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A deep blue skillet holding homemade mac and cheese with a wooden spoon in the middle.

The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese


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Description

This Homemade Mac and Cheese is creamy, cheesy and irresistibly satisfying. Made with a rich blend of cheeses it’s the ultimate comfort food.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Mac and Cheese

  • 1 pound pipette pasta
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 3 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 6 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Fontina cheese, shredded
  • 4 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 3 ounces double-cream Brie, rind removed

For the Panko Topping

  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Be sure to salt the pasta water.
  3. Shred all cheeses, except the Brie, and combine in a bowl.
  4. Cut the brie into chunks and keep separate from the shredded cheese.
  5. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. As the butter is melting, add the garlic powder, paprika, nutmeg, ground mustard, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes to infuse the butter.
  6. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
  7. Gradually whisk in the heavy cream and cook until slightly thickened.
  8. Slowly add half of the shredded cheese, stirring until fully melted before adding more.
  9. Stir in the Brie, mixing until fully incorporated.
  10. Add the pasta to the cheese sauce, ensuring it’s evenly coated.
  11. Transfer half the mac and cheese to a greased casserole dish. Top with 1/4 of the remaining cheese. Add the rest of the mac and cheese and top with the remaining cheese.
  12. Mix the melted butter and Panko breadcrumbs, then sprinkle evenly over the top.
  13. Bake for 10-15 minutes until bubbling. Broil for 1-2 minutes for a golden, crispy topping.
  14. ENJOY!
@charlottefashionplate

Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe! The blend of cheddar cheeses, Gruyère, Fontina and Brie make this homemade macaroni and cheese incredibly rich and creamy! This is another side dish recipe to add to your Thanksgiving Dinner. Thanks to @Tini👩🏼‍🍳🔥 for the tip of putting shredded cheese in the middle! #macandcheese #macandcheeserecipe #macaroniandcheese #sidedish #thanksgiving #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgivingvibes #thanksgivingrecipes #foodtiktok #easyrecipe

♬ original sound - Charlotte Fashion Plate

Notes

  • Use your favorite small pasta shape.
  • Avoid using pre-packaged shredded cheese. 
  • Salt the water for the pasta.
  • Easily make this mac and cheese gluten-free by substituting with gluten-free pasta, flour and breadcrumbs.
  • Use your favorite blend of cheeses. 
  • Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your liking.
  • Allow the cream to thicken slightly before adding the cheese.
  • Taste for salt. I did not need to add salt to the cheese.
  • No need to grease the casserole dish.
  • Use a 9 x 13 oven-safe casserole dish, cast iron pan or aluminum foil pan to bake. 
  • Layer half of the mac and cheese on the bottom, then top with 1/4 of the remaining cheese. Finish adding the mac and cheese and more cheese on top. 
  • No need to cover.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish, Dinner
  • Method: Easy
  • Cuisine: American