Million-Dollar Five Cheese Mac Bake
One spoonful of this ultra-creamy, insanely cheesy mac and cheese and suddenly everybody’s fighting for seconds! Loaded with FIVE melty cheeses, crispy golden edges, and rich baked flavor, this comfort-food masterpiece tastes like the kind of recipe that gets begged for at every family gathering.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients:
* 1 lb elbow macaroni
* 4 tbsp butter
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 3 cups whole milk
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
* 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
* 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
* 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
* 1/2 cup cream cheese
* 1 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tsp onion powder
* 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
* 1 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp black pepper
* 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Cook the elbow macaroni until just al dente, then drain and set aside.
3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour until smooth.
4. Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly until thickened.
5. Stir in the sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, parmesan, and cream cheese until fully melted and creamy.
6. Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
7. Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce until completely coated.
8. Pour the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
9. Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown on top.
10. Let cool slightly before serving hot and extra cheesy!
Pro Tip:
For that unforgettable restaurant-style cheese pull, broil the mac and cheese for the last 2 minutes until the top gets crispy and beautifully blistered!