Description
This Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese is a rich, creamy, and indulgent classic comfort food made with a blend of sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and parmesan cheeses. The elbow macaroni is cooked to perfection and smothered in a cheesy sauce made from butter, flour, milk, and cream, then baked with a crispy panko breadcrumb topping for a golden finish. Perfect for satisfying cheesy cravings, this recipe is easy to prepare and guaranteed to be a hit with family and friends.
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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the ideal temperature when you’re ready to bake the mac and cheese.
- Cook Macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until it is al dente, usually about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Whisk in ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and cook the roux until it turns a light golden color, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in 3 cups of whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Gradually stir in all the shredded cheeses — sharp cheddar, mild cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, and parmesan — until melted and smooth.
- Combine Macaroni and Sauce: Add the drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir thoroughly to ensure every piece of pasta is evenly coated.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup panko breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter to create a flavorful and crispy topping for the mac and cheese.
- Bake: Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a greased baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow the baked mac and cheese to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This lets the sauce thicken slightly for the best texture.
Notes
- You can prepare the cheese sauce and macaroni in advance and refrigerate before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the bake time if baking from cold.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour and ensure panko breadcrumbs are gluten-free.
- Experiment with different cheese blends based on your preference, but keep the total cheese quantity the same for consistency.
- Use freshly grated cheeses for best melting and flavor.
- To make the topping extra crispy, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking but watch carefully to prevent burning.
- 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, comfort food, cheesy pasta, homemade mac and cheese
