained pasta to the pot, pour in the cheese sauce, stir to combine and serve immediately.
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Notes: Using whole milk yields a richer sauce; lower-fat milks will produce a thinner consistency.
*A note on times provided: appliances vary; prep and cook times are estimates.
Calories from Fat 234
Thanks For Stopping By & Hope To See You Soon!
