Description

A creamy, dreamy, and golden baked mac and cheese featuring a roux-based cheese sauce with sharp cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan, topped with crispy buttery breadcrumbs.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound elbow macaroni
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup gruyère cheese, grated
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup buttery breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 2 minutes until light golden.
Slowly pour in milk while whisking constantly until the mixture thickens and simmers (5-7 minutes).
Remove saucepan from heat and stir in cheddar, gruyère, and parmesan cheeses until melted and smooth.
Add garlic powder, onion powder, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the sauce and stir.
Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, stirring to coat every noodle.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with buttery breadcrumbs.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy.
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Grate your own cheese to avoid anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Ensure the roux is cooked for 2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste. Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. For a lighter version, swap whole milk for skim milk, though texture will be less creamy.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 600
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 800
Fat: 35
Saturated Fat: 20
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 2
Protein: 22

Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, comfort food, easy dinner, cheesy pasta, family friendly, weeknight dinner