A loaded Mac and Cheese that is prepared with 3 different cheeses instead of just one.
This Mac and Cheese is a baked comfort meal for all pasta and cheese lovers.
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TL;DR
I used three different cheeses in this sauce because each cheese has a purpose.
The cream cheese makes it extra creamy, the mozzarella makes it cheesy and the parmesan adds deep cheese flavors.
This dish will be your family's ultimate favorite Mac & Cheese!
Ingredient Notes
- Macaroni Pasta — I used straight macaroni or get regular elbow macaroni. I prefer the smaller ones than the larger varieties, but that's up to you.
- Water + Salt — To Boil your pasta.
- Butter — Unsalted.
- All-Purpose Flour — To prepare the roux.
- Milk — To build the cheesy béchamel sauce.
- Black Pepper and Salt
- Garlic Powder — Adds warm garlic flavors.
- Nutmeg — Nutmeg and cheesy béchamel go hand in hand.
- Mustard Powder — My secret ingredient. Enriches the sauce beautifully.
- Cream Cheese — Makes the sauce super creamy.
- Mozzarella — Shredded, you will need to keep cheese for the sauce and for the topping.
- Parmesan — Grated, for the sauce and the topping. If you use real Italian Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, you'll make it extra flavorfully yum, but it comes with a price. To feed your family, use regular processed parmesan.
- Chives — Fresh, optional. Used as a topping can add some freshness to the comfort meal.
Process Overview
Step 1
Boil pasta as per package instructions and keep aside when done.
Step 2
Prepare cheese sauce. Start with the roux by melting butter and whisking in the all-purpose flour.
Pour in the milk and whisk it well so that no lumps are formed.
Step 3
Season your sauce with salt, onion powder, black pepper, grated nutmeg and yellow mustard paste. Mix it all well.
Step 4
Stir in the three cheese, the cream cheese, the mozzarella and the grated parmesan.
Mix it all well so that the cheese melts.
Step 5
Assemble the mac and cheese. Place the cooked pasta into the casserole dish and toss in the creamy cheesy sauce.
Top with some more shredded mozzarella and parmesan and bake crisp. Serve up hot with chopped green fresh chives (optional).
📖 Recipe
Baked 3 Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
Pasta
- Water
- Salt
- 3 Cups Macaroni Pasta
Cheese Sauce
- 3 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
- 2 Cups Milk
- ¼ Teaspoons Salt
- ⅛ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ⅛ Teaspoon Nutmeg
- ⅛ Teaspoon Yellow Mustard Powder (optional)
- ⅔ Cup Cream Cheese
- 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- ½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Topping
- 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- ¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Chives fresh, sliced
Instructions
- Bring water with salt to a rolling boil and cook pasta as per package instructions. Strain when done and keep aside.Water, Salt, 3 Cups Macaroni Pasta
- Preheat your oven to 320 Fahrenheit/ 160 Celsius.
- Prepare the sauce in a pan. Melt the butter and drop in your all-purpose flour, keep on a lower heat setting. This is your Roux, but we don't make it too dark. Mix the butter and flour until you have a slightly bubbling golden paste.3 Tablespoon Butter, 2 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
- Pour in the milk and whisk it all to incorporate. The sauce should be without any visible lumps.2 Cups Milk
- Keep it on a medium-low heat setting and add in your seasoning, the salt, garlic powder, black pepper, grated nutmeg, and mustard powder (optional).¼ Teaspoons Salt, ⅛ Teaspoon Garlic Powder, ⅛ Teaspoon Black Pepper, ⅛ Teaspoon Nutmeg, ⅛ Teaspoon Yellow Mustard Powder
- Next, stir in the 3 cheese. Start with the cream cheese, then the shredded mozzarella and at last the grated parmesan. Make sure the cheese melts completely and then take the cheese sauce from the heat source.⅔ Cup Cream Cheese, 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, ½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Assemble your mac and cheese. Place the cooked pasta in your casserole baking dish, coat, and toss in the cheese creamy sauce.
- Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan.1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, ¼ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Bake at 320 Fahrenheit/ 160 Celsius uncovered for about 25 minutes to golden brown and finish with the broiler oven setting, adding another 3 minutes or so until the top is crisp.
- Serve up hot, with optional freshly finely sliced chives.Chives
Equipment
- 9 x 13" Rectangular Baking Dish
Nutrition
Serving and Storing
Mac and cheese is a heavy meatless dinner meal. At home, we have always served it with a much lighter small side salad.
I recommend an oil-based vinegar or lemon dressing (vinaigrette) with a green lettuce salad.
Storing
Place leftovers in an airtight container. Every so often, I'm lazy, so I cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it directly into the refrigerator if I have space. You can do that too!
The aluminum can be left on the pasta dish when you reheat it again in the oven so that it doesn't dry out more. Or else the pasta will turn extra crisp, which is too crisp in my opinion.
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