As summer turns to fall, dishes like mac and cheese are back on the table (or, if you’re a mac and cheese lover like me and have been eating it all summer, it’s simply feeling a little more seasonally appropriate). There are seemingly endless recipes out there for this kid-friendly comfort food, ranging from simple and classic to gourmet inspired.

Photo Credit: POPSUGAR

Have you ever heard of using mac and cheese in muffins? These pastries from Anna Monette Roberts at POPSUGAR use pumpkin purée as a base for the cheese sauce, which also includes smoked gouda for a true fall flavor. If you’re sick of pumpkin spice flavoring and want some of the real thing (and some cheese!), this is a great recipe to try.

Photo Credit: Kirbie’s Cravings

Sometimes your favorite things just need to come together, and in this recipe from Kirbie’s Cravings, cheesy comfort collides in a mac-and-cheese grilled cheese. It’s a great kid-friendly meal (or a serious craving-satisfier for anyone), and you can easily modify this recipe and use whatever kind of cheese or added ingredients in the mac and cheese to please your own palate. If you want more grilled cheese inspiration, check out these recipes from the pages of your magazine.

Photo Credit: Host the Toast

One of my favorite local joints serves amazing fried buffalo mac and cheese bites, so I was excited to find a (slightly) healthier baked version at Host the Toast. The buffalo chicken flavor complements the cheese sauce, and the crisp breading keeps them from feeling too gooey. Next time you’re craving wings, give these a try instead.

If you’re looking for another kid-friendly option, these mac and cheese tacos are a fun family meal. This recipe uses pulled pork, but you can use any kind of meat (or veggies!) and change up the spices to make your perfect taco.

Photo Credit: Grilled Cheese Social

I jump at any chance to add pickled jalapeños to a dish, so these jalapeño popper mac and cheese cups from Grilled Cheese Social speak right to me. The delicious blend of Wisconsin cheddar and cream cheeses soothes the pepper’s heat. And did I mention the cups are made with garlic bread?

Photo Credit: She Simmers

While not technically a mac and cheese dish, this last recipe is an innovation too sweet not to share. Leela Punyaratabandhu at She Simmers penned the recipe for a delicious baked orzo-marscapone soufflé, inspired by her mother’s homemade Thai rice pudding (a combination of coconut sticky rice and Thai custard). The marscapone’s consistency makes this a smooth treat with a light, meringue-like top and a creamy custard base. She suggests serving with fresh mango to harken back to the recipe’s inspiration.

Casey Walker

​Casey Walker is a Boston-based writer, constantly scoping out new recipes and restaurants.