5.0 from 3 votes
Obsessed With Cheese Mac and Cheese Recipe
This baked mac and cheese recipe features FIVE different cheeses, bacon, and a crispy breadcrumb topping for a truly exceptional and comforting mac and cheese.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 6
Calories: 1078 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 pound Elbow Noodles
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , (½ stick)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese
- 8 ounces gruyere cheese , freshly grated
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , freshly grated
- 8 ounces fontina cheese , freshly grated
- 2 ounces Parmesan Cheese , freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅓ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 lices thick-cut bacon , cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°F. Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare the pasta according to the directions, shaving 1 to 2 minutes off the cooking time. Drain the pasta once it's finished and set aside.
- For the cheese sauce, heat the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it is sizzling, add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds, then whisk in the flour to create a roux. Stir the roux until it is golden in color and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the milk in slowly and stir constantly until the liquid is slightly thickened, another 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the mascarpone, Gruyere, 6 ounces of cheddar, 6 ounces of the Fontina, and Parmesan cheese. Stir the sauce constantly with a heatproof spatula until the cheese is melted, then add the pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
- Add the pasta to the baking dish and pour the cheese sauce over the top. Mix to combine and disperse the sauce throughout the noodles. Cover the top with the remaining cheddar and Fontina cheeses, breadcrumbs, and bacon. Bake until golden and bubbly on top, about 30 minutes.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
1078kcal
(54%)
Carbohydrates
74g
(25%)
Protein
50g
(100%)
Fat
64g
(98%)
Saturated Fat
37g
(185%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
15g
Trans Fat
0.3g
Cholesterol
186mg
(62%)
Sodium
1219mg
(51%)
Potassium
433mg
(12%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
1789IU
(36%)
Vitamin C
0.3mg
(0%)
Calcium
1124mg
(112%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1078
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 1078kcal | 54% |
| Carbohydrates | 74g | 25% |
| Protein | 50g | 100% |
| Fat | 64g | 98% |
| Saturated Fat | 37g | 185% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Trans Fat | 0.3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 186mg | 62% |
| Sodium | 1219mg | 51% |
| Potassium | 433mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1789IU | 36% |
| Vitamin C | 0.3mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 1124mg | 112% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.