Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this rich and creamy Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese recipe. A blend of five cheeses creates a gooey, flavorful sauce that coats every bite of tender macaroni for a dish that’s sure to be a hit with cheese lovers of all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce:
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded gouda cheese
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Topping (optional):
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the macaroni in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook until lightly golden. Slowly whisk in the milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly until thickened. Add seasonings. Stir in cheeses until melted and smooth.
- Combine macaroni and sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring to coat completely.
- Bake: Pour the mac and cheese into a greased baking dish. Top with breadcrumb mixture if desired. Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest before serving.
Notes
- Feel free to mix and match cheeses according to preference.
- For extra creaminess, add reserved pasta water if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
