This Regal Eagle mac and cheese recipe brings a little taste of EPCOT’s American Adventure pavilion right into your kitchen. Inspired by the creamy, comforting side served at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, this copycat version is rich, cheesy, and perfect alongside barbecue favorites like pulled pork, brisket, or ribs. With white cheddar, smoked gouda, and a golden baked topping, it’s an easy Disney Parks-inspired comfort food recipe the whole family will love.
For the smoothest sauce, shred the cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese. For a stronger Regal Eagle-style barbecue flavor, add a tiny splash of liquid smoke or serve it with brisket, pulled pork, or a drizzle of your favorite barbecue sauce. When you're measuring the cheese, use cups and not ounces. An 8-oz block of cheese yields approximately 2 cups, while half a block yields 1 cup. I like to use a cheese shredder to make things easy. If you want this to be authentic, use Cavatappi pasta.
The ingredients for the Regal Eagle Mac and Cheese recipe include:
Macaroni:
Optional Topping:
Regal Eagle Mac and Cheese is fun to make, and it is the best treat to make when you're missing Walt Disney World. This is a simple recipe that will transport you straight to your favorite restaurant in EPCOT. If you want to create another iconic Disney food at home, check out my Regal Eagle Pulled Pork recipe. Enjoy!
✅ Quick Tips: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
The Regal Eagle mac and cheese is an iconic Disney dish that is the perfect comfort food.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Cook the macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.
Stir in the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Reduce the heat to low. Add the white cheddar, sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, and cream cheese. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Fold the cooked pasta into the cheese sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Pour into the prepared baking dish. For a baked version, mix the panko, melted butter, Parmesan, and smoked paprika, then sprinkle over the top.
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until bubbly. For a more browned topping, broil for 1 to 2 minutes at the end.
Serve hot ♨ and enjoy!
Servings 12
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
