Simple Creamy Brie Mac and Cheese

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If you love brie and you love mac and cheese, why not combine the two and make mac and cheese with brie! Creamy, simple, and decadent, this dish wont disappoint!

mac and cheese in a wheel of brie with chives on top.

If you ever see me within arms length of a charcuterie board, I will absolute be reaching for slices of brie cheese on a cracker. To me, brie is just one of the most decadent, perfect cheeses. It's creamy and soft, salty yet mild, and perfect with savory or sweet flavors.

So, as a pasta obsessed person, I had to find a way to use brie with pasta. Of course, mac and cheese with brie was the obvious answer. Not only is brie mac and cheese delicious and extremely impressive, its so so simple!

If you're looking for even more mac and cheese goodness, I have a delicious Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe, as well as a Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe!

Why you'll love this recipe

Decadent - The rich and creamy texture of brie makes this mac and cheese so decadent and heavenly!
No Roux - While a roux can be great in sauces, its often a pain to deal with for mac and cheese. Thankfully, this recipe doesn't need one!
Impressive - The flavor of this is so impressive, but it's especially impressive when you serve it in the brie wheel!

What you need for this recipe

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Elbow Pasta - Of course, any short pasta shape will work here, but I think elbow is superior. If you choose to do something else, keep it a small sized short pasta shape.
Heavy Cream - I don't recommend substituting this ingredient.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese - Finely shredded cheddar cheese is best. I used pre-shredded, but shredding on your own is fine too.
Brie Cheese - 8 oz. (or larger) wheel of brie cheese. Feel free to use the brie of your choice.
Seasonings - Salt, pepper, seasoned salt (optional), and chives for garnish.

How to make this recipe

Step 1: Prepare the Sauce

Boil pasta in salted water according to box instructions and reserve 2-4 tablespoons of pasta water.

Carefully cut the top of the wheel of brie off, trying not to remove much of the cheese.

Use a spoon to scoop out all of the brie from inside the wheel, keeping the shape of the wheel intact.

Step 2: Make the Sauce

To a large nonstick pan or pot over medium heat, add the brie cheese.

Slowly allow it to melt, then add heavy cream.

Make sure the heat is low enough that the sauce doesn't begin to bubble.

Then add the cheddar cheese.

Use a whisk to combine the cheeses with the cream and continue stirring until smooth.

cheddar added to cheese sauce with a whisk.

Add seasonings and adjust to taste, but do not add chives yet.

Step 3: Finishing Touches

To the pan/pot of cheese sauce, add the cooked and drained elbow pasta.

Gently stir to combine until all of the pasta is coated.

cooked elbow pasta added to pan with cheese sauce.

cheese sauce combined with elbow pasta in a pan.

If necessary, add reserved pasta water to thin the sauce.

Serve mac and cheese in the scooped out brie rind OR simply serve in serving bowls.

Garnish with chives and enjoy while hot!

mac and cheese in a brie wheel with chives.

Expert Tips and Tricks:

If using an 8 oz wheel of brie, only a portion of the mac and cheese will fit in the serving wheel. To remedy this, opt for a larger wheel, but only use 8 oz of cheese in the sauce, or use multiple!
Add more heavy cream along with pasta water as necessary to achieve desired sauce consistency.
While any type of brie will work, different varietals may result is different textures and flavors. For example, a very soft triple-creme brie may result in a different texture. Additionally, you can buy some flavored brie cheeses, such as truffle flavored. This is encouraged if you want to experiment!

Recipe FAQs

What does brie cheese go well with?

Traditionally, brie goes very well with more acidic and/or sweet flavors because of it's richness. Here, I think that embracing the richness is key as mac and cheese is often rich. The brightness of the chive garnish helps to cut some of that. Pair this with a crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

How long does brie mac and cheese last?

When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this dish should last up to 5 days. That is, if you manage to save any leftovers!

Is brie good for melting?

Unlike some other soft cheeses, like mozzarella, brie actually melts very well. This makes it perfect for using in sauces like this one!

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