Description
This Four Cheese Baked Macaroni recipe is a comforting and creamy pasta bake featuring a rich blend of cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan cheeses. Prepared with a smooth cheese sauce and baked to golden perfection with a crunchy panko topping, this dish makes an ideal main course or side dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Topping (Optional)
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, typically about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set it aside.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes until it forms a smooth paste and loses its raw flour taste.
- Prepare Cheese Sauce: Gradually pour in the whole milk and heavy cream, whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Continue to cook and stir until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add Cheeses: Reduce the heat to low and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and grated Parmesan until all cheeses melt completely forming a creamy sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring well to ensure each piece is evenly coated with the cheesy mixture.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Pour the macaroni and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with olive oil or melted butter to create a crispy topping. Sprinkle this evenly over the macaroni and cheese (this step is optional).
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the dish cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set slightly.
Notes
- Enhance flavor by mixing in cooked bacon, fresh spinach, or roasted vegetables before baking.
- For an extra crispy topping, broil the dish for the last 2 to 3 minutes of baking, keeping a close watch to prevent burning.
- You can substitute panko breadcrumbs with regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers for different textures.
- Use freshly grated cheeses for the best melting quality and flavor.
