Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese with Multiple Cheeses Recipe
This Creamy Mac & Cheese recipe is a rich, comforting classic that combines a blend of sharp cheddar, Colby jack, Gouda, and mozzarella cheeses in a luscious heavy cream sauce. The dish is baked to perfection with a golden brown top, making it perfect for family dinners or special occasions. Enhanced with spices and chicken bouillon for depth, this mac and cheese is irresistibly creamy and cheesy with a satisfying texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Macaroni
- 24 oz macaroni noodles (1.5 box/lb; cavatappi noodles can be used alternatively)
Cheese
- 16 oz sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 16 oz Colby jack cheese, freshly grated
- 8 oz Gouda cheese, freshly grated
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
- 4 oz cream cheese (optional)
Dairy & Fats
- 6 cups heavy cream
- 4 tbsp salted butter
Seasonings
- 2 tsp chicken bouillon
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp adobo seasoning
Instructions
- Grate the Cheeses: Use a large shredder to grate all the cheeses, setting aside any small chunks that are too tiny to grate for later use.
- Cook the Macaroni: Boil the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions, enhancing the cooking water with chicken bouillon for extra flavor.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: In a large sauce pot, melt the salted butter over low heat. Slowly add the heavy cream while whisking continuously to create a smooth mixture.
- Add Cheeses to Sauce: Gradually stir in about half of the shredded cheeses into the cream mixture until fully melted and combined. Add the cream cheese last, allowing it to melt completely and let the sauce simmer gently on low heat. Season with salt, onion powder, ground mustard, white pepper, and adobo, adjusting to taste.
- Combine Noodles with Sauce: Mix the drained noodles with the creamy cheese sauce, gently folding in the reserved small cheese chunks to add extra cheesiness. Stir until you achieve a creamy, wet consistency that makes a pleasant sound when mixed.
- Layer in Baking Dish: In a 13x9 inch baking dish, layer half of the noodle mixture, then spread a light layer of cheese sauce topped with some shredded cheese. Add the remaining noodles and finish with a thick layer of shredded cheese on top. Use extra cheddar or Colby jack cheese if needed for the topping.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F. Bake until the cheese melts completely, approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Broil: Turn on the broiler for the last 2 minutes to brown the top, creating a golden, slightly crispy cheese crust. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Notes
- Using a combination of cheeses adds layers of flavor and creaminess to the dish.
- Enhancing the pasta water with chicken bouillon gives the noodles subtle savory depth.
- The optional cream cheese enriches the sauce for extra creaminess.
- Broiling last helps achieve a beautiful golden brown topping—keep an eye on it!
- For best melting and texture, freshly grate your cheeses instead of pre-shredded.
- Use a wide and deep enough baking dish to layer the noodles and sauce properly.
