Baked Mac & Cheese
Baked Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
For the Mac & Cheese
- 1 box cavatappi pasta
- 1/2 stick butter
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 pound extra sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 pound sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 pound smoked gouda, shredded
- 1/2 pound Colby Jack, shredded
- 1/4 wheel Boursin cheese
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- as needed salt, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Cook the cavatappi pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Melt the 1/2 stick of butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Add the 2 tablespoons of minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for approximately 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Pour in the 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Gradually add all of the shredded cheeses (extra sharp cheddar, sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, Colby Jack, and Boursin cheese) to the simmering cream mixture. Stir continuously until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Stir in the 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of onion powder. Mix these seasonings well into the cheese sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 7
Taste the cheese sauce and add salt if needed. Remember that many cheeses are already salty, so add sparingly.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 9
In the prepared baking dish, create layers by alternating the cooked macaroni and the cheese sauce. Start with a layer of macaroni, then cover with a generous layer of cheese sauce. Repeat with another layer of macaroni, and finish with a final layer of cheese sauce on top.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Bake the mac & cheese in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400
- 11
After 10 minutes, switch the oven setting to broil. Continue broiling for 2-5 minutes, or until the top of the mac & cheese is golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving and enjoying.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Baked Mac & Cheese
For the Mac & Cheese
- 1 box cavatappi pasta
- 1/2 stick butter
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 pound extra sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 pound sharp cheddar, shredded
- 1/2 pound smoked gouda, shredded
- 1/2 pound Colby Jack, shredded
- 1/4 wheel Boursin cheese
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- as needed salt, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Cook the cavatappi pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Melt the 1/2 stick of butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Add the 2 tablespoons of minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for approximately 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Pour in the 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream and 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Gradually add all of the shredded cheeses (extra sharp cheddar, sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, Colby Jack, and Boursin cheese) to the simmering cream mixture. Stir continuously until the cheeses are completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Stir in the 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of onion powder. Mix these seasonings well into the cheese sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 7
Taste the cheese sauce and add salt if needed. Remember that many cheeses are already salty, so add sparingly.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 9
In the prepared baking dish, create layers by alternating the cooked macaroni and the cheese sauce. Start with a layer of macaroni, then cover with a generous layer of cheese sauce. Repeat with another layer of macaroni, and finish with a final layer of cheese sauce on top.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Bake the mac & cheese in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 400 - 11
After 10 minutes, switch the oven setting to broil. Continue broiling for 2-5 minutes, or until the top of the mac & cheese is golden brown and crispy. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving and enjoying.
⏱️ 5 min