National Mac and Cheese Day

National Mac and Cheese Day falls on July 14 every year, giving cheese lovers a reason to celebrate one of the most popular comfort foods in the country, with roughly 60 percent of Americans naming it their favorite, and millions eating it on a weekly basis.

Sharp cheddar is the most common cheese used, prized for how well it melts and for its tangy flavor, though variations built on smoked gouda, gruyere, fontina, or pepper jack have become common too, alongside indulgent versions like lobster mac or truffle mac.

The dish carries real cultural weight well past the dinner table. It shows up constantly on kids’ menus, gets referenced in music across hip hop, R&B, and indie tracks, and fills social media with cheese pull videos and topping debates every year the holiday rolls around.

When did National Mac and Cheese Day Start?

National Mac and Cheese Day has been celebrated since at least the early 2010s, and possibly even earlier. Like many unofficial food holidays, it began gaining more attention around the mid-2010s, especially as social media helped boost its visibility. The original creator of the day remains unknown.

National Mac and Cheese Facts

Macaroni and cheese has a surprisingly rich history, packed with interesting tidbits. From presidential dinners to boxed dinners, here are some fun facts and trivia to share on National Mac and Cheese Day:

• Kraft sells about 1 million boxes of macaroni and cheese every day.

• The first English-language mac and cheese recipe appeared in Elizabeth Raffald’s cookbook The Experienced English Housekeeper in 1769.

• Thomas Jefferson helped popularize macaroni in the U.S., but it was James Hemings, his enslaved chef trained in France, who likely cooked it first.

• Many store-bought boxed versions don’t include real cheese—instead, they use a processed powdered cheese mix.

• Mac and cheese competitions and festivals are held annually across the U.S., including events in Vermont, California, and New York.

• Kraft introduced its iconic boxed version in 1937, during the Great Depression, marketing it as a quick, affordable family meal.

• The sitcom Friends named an episode after it: “The One With Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.” (Season 6).

• Several celebrities are proud fans, including Drew Barrymore, Cobie Smulders, and Melissa Ordway.

How People Celebrate

• Home cooks are a big part of the day, whether they’re making a classic stovetop version, a baked casserole with a crisp breadcrumb top, or something more adventurous like cowboy mac loaded with bacon and jalapenos.

• Plenty of people use the day to experiment, swapping in different cheeses, folding in pulled pork or roasted vegetables, or building bite sized fried mac and cheese balls as an appetizer.

• Restaurants join in too, with chains like Panera Bread and Noodles & Company known for discounts or add on deals, fast food spots such as KFC and Chick-fil-A featuring their mac and cheese sides in combo deals, and grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s occasionally running sales on boxed versions or the ingredients for a homemade batch.

• Some cities even host mac and cheese eating challenges, where finishing a large enough portion within a set time earns a free meal and bragging rights.

• On social media, the hashtag #NationalMacAndCheeseDay fills up with recipe videos, taste tests, and photos of whatever cheesy creation people are proudest of that year.