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Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese: 3-Cheese Recipe

  • Author: Elena
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

A rich, indulgent, and creamy baked mac and cheese featuring a perfect blend of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheeses with a crispy buttery panko topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 cup Gruyère cheese, freshly grated
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for topping)
  • Salt for pasta water

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Grate all cheeses and mix panko breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter in a small bowl; set aside.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (1-2 minutes less than package directions).
  4. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside (do not rinse).
  5. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt ½ cup butter. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes until light golden and nutty.
  6. Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream. Cook, whisking constantly, until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 5 minutes).
  7. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and white pepper.
  8. Add grated cheeses gradually, stirring constantly until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
  9. Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
  10. Pour mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and smooth the top.
  11. Sprinkle buttery panko breadcrumbs evenly over the top.
  12. Bake for 20-25 minutes until topping is golden brown and sauce is bubbling.
  13. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Grate your own cheese to ensure smooth melting. Do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. Remove the sauce from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 520
  • Sugar: 4
  • Sodium: 650
  • Fat: 28
  • Saturated Fat: 16
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 22

Keywords: mac and cheese, baked mac and cheese, three cheese mac, comfort food, family dinner, creamy mac and cheese, cheddar, gruyere, parmesan

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Find it online: https://plateku.com/creamy-baked-mac-and-cheese-3-cheese-recipe/