Macaroni & Cheese MVPs

Inspo for your holiday table

Nov 15, 2025

I love getting together with my family during the holidays, but I don’t love most Thanksgiving food. I always try to make a big salad for everyone to enjoy (and for me to cover my plate with). Slaws are my go-tos because they’re so easy to prep in advance. Macaroni & cheese also hits so many tables for Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving, and it’s a great dish to make today, freeze, and pop in the oven on Thanksgiving morning. We’re all for prepping ahead of time, right?

Today’s recipes are packed with delicious flavor and lots of cheese, so here are a few pointers for you before we begin:

Always grate your own cheese. It melts better and you’ll get so much more of it. If you’re feeding a big crowd this is a great job for a food processor, or I love this OXO grater.
Mix and match different cheese for different flavor profiles. My little one thought sharp cheddar + gruyère was too strong. American, fontina, and Monterey Jack mellow out the flavor and add the perfect texture. If you have a lot of cheese ends in your fridge, add them.
There are so many great ways to add more flavor to your mac & cheese—I like to add grated garlic or Parmesan, but you can also add sweet paprika, mustard or mustard powder, or even taco seasoning. If you like spicy, add it. Play around and report back!!

PS - If you ever have a question about your subscription or need help with anything, please reach out to theperfectbite@bakedbymelissa.com. We’re here for you!!

This hoodie + this shirt have a permanent spot in my wardrobe. I have so many different colors for both, which makes mixing and matching so easy (and comfortable).
I’ve been using this baking dish a ton lately. I love the size and color.
Still getting DMs asking about my Made In pans. They’ve been living on my stove lately and getting lots of use.
Put together a list of my go-to baking tools yesterday—cookie season is coming!!
And finally, I’m creating a few holiday gift guides for you all—is there anything specific you’re looking for? Would love to hear.

Here are a few brands that share the love with discount codes:
MELISSA10 - 10% off your first order at GroundUp
BAKEDBYMELISSA10 - 10% off at Supergoop
BAKEDBY20 - 20% off Algae Cooking Oil
TAKE20 - 20% off Electric Picks

Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese

You can use 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour instead of corn starch if you want. I love using potato chips to top it, which you can do with any recipe.