Cozy Extra Creamy Classic Mac N Cheese Recipe
This Cozy Extra Creamy Classic Mac N Cheese recipe delivers a rich and indulgent comfort food experience featuring a velvety cheese sauce made with sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and mozzarella, baked to perfection with a crispy panko topping. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, this classic dish combines creamy, cheesy goodness with a satisfying crunchy finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 cups whole milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Topping and Garnish
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika (optional, for garnish)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the mac and cheese later.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the elbow macaroni, and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Whisk in the all-purpose flour to form a roux and cook for 1-2 minutes until it becomes golden and bubbly, being careful not to brown it.
- Add Milk: Gradually whisk in the whole milk, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Continue cooking and whisking until the mixture thickens and begins to simmer, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Cheese: Reduce heat to low and add shredded sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and mozzarella cheeses to the sauce. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce is creamy.
- Season Sauce: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to taste. Mix until well combined.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir thoroughly until all pasta is coated.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with olive oil and a pinch of salt to make a crispy topping.
- Assemble: Pour the mac and cheese into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish and evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top.
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle with paprika and chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor and texture, consider adding cooked bacon or diced ham to the mac and cheese before baking.
- Use whole milk for the creamiest sauce, but you can substitute with 2% milk if needed.
- Gruyère adds a nice nuttiness, but if unavailable, you can substitute with extra cheddar or another semi-hard cheese.
- To make the topping extra crispy, toast the panko breadcrumbs in olive oil in a skillet before sprinkling on top.
Keywords: mac and cheese, classic mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, comfort food, cheesy pasta
