Description
Craving the ultimate comfort food? This Rich Mac and Cheese delivers silky-smooth, cheesy goodness with a golden, crunchy topping. Perfect as a main dish or side, it’s the easy dinner, crowd-pleasing potluck classic, or cozy weeknight meal you’ll turn to again and again. With a blend of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan, plus creamy milk and butter, every bite is indulgent and satisfying. Try this recipe for quick dinner ideas, hearty food ideas, or family-friendly meals that everyone loves!
Ingredients
340g (12 oz) elbow macaroni
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
113g (4 oz) cream cheese, cubed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 tbsp unsalted butter (for topping)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Gradually whisk in the milk and continue stirring until the mixture thickens.
5. Reduce heat to low. Add cream cheese, cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan. Stir until melted and smooth.
6. Season the sauce with salt, pepper, and paprika.
7. Fold in the cooked macaroni, making sure all pasta is coated.
8. Transfer the mac and cheese to the prepared baking dish.
9. In a small bowl, toss breadcrumbs with 2 tbsp melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the top.
10. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
11. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
For extra creaminess, use half-and-half instead of milk.
Mix in cooked bacon, sautéed spinach, or roasted veggies for added flavor.
Always shred your own cheese for the smoothest sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 59g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, comfort food, mac and cheese, family meal, creamy, cheesy pasta, food ideas