6 creator recipes compared

6 ways creators make mac and cheese

6 creators, including Kimberly Villalobos, Jackie Akerberg Healthy Recipes and stealth_health_life, have posted their own version of mac and cheese on Instagram. Most of them use garlic and milk. Total time runs from 30 min to 50 min. Below, each one is compared on time, ingredients and method, with a link to the full recipe and the original video.

  • 6 versions
  • 6 creators
  • 30 min to 50 min
  • Instagram

Side by side

From each creator's recipe as we saved it: total time, servings, ingredient count, cooking method, and what no other version uses.

  1. Kimberly Villalobos50 min

    My Version of Mac and Cheese

    Serves
    4
    Ingredients
    6
    Method
    Oven
    Only this one
    macaroni, gruyere, mild cheddar and colby jack
  2. Jackie Akerberg Healthy Recipes30 min

    High Protein Dairy-Free Broccoli Cheddar Mac & Cheese

    Serves
    4
    Ingredients
    10
    Method
    Simmered
    Only this one
    broccoli florets, almond milk, nutritional yeast and protein powder
  3. stealth_health_life40 min

    High Protein Mac ’n’ Cheese

    Serves
    9
    Ingredients
    14
    Method
    Simmered · Blender
    Only this one
    shellbow pasta, evaporated milk, cottage cheese and cheddar powder
  4. Patrick Kong30 min

    Harissa Mac and Cheese

    Serves
    4
    Ingredients
    12
    Method
    Oven
    Only this one
    sharp cheddar cheese, harissa paste, mustard powder and panko breadcrumbs
  5. Food5250 min

    Ultimate Mac and Cheese with Crispy Breadcrumb Topping

    Serves
    4
    Ingredients
    17
    Method
    Oven · Blender
    Only this one
    half and half, sage, nutmeg and cheddar cheese
  6. arsenioeats50 min

    Hot Honey Tender Mac & Cheese

    Serves
    4
    Ingredients
    23
    Method
    Oven · Simmered
    Only this one
    pickle juice, onion powder, chilli flakes and chicken breast

What most versions share

In most of them

  • garlic
  • milk

Salt, pepper, oil and water are left out. Ingredient names are matched loosely, so chicken thighs and chicken legs both count as chicken.

Where they differ

  • Kimberly Villalobos is the only one to use macaroni, gruyere, mild cheddar and colby jack.
  • Jackie Akerberg Healthy Recipes is the only one to use broccoli florets, almond milk, nutritional yeast and protein powder.
  • stealth_health_life is the only one to use shellbow pasta, evaporated milk, cottage cheese and cheddar powder.
  • Patrick Kong is the only one to use sharp cheddar cheese, harissa paste, mustard powder and panko breadcrumbs.
  • Food52 is the only one to use half and half, sage, nutmeg and cheddar cheese.
  • arsenioeats is the only one to use pickle juice, onion powder, chilli flakes and chicken breast.
  • Kimberly Villalobos, Patrick Kong, Food52 and arsenioeats use the oven; the others don't.
  • Jackie Akerberg Healthy Recipes, stealth_health_life and arsenioeats simmer, poach or braise; the others don't.
  • stealth_health_life and Food52 use a blender; the others don't.
  • stealth_health_life serves it with cream sauce.
  • Jackie Akerberg Healthy Recipes takes the least time (30 min); arsenioeats the most (50 min).
  • Kimberly Villalobos uses the shortest ingredient list (6); arsenioeats the longest (23).

The other 5 versions

How this comparison works

Every version here was saved from the creator's own public video and turned into a structured recipe card. The comparison reads only those cards: ingredients, steps, times and servings. We haven't cooked these side by side or ranked them on taste.

Reposts and the same video saved twice count once. Times and servings come from each recipe card; short videos don't always state them, so treat them as a guide. Every version links to the creator's original video.

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