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3 cheese baked mac and cheese

3 cheese baked mac and cheese

Creamy gouda, sharp cheddar, and nutty parmesan come together in this 3 cheese mac and cheese for the perfect crowd pleaser! Enjoy as is, or baked in a dish.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb elbow noodles
  • 4 tablespoon butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar plus more for baked version topping
  • 1 cup shredded gouda plus more for baked version topping
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese plus more for baked version topping
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Equipment

  • cheese grater

Method
 

  1. If your going to bake the mac and cheese, start by preheating the oven to 350F.
  2. Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. (approx 8 minutes)
  3. Shred the cheese with a hand grater and set aside.
  4. Next, melt the butter in a large saucepan or pot and stir in the flour. Mix well until you've formed a nice thick roux. Pour in the milk and gently simmer until the milk starts to get nice and thick.
  5. Add in 3 cups of the hand grated cheese and whisk the sauce until it's incorporated.
  6. Season with the spices and mix well. Remove the sauce from the heat and mix in the cooked noodles. At this point you can serve as is, or pour into the prepared baking dish to bake.
  7. Sprinkle with additional grated cheeses and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
  8. Broil at the end for 1-2 minutes (watch it carefully!) if desired.