Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta noodles (elbow or rotini preferred)
- 7 tablespoons room temperature butter, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 1/2 cups half and half
- 1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
- 12 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded (reserve 1 cup for topping)
- 8 oz Colby Jack cheese, shredded (reserve 1 cup for topping)
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded (reserve 1 cup for topping)
- 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 oz white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Shred all the cheeses and set aside 1 cup each of medium cheddar, Colby Jack, and mozzarella for the topping.
- Mince the garlic and divide the butter into two parts.
- Boil the pasta until it is slightly less than al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Pour the drained pasta into a greased 9×13 casserole dish and toss it with 2 tablespoons of butter.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the remaining 5 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Whisk in the flour and continue stirring until golden, about 2 minutes.
- Gradually pour in the reserved pasta water, heavy cream, and half and half, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens, about 4 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the non-reserved cheeses one handful at a time, whisking until melted before adding more. Whisk in the cream cheese, onion powder, paprika, and mustard powder until smooth.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the buttered pasta and mix thoroughly. Top evenly with reserved shredded cheeses.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Then switch your oven to broil and cook for an additional 5 minutes until top is golden and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Allow cooling slightly before serving to let the sauce set up. For added flavor, consider different cheese combinations.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: mac and cheese, baked macaroni, comfort food
