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Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 106 reviews
  • Author: Gabriel
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese is a rich and creamy comfort food classic, featuring a blend of sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and parmesan cheeses. Pasta is cooked al dente and coated in a smooth, cheesy béchamel sauce, then baked with a crispy buttery panko breadcrumb topping until bubbly and golden. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or special occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 16 ounces elbow macaroni

Cheese Sauce

  • 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

  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the mac and cheese later.
  2. Cook the macaroni: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the elbow macaroni until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
  3. Make the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Whisk in the ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until the mixture turns lightly golden. Slowly whisk in 3 cups of whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency. Add 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder, mixing well.
  4. Melt the cheeses: Gradually stir in all the cheeses—1 cup sharp cheddar, 1 cup mild cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella, 1 cup gouda, and 1 cup parmesan—until completely melted and smooth, creating a rich cheese sauce.
  5. Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat every piece evenly with the cheesy béchamel.
  6. Prepare breadcrumb topping: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup panko breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter to make a crispy topping.
  7. Assemble and bake: Pour the mac and cheese mixture into a greased baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the buttery panko breadcrumb mixture on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
  8. Rest and serve: Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes to set before serving. Enjoy your creamy, cheesy baked mac and cheese!

Notes

  • Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting and flavor.
  • You can substitute gouda with other melting cheeses like fontina or gruyere if preferred.
  • For a crunchier topping, broil for the last 2-3 minutes but watch closely to prevent burning.
  • The recipe can be doubled to serve a larger crowd, just use a bigger baking dish and adjust cooking times accordingly.
  • Prep the cheese sauce and pasta ahead of time; assemble and bake right before serving for convenience.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, five cheese mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta, homemade mac and cheese

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Find it online: https://gabriellangdon.com/five-cheese-baked-mac-and-cheese-recipe-2/