4.6 from 66 votes
Four cheese baked mac and cheese with thyme breadcrumbs
The cheesiest baked mac and cheese recipe, ever. Four cheeses and crispy thyme breadcrumbs make this an irresistible dish, any time of the year.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 12 (as a side dish)
Calories: 408 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the cheese sauce
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup flour
- 2-3 cups milk
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 cup grated mature cheddar
- 1 cup grated gruyere
- 1 cup grated Mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- salt and pepper to taste
For the baked mac and cheese
- 1 kg (2lbs) macaroni par-cooked + reserve 1 cup of cooking water
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups bread cubed/roughly torn
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp thyme
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour.
- Whisk until smooth then slowly pour in the milk, a little at a time. (I always reserve approximately ½ cup milk. Some flours will absorb more/less liquid so you might not need all of it and sometimes after adding cheese I like to thin out the sauce just a little with the remaining milk.)
- Whisk continuously until the sauce is thick then turn down the heat, add the spices and allow to simmer, stirring, until the sauce is thick and cooked through (this takes around 7-10 minutes on a gentle heat).
- Once the sauce is cooked (the sauce will be completely smooth tasting with no flouriness) remove from the heat and add the cheeses. Stir until melted then season to taste.
- Combine the cheese sauce with the pasta then add the sour cream. Stir and add some of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin out the sauce. You want the mac and cheese to be very creamy before going into the oven. Transfer to a large casserole dish.
- Drizzle the oil over the bread and mix with thyme and salt. Scatter over the mac and cheese
- Place in the oven and allow to bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- The breadcrumb topping is optional but adds great texture to the finished Mac and cheese.
Nutrition Information
Calories
408kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
73g
(24%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
5g
(8%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Cholesterol
4mg
(1%)
Sodium
121mg
(5%)
Potassium
289mg
(8%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
185IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
184mg
(18%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12(as a side dish)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 408
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 408kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 73g | 24% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 4mg | 1% |
| Sodium | 121mg | 5% |
| Potassium | 289mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 185IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 184mg | 18% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.