Got crunch? These crispy mac and cheese toppings add the perfect finishing texture to a bowl of comfort. They’re quick, customizable, and can elevate baked casseroles as well as stovetop or Instant Pot mac and cheese.
A toasty, crunchy topping is one of my favorite parts of a great macaroni and cheese. The rich, creamy pasta benefits from a contrasting texture, and crunchy toppings are an easy way to add flavor and interest.
These toppings are extremely adaptable. Change seasonings to match the cheese and mix-ins you’re using, or tailor the finish to your cooking method. They’re ideal for baked mac and cheese but also turn unbaked recipes into something special.
Below are favorite ingredients to crush or toast into toppings, plus simple techniques for preparing them so they work with any mac and cheese recipe.
Ingredients You Can Crush For Crunchy Mac and Cheese Toppings
- Potato chips. Kettle chips are a great choice because they’re thicker and crush into satisfying pieces instead of powder. Watch the salt level—choose lower-sodium chips if your mac already has salty cheeses.
- “Crab” chips. For seafood mac and cheese, seasoned “crab” chips tossed with seafood seasoning (like a Chesapeake-style blend) add bright, savory notes.
- Cheese sticks and crisps. Crunchy cheese snacks make excellent toppings. Cheddar or cheddar-asiago work well for classic mac, while Parmesan or garlic crisps suit Italian-style versions. There are also spicy varieties (Sriracha, etc.) if you want heat.
- Butter crackers. These add a comforting, slightly sweet flavor. For shellfish mac and cheese, mix crushed butter crackers with seafood seasoning and fresh chives for a nice pairing.
- Oyster crackers and saltines. Crushed saltines tossed with melted butter are traditional in many Southern mac and cheese recipes. Season simply with salt, pepper, and herbs or add extra grated cheese.
- Breadcrumbs. The classic topping. Toasted, buttery breadcrumbs are timeless; Japanese panko gives extra crunch. Use plain, seasoned, or homemade crumbs from stale bread. Season to taste with garlic powder, Parmesan, cayenne, or herbs.
- French-fried onions. These bring deep toasted onion flavor and great crunch—especially with bacon mac and cheese. Use them straight from the bag or fry your own. Add them in the last few minutes of baking or sprinkle them on just before serving to retain crispness.
How to Make the Toppings: Tips and Techniques
Start by crushing the crunchy ingredient you’ve chosen. Place chips, crackers, or cheese crisps in a zip-top bag, press out extra air, and roll with a rolling pin for easy cleanup. Alternatively, pulse them in a food processor for a uniform crumb.
To make breadcrumbs from leftover bread, remove any very thick crusts, tear the bread into pieces, and pulse in a food processor until you reach the desired size. Day-old bread works best; if the bread is fresh, dry the pieces in a 300°F oven for 15–25 minutes, watching carefully so they don’t brown.
Un-toasted Toppings for Baked Macaroni and Cheese
For casseroles that will bake, add un-toasted crumbs directly to the top. Cheese crisps and crushed potato chips usually need no added fat and can be sprinkled on as-is after crushing. For breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, toss them with melted unsalted butter or olive oil until moistened and season as desired. Bake with the casserole and watch the topping through the oven door—if it browns too fast, loosely tent with foil.
Pre-Toasted Toppings for Stove Top or Pressure Cooker Recipes
When serving stovetop or Instant Pot mac and cheese, toast crumbs first so they stay crisp. Cheese crisps and crushed chips can be used immediately after crushing. For breadcrumbs or crushed crackers, melt butter in a skillet until it foams, add the crumbs, and stir to coat. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the crumbs are evenly golden—pay close attention, as they can burn quickly.
Transfer toasted crumbs to a bowl and add dry seasonings. If adding grated hard cheese, let crumbs cool to room temperature first to avoid melting and clumping. Add fresh herbs when crumbs are slightly warm or at room temperature so the herbs don’t wilt. Sprinkle the finished topping over your mac and cheese just before serving.
What’s your favorite way to top mac and cheese? Tell us in the comments below!
Crunchy Mac and Cheese Toppings
Ingredients
Basic Crumbs
- ½ cup breadcrumbs or crushed cracker crumbs (Panko, unseasoned dried breadcrumbs, saltines, or butter crackers)
- 1–2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil (fresh breadcrumbs and butter crackers need less than dried crumbs)
- salt and pepper
Cheesy Crumbs
- ¼ cup finely shredded cheese (cheddar or gouda)
Garlic-Parmesan Crumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- ¼–½ teaspoon garlic powder to taste
Spicy Garlic Crumbs
- ¼–½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛–¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to taste
Zesty Crumbs for Seafood
- ¼–½ tsp seafood seasoning (such as Old Bay), to taste
Herbed Crumbs
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, chives, parsley, or sage)
Chips and Cheese Crisps
- ½ cup crushed potato chips, “crab” chips, or cheese sticks/crisps
Instructions
For Baked Macaroni and Cheese
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In a bowl, toss un-toasted crumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened. Stir in desired seasonings and a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
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Top unbaked macaroni and cheese with the crumbs and bake until toasted and crispy, following your recipe. If crumbs brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil and continue baking.
For Stovetop or Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
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Melt butter in a skillet. Add crumbs and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until evenly toasted. Remove from heat and stir in dry seasonings to taste. Let cool slightly before adding herbs and to room temperature before adding cheese.
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Sprinkle toasted crumbs over macaroni and cheese just before serving.
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To store toasted crumbs: keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
For Chips and Cheese Crisps
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No additional fat is needed. Crush and top your macaroni and cheese, baking or serving as desired.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used only as an approximation.
Please note our recipes use US customary measurements and have not been adjusted for high altitude cooking or baking.