NATIONAL MAC AND CHEESE DAY | July 14

National Day Calendar ^ | July 14, 2025 | Staff

[Red Badger]

NATIONAL MAC AND CHEESE DAY

National Mac and Cheese Day earns a place of honor on July 14 as one of the classic comfort foods at America's dinner table.

#NationalMacAndCheeseDay

Made with macaroni noodles, cream or milk, and the golden goodness of cheese, mac and cheese shines as a side dish while also standing on its own as a main dish. This meal reminds many of us of home while also teaching us the basics of the kitchen. What other recipes allow us to create so flamboyantly and often with so little knowledge about cooking?

From the classic mac and cheese with cheddar or American cheeses to the spicy cowboy mac with bacon and jalapenos, there's a combination for everyone. Mix up the cheeses or load up on seasonings. It's easy to get a toasty crust by setting the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of the cooking time.

Mac and cheese offers a multitude of ways to enjoy it, too. As a soup, it warms us up after a long day. Stuff it inside a meatloaf or a burger for a meal made for a hungry, busy family. Roll up bite-sized bits in bread crumbs and deep fry for mouthwatering appetizers. Put your favorite mac and cheese between two slices of crusty bread. Then put into a panini press for some grilled yumminess. Whether we like it mild or spicy, mac and cheese has us covered.

Besides being simple to make, mac and cheese enables us to experiment with other flavors we enjoy. We break into our kitchen skills with mac and cheese, and it makes us look good. Sometimes the can opener doesn't do that. On July 14th, celebrate mac and cheese not only because we love to eat it, but because it taught us we can cook, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MAC AND CHEESE DAY

Enjoy some mac and cheese! Experiment with different cheeses or try it with toppings. Don't hesitate to break out of your normal routine. This is no time to be ho-hum. It's a celebration of a food that's not only convenient but is versatile and delicious, too. Use #NationalMacAndCheeseDay to share on social media.

NATIONAL MAC AND CHEESE DAY HISTORY

We were unable to identify the creator of National Mac and Cheese Day.

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July 14th Celebrated History

1789

French revolutionaries storm the Bastille.

1853

The Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations opened at the Crystal Palace in New York City. President Franklin Pierce attended the opening as well as thousands of others. The first World's Fair hosted in the United States followed the London Exhibition from the previous year.

1881

Lincoln County New Mexico Sherriff Pat Garrett shoots and kills American outlaw William Bonney (AKA Billy the Kid).

1969

The film Easy Rider premiered in New York City. Directed by Dennis Hopper, the film followed two bikers across the country. The film starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Jack Nicholson.

July 14th Celebrated Birthdays

Gertrude Bell - 1868

The self-taught archeologist and Oxford graduate (the first woman to earn first degree honors there), Bell explored even the world's mountain peaks as an experienced mountaineer. As a linguist, she served in the role of mediator, specifically in the Middle East and the Conference in Cairo.

William Hannah - 1910

William Hanna partnered with Joseph Barbera and created many of today’s classic animated cartoons. Starting with the successful Tom & Jerry, the team would take us into the past with The Flinstones and fast forward us to the future with the Jetsons. Their studios would produce animated television shows well into the 2000s, including the popular Smurfs.

Woody Guthrie - 1912

Woody Guthrie’s folk music spoke to the working public. From his anthems to his poetic lullabies, Guthrie spoke and sang openly of the human condition or softly of its sweetest moments.

Gerald Ford - 1913

After the resignation of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford took the oath of office and became the 38th President of the United States.

Ingmar Bergman - 1918

The accomplished Swedish film director won his first Academy Award in 1961 for The Virgin Spring. In total, Bergman earned three Oscars, six Golden Globes and numerous international awards.

Jane Lynch - 1960

The award-winning American actress and comedian can be seen in the TV musical series Glee, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and several other shows and films.

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TOPICS: Cheese, Moose, Sister; Food; Health/Medicine; History
KEYWORDS:

[Red Badger]

CHEESE! Ping!.............................

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Accept No Substitutes!

I really miss Grandma’s Mac-N-Cheese made with our monthly allotment of, ‘Free Government Cheese.’ It was Da BOMB! :)

[Magnum44]

[Red Badger]

We had Mac ‘n Cheese at school in the 60’s that was heavenly! Totally made from scratch and baked in those huge tubs.................

[Sacajaweau]

I had it yesterday....twice...and still had some left over...all for 58 cents and a cup of whole milk sprinkled with lotsa pepper.

[Bon of Babble]

The best is made the old fashioned way like my mother made it - start with a white sauce on the stove, add good quality cheese until it melts, pour over the macaroni and bake with a bread crust topping.

DO NOT add hot dogs.

I admit this is my weakness - but absolutely not allowed on my diet... I sneak a bit here and there, don’t tell my doctor.

[Red Badger]

>>>DO NOT add hot dogs.<<<

I don’t.

I add bratwurst...................

[Red Badger]

Try cumin on it instead of the pepper!................

[Liz]

Deep-fried Mac and Cheese Bites / Srircha mayo dip

ING Mac and Cheese batch, 2 eggs 2 tbl milk 1 bag cheese flavored DORITOS, Sriracha Mayo

Mac/Cheese batch 2 tbl ea butter, flour 2 c wh/milk 4 c shredded cheddar k/salt 6 c cooked macaroni

Ing for Sriracha Mayo ½ cup mayo 1½ tbl sriracha ½ tsp sugar K/salt

Instructions----mac and cheese: melt butter over med heat. Stir in flour and stir constantly 30-60 sec. As flour starts to turn a bit brown, add milk slowly, whisking constantly to fully incorporate. Cook, stir til thickened. Stir in 3 c shredded cheese and season generously with k/salt. Combine cooked mac/cheese sauce in a large bowl. Stir in cup shredded cheese. Spread evenly in sprayed a baking dish. Let cool and refrigerate til firm, 2-24 hours.

Using small cookie scoop, scoop mac and cheese into balls and place on parchmented b/sheet. Freeze 2 hours. Meanwhile, finely crush Doritos. Whisk milk and eggs in 2nd small bowl.

Heat oil over med/med-high heat. Remove mac and cheese balls from freezer. Dip in egg wash and thoroughly cover with crushed Doritos. Fry in batches, flipping once, til golden brown and crispy, about 2-4 min. Serve with Sriracha Mayo.

Sriracha Mayo Combine mayo, Sriracha, sugar;season with K/salt. Set aside and let flavors meld for at least 20 min. Can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

[Kharis13]

What does Arnold Schwarzenegger say before he eats his mac and cheese?

Pasta la vista, baby.

I’ll see myself out.

[kawhill]

“National Mac and Cheese Day earns a place of honor on July 14 as one of the classic comfort foods at America’s dinner table.” This might seem a little weird, but I like mac’n cheese with a little ketchup.

[Red Badger]

That’s fine. Just don’t put it on a hot dog....................

[PUGACHEV]

I learned how to make M&C from my mother too. Then, I improved it. Start with a bechamel sauce, lots of flour and butter. Next, add equal parts of mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and provolone. Add salt, and Coleman's dry mustard. The sauce should taste too salty before it is baked. Finally, add a pinch of nutmeg.

Cook various pasta shapes, including fusilli, rigatoni, shells and chariot wheels. Add chopped onions, green bell peppers, canned mushrooms, and black olives (some chopped, some whole). Put the sauce in a Dutch oven and add the vegetables and pasta to the proportion you like. Typically, I wind up with two pots full. Cook in the oven covered at 375 degrees for an hour and a half, or until the peppers turn a light green and the sauce thickens. Finally, remove the lids and add French onions on top and cook uncovered for another 15 minutes. The left-overs freeze beautifully.

[packrat35]

I love mac & cheese!

[Red Badger]

So do I, but it doesn’t love me!

No more pasta for me!.............😥

[Bon of Babble]

That recipe sounds wonderful - my relatives in the mid-west also add mustard and a pinch of nutmeg to mac ‘n cheese. Love the mixture of pasta types, I’m going to have to try that.

Have a family member that hates olives and bell peppers so I’d probably leave those off.

I think the white sauce my mother made is a béchamel sauce, and she used a three-cheese mixture, not sure which cheeses she used - I suspect it was whatever was in the house at the time.

Gotta have the crunchy top too!