Three Cheese Baked Macaroni (Printable Version)
Rich, cheesy baked macaroni with three melted cheeses and crispy panko topping. Pure comfort in every bite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz elbow macaroni
→ Cheese Sauce
02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
04 - 3 cups whole milk
05 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
06 - 2/3 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded
07 - 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
08 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
09 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
11 - 1/2 tsp paprika
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Topping
13 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
15 - 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
16 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 2-quart baking dish and set aside.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni until just al dente, approximately 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden, stirring constantly.
04 - Gradually add milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Continue cooking until sauce thickens, approximately 3-5 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat. Stir in cheddar, Gruyère, and mozzarella until completely melted and smooth. Add Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat evenly. Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer.
07 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and parmesan cheese. Sprinkle mixture evenly over the macaroni.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling. For extra crispiness, broil for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
09 - Let stand for 5 minutes to allow sauce to set. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, then serve warm.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- The trio of cheeses creates layers of flavor that single cheese versions can never achieve.
- That crispy panko topping gives you the perfect contrast to all that creamy goodness underneath.
02 -
- Undercooking the pasta by a minute saves you from mushy results after baking.
- Adding cheese off the heat prevents the oils from separating and creating a broken sauce.
03 -
- Taste the cheese sauce before adding pasta because once it bakes, adjustments become impossible.
- Let the finished dish rest those full five minutes or you will end up with soupy servings.