National Mac and Cheese Day

National Mac and Cheese Day, observed on July 14, celebrates one of America’s most beloved comfort foods: tender macaroni coated in creamy, cheesy goodness. Whether baked until golden and bubbling, prepared quickly on the stovetop, or made with a favorite blend of cheeses, mac and cheese brings warmth and nostalgia to the table.

It’s a delicious opportunity to enjoy this classic dish and explore new variations. Add crunchy breadcrumbs, vegetables, bacon, herbs, or a touch of spice—or keep it simple and satisfyingly traditional. On July 14, gather around for a bowl of cheesy comfort and celebrate the dish’s timeless appeal.

National Mac and Cheese Day is observed annually on **July 14**. The observance celebrates macaroni and cheese, a dish made by combining cooked pasta—traditionally macaroni—with a cheese-based sauce. Although the food has a long history, the precise founder and first year of National Mac and Cheese Day are not clearly documented. It appears to have emerged as a modern food-themed observance intended to recognize one of the most familiar comfort foods in the United States.

The dish itself predates the holiday by centuries. Recipes combining pasta and cheese appeared in European cooking traditions by the medieval and early modern periods. In the United States, macaroni and cheese became associated with Thomas Jefferson after his travels in Europe; he returned with an interest in pasta and reportedly served a macaroni dish at a White House dinner in 1802. Jefferson did not invent macaroni and cheese, but his role helped connect pasta dishes with elite American dining and contributed to their growing visibility.

During the nineteenth century, published American cookbooks included recipes for macaroni baked with cheese and other ingredients. The dish gradually moved from formal meals into everyday home cooking, where it could be prepared with relatively inexpensive staples. Its popularity expanded dramatically in the twentieth century, especially after Kraft introduced a boxed macaroni-and-cheese product in 1937. The packaged version offered a quick, affordable meal and helped make macaroni and cheese a household standard across the United States.

Today, National Mac and Cheese Day reflects both the dish’s historical development and its cultural flexibility. Homemade, boxed, restaurant, and gourmet versions coexist, with cooks adding ingredients such as breadcrumbs, vegetables, meats, spices, or different varieties of cheese. Observed on July 14, the day provides an occasion to celebrate macaroni and cheese as a comfort food shaped by European culinary traditions, American home cooking, industrial food production, and continuing experimentation.