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Next level mac and cheese in a serving bowl, ready to enjoy.

Next-Level Mac and Cheese

Diana Rattray
Upgrade your mac and cheese game with this next-level recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor, it's sure to be a hit.
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Servings 8 servings
Calories 512
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt, for the pasta cooking water
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 5 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese, or Comte
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, mild or sharp
  • 1 ½ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook to al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
    1 pound elbow macaroni | 1 tbsp kosher salt
    Mac and cheese prep: draining the macaroni.
  • Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and mustard powder and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
    4 tbsp unsalted butter | 5 tbsp all-purpose flour | 1 tsp mustard powder
    Make the roux with butter and flour.
  • Add the milk gradually while stirring constantly, and continue cooking until thickened.
    3 cups whole milk
    Milk is added to the roux for the macaroni and cheese sauce.
  • Remove from the heat and add the shredded cheeses. Stir to blend.
    1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese | 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese | 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    4 kinds of cheese are added to the sauce for next-level mac and cheese.
  • Add the drained macaroni to the sauce and stir to blend. If too thick, thin with some of the reserved pasta cooking water or additional milk, if needed. Season with fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
    1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt | 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
    Next level mac and cheese in a serving bowl, ready to enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 512kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 23gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 334mgPotassium: 308mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 730IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 499mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer:

Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.

Keyword comfort food, easy meals, macaroni and cheese, pasta, weeknight meals
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