Description
A rich and creamy Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese that combines sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and parmesan cheeses for an indulgently cheesy pasta dish topped with a golden breadcrumb crust. Perfect as a comforting main course or side dish, baked to bubbly perfection.
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
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare it for baking the mac and cheese later.
- Cook the Macaroni: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the elbow macaroni until al dente, which is firm to the bite but cooked through. Drain the pasta and set aside while you prepare the cheese sauce.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook until the mixture turns lightly golden, forming a roux. Slowly whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and grated parmesan cheeses until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine Macaroni and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir until the pasta is fully coated with the creamy cheese mixture.
- Prepare for Baking: Pour the cheesy macaroni mixture into a greased baking dish. If using, mix the panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the top to add a crispy crust.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, until the mac and cheese is bubbly and the breadcrumb topping is golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set slightly for the best texture.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese for the best melting quality and flavor.
- For a crispier topping, broil the baked mac and cheese for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Feel free to substitute or add your favorite cheeses such as fontina or Monterey Jack.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to preserve the crispy topping.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: baked mac and cheese, five cheese mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, cheesy pasta bake, comfort food
