Description
Indulge in the rich, creamy goodness of Five Cheese Baked Mac & Cheese. This ultimate comfort food combines five different cheeses for a flavor explosion that will satisfy all your cheesy cravings. A golden breadcrumb topping adds a delightful crunch to every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Other Ingredients:
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the macaroni according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to form a roux. Slowly add the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until smooth. Cook for 3–5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and mustard powder. Reduce heat to low and add the cheddar, mozzarella, Gruyère, fontina, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Combine and bake: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to coat evenly. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl, toss panko breadcrumbs with olive oil or melted butter, then sprinkle over the top. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
- Serve: Let the mac & cheese sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Feel free to mix and match cheeses for variety.
- For a spicy kick, add cayenne pepper or jalapeños.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 440mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
