Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
For the Mac & Cheese
- 1 pound corkscrew pasta
- 4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 pound smoked Gouda cheese, grated
- 1/2 pound Colby jack cheese, grated
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese, grated
- 7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Combine all the grated cheeses (smoked Gouda, Colby jack, mozzarella, and sharp cheddar) in a large bowl. Toss to mix well. Set aside about 1 1/2 cups of the mixed cheese for topping and layering.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Cook the corkscrew pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Add the chicken bouillon, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper to the melted butter. Stir with a wooden spoon for 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Sprinkle the flour into the pot. Stir continuously for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste and create a roux.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Gradually whisk in the evaporated milk, heavy cream, and half and half until smooth and no lumps remain.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Add the softened cream cheese to the sauce. Stir constantly until the cream cheese is fully melted and smoothly incorporated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Reduce the heat to low. Add the reserved grated cheese mixture in batches, stirring after each addition until completely melted and smooth. Continue until all but the 1 1/2 cups set aside for topping/layering is incorporated, creating a thick, creamy cheese sauce.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce. Stir thoroughly until all the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Transfer half of the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
Sprinkle half of the reserved 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese mixture over the pasta in the baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min
- 14
Add the remaining mac and cheese mixture on top.
⏱️ 1 min
- 15
Generously sprinkle the remaining reserved grated cheese mixture over the entire top of the mac and cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
- 16
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbly. Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese
For the Mac & Cheese
- 1 pound corkscrew pasta
- 4 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 garlic, cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 pound smoked Gouda cheese, grated
- 1/2 pound Colby jack cheese, grated
- 1 pound mozzarella cheese, grated
- 7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a large baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Combine all the grated cheeses (smoked Gouda, Colby jack, mozzarella, and sharp cheddar) in a large bowl. Toss to mix well. Set aside about 1 1/2 cups of the mixed cheese for topping and layering.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Cook the corkscrew pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Add the chicken bouillon, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper to the melted butter. Stir with a wooden spoon for 30 seconds until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Sprinkle the flour into the pot. Stir continuously for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste and create a roux.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Gradually whisk in the evaporated milk, heavy cream, and half and half until smooth and no lumps remain.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Add the softened cream cheese to the sauce. Stir constantly until the cream cheese is fully melted and smoothly incorporated.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Reduce the heat to low. Add the reserved grated cheese mixture in batches, stirring after each addition until completely melted and smooth. Continue until all but the 1 1/2 cups set aside for topping/layering is incorporated, creating a thick, creamy cheese sauce.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce. Stir thoroughly until all the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Transfer half of the mac and cheese mixture into the prepared baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
Sprinkle half of the reserved 1 1/2 cups of grated cheese mixture over the pasta in the baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min - 14
Add the remaining mac and cheese mixture on top.
⏱️ 1 min - 15
Generously sprinkle the remaining reserved grated cheese mixture over the entire top of the mac and cheese.
⏱️ 1 min - 16
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese topping is golden brown and bubbly. Allow to rest for a few minutes before serving.
⏱️ 25 min•🌡️ 375