3-Cheese Creamy Mac and Cheese
This 3-Cheese Creamy Mac and Cheese is the ultimate cold-weather comfort food!
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Much like my quest for the Lost City of Atlantis or Bigfoot, my quest for a delicious creamy mac and cheese has gone unfulfilled for several years now. And this isn’t to say that I haven’t been trying! I mean, I donned my ultimate Bigfoot hunting gear last Fall and went on a Bigfoot trek in the wilds of my backyard. (I didn’t find anything but a couple of chipmunks and some wetlands filled with swamp cabbage back there…)
But once winter hits, Bigfoot heads indoors…so that project is on hold for the moment. Plus, we all know that Bigfoot doesn’t like the snow, right? (Only the Abominable Snowman likes snow…and I’ve yet to catch him, either.) So I turned my attention recently to more suitable activities…like creating a deliciously creamy mac and cheese. Making mac and cheese isn’t as much fun as going on a Bigfoot trek, but it is most definitely more rewarding!
This 3-Cheese Creamy Mac and Cheese is the ultimate winter comfort food. In fact, my Mom always served macaroni and cheese as a Thanksgiving side dish. For our first Thanksgiving together, my wife (then-girlfriend) was thoroughly confused why I wanted to make mac and cheese. But then she saw the light, and now mac and cheese makes a regular appearance on Thanksgiving around our house!
Sure, I know you can just go buy those inexpensive packages of mac and cheese at the store. And sure, they take all of about 15 minutes to make. But you know what? This 3-cheese Mac and Cheese doesn’t take much longer than that, and it tastes 214x better. Maybe even 215x.
You might be surprised to see that this recipe calls for 4 cups of milk. Just go with it. Trust me here. Some of the milk will evaporate as it cooks and the rest will get absorbed into the cooked pasta. The result is an amazingly delicious (and rather addicting) pot of stove-top mac and cheese.
I used a mix of Cabot’s Monterey Jack and Seriously Sharp Cheddar for this recipe. Oh, and there’s also a ½ cup of Parmesan cheese in there, too. (The Parmesan is a little mac and cheese trick that I picked up in my travels.) But here’s the key: shred your own cheese. The pre-shredded cheeses in the store are great for some purposes, but not for this mac and cheese. Similar to chocolate chips, the pre-shredded cheeses are designed to hold their shape a bit once melted. It’s worth the extra effort to just grab a block and shred your own cheese!
After many attempts, I can successfully say that I’ve finally landed on an excellent 3-Cheese Creamy Mac and Cheese recipe. Now if only I could have as much success hunting for Bigfoot. There’s always next summer…
Have you ever spotted Bigfoot?
Would you ever considering serving mac and cheese at Thanksgiving?
3-Cheese Creamy Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound large elbow pasta
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups milk
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp mustard powder
- 2½ cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Monterrey Jack cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse, drain and set pasta aside.
- Using a large skillet, add butter and place over medium heat.
- Once butter has melted, add flour and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. (Note: The flour will turn light golden brown in this step.)
- Add milk, stirring constantly as you pour milk into skillet.
- Add salt, pepper, garlic powder and mustard powder; whisk until well combined.
- Once milk is hot, add cheeses and whisk until fully melted and smooth.
- Add cooked pasta and stir until well coated.
- Simmer for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture has thickened and most of the milk has evaporated.
Ha! You’re guaranteed a Bigfoot sighting with this delicious macaroni and cheese as your bait. Give it a try. 🙂
Wait. Are you saying I should put this mac and cheese out in my backyard and see if Bigfoot comes walking by? I mean I do want to see Bigfoot…but I don’t know if I can part with my mac and cheese! Haha! Thanks, Tonya! 🙂
Yes, 4 sure! – Mac and cheese is a must at Thanksgiving ..and Christmas…and Easter.. it is Lil Shashi’s favorite! In fact, she’s home sick and saw this and wants to know if y’all are willing to exchange Robbie for her for a couple of days at least – in her words not mine – till she “manages to finish eating this, then I’ll head home”! I don’t believe my child is trying to leave me for FOOD! Well, I guess that’s way better than for a boy! 🙂
Fantastic take on mac and cheese, David – I’m saving this so I can make it for Lil Shashi this Easter!
Hey, if lil Shashi is willing to do some babysitting duties, then I will gladly pay her in mac and cheese. Like all the mac and cheese she could possibly eat! Little Robbie is cute, but boy is he a handful these days! I’m not sure lil Shashi knows what she’s getting into…haha! And definitely make this one for Easter. It’s a legit mac and cheese recipe!
Oh and BTW Lil Shashi seems to think that making mac and cheese IS WAY MORE fun than going on a Bigfoot trek!
Hmmm, I’m gonna have to disagree with lil Shashi there. I mean making mac and cheese is fun, and eating it is even more fun…but Bigfoot.
Hi David! You hit my soft spot with this! I’m a mac n’ cheese fanatic. It’s an appropriate dish to be served on any day, holiday or not, I always put a touch of cayenne in mine. Bacon wouldn’t be a bad addition! 🙂 Mac n’ cheese is a must when eating barbecue here!
Ah, Dorothy! I think we indeed share the same taste buds. I love me some mac and cheese (esp next to barbecue), and bacon is good in everything. I like the little pinch of cayenne. I’ll have to do that next time I make a batch of this one. Hope you are doing well!!
David, you’re too humble guy saying this recipe is 214×better. Because it’s not. It’s at least 217,87×better. Or even 218, 25×. You cannot go wrong with cheeses! And there’s a great room for experiencing. 4 cheese mac&cheese. 7 cheese mac&cheese 25…You know. How many kinds of cheese does the world know at this point? Well done!
Haha! You are way too kind, Ben. But I do tend to agree with you. You can’t go wrong with cheese! 25 cheese mac and cheese? Well that might be a bit crazy…but then again, I’m kindof a crazy guy. I might need to see many different types of cheeses we can cram into mac and cheese now! 🙂
Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food! This looks sooooo good! Your wife must love the fact that you cook so well.My hubby isn´t the best cook, however he makes a rocking Spanish tortilla 🙂
Dude, a rockin’ Spanish tortilla goes a looong way in my book, Johlene! How about this: we trade mac and cheese for tortillas? 🙂 And yes, my wife enjoys that I cook all the time…but she is constantly annoyed by how much food is in our fridge at all times. Is little Robbie old enough to eat ‘real people’ food yet?? 🙂
Little Robbie is going to love you! LOL
David I love love creamy mac & cheese and especially during winters!! Now I am thinking of running to the kitchen and making a quick batch for late lunch!
Oh, mac and cheese for a late lunch sounds amazing to me, Ami. I’m reading this comment the next morning, and I think mac and cheese sounds great for breakfast, too! Haha! 🙂
Wow, mac and cheese only at Thanksgiving? Where I’m from mac and cheese is a staple at Sunday dinner! And we always bake ours. I love your version though. It looks really creamy!!
No no, not only at Thanksgiving! Just served at Thanksgiving…which I guess is kinda odd? I don’t think mac and cheese is odd at all though! I thought about baking this one, but I went stovetop instead…and yes, it’s super creamy. Just the way mac and cheese should be!
Mouthwatering. Looks so creamy and delicious. I can finish off this one in no time 🙂
Haha! I think we did finish this batch off in no time at all, Kushi! Oops…I mean not oops. 🙂
Oh man, thisssss brings me back to my youth! I lived in a vat of mac & cheese! 😉
Oh man, that must have been the best house ever, GiGi! 🙂
I don’t think that any celebration is complete without mac and cheese is it? Not in our house anyway!
It really is the ultimate comfort food and mustard powder is a must in it.
I couldn’t agree more, Dannii! Parties just require mac and cheese. It’s a simple truth. Heck, even weekends require mac and cheese. And I totally agree with you about mustard powder. I left it out one time, and it was totally noticeable. Go figure!
Mac and cheese is a favorite in our house. Three kinds of cheese take this mac and cheese over the top. Sounds delicious!! Good luck on finding Bigfoot. I haven’t seen him yet, but if I do I will let you know.
Haha! Yes, please keep me in mind if you ever spot Bigfoot, Dawn. I’ll be right over. And I’ll bring some mac and cheese as a thank you for finding him (or her)! 🙂
Somehow, despite the fact that I am a huge fan of mac and cheese, I have never really experimented with more than 2 cheese in any given version. This looks super dreamy! And while I’ve never had mac and cheese as part of a Thanksgiving spread, I certainly wouldn’t say no to this making an appearance 🙂
Parmesan is my secret weapon when it comes to mac and cheese! It doesn’t contribute much to the creamy side, but it totally packs a punch when it comes to flavor. Give it a shot next time! And Thanksgiving just isn’t the same for me without mac and cheese. I’m weird like that!
I don’t mind having mac-and-cheese on Thanksgiving at all. But can we add turkey in it? This is so creamy cheesy delicious mac and cheese. I need a big batch of this, for sure. Yum!
Hmmm…I like the way you think, Linda. Turkey in mac and cheese, and then perhaps baked up? It’s like a Thanksgiving casserole! It would be totally acceptable. In fact, mac and cheese is always acceptable!! 🙂
Comfort Food 101 brother… I love me some Mac & Cheese and the cheesier the better, right? That huge box of Cabot’s Cheese I won here was put to some good use Dave. This would be exactly another one if we didn’t eat it all within a week or so! Making that bechamel and adding the cheese is the way I do it too and you even added dry mustard, too. #WolfpackTwoPeasInAPod
Haha…I have the exact same problem when it comes to Cabot cheese, Kevin. It all disappears way too fast. This mac and cheese is legit, my West Coast brother! Comfort food nom nom! 🙂
A big huge bowl of Mac ando Cheese sounds so gooder today. (It’s snowing. ) I make a baked version, but not a homemade stove top version. Have you ever considered leaving a steaming hot bowlfulon your back porch to see if you could lure the Abominable to your door with it? Remember to lace it with Xanex if you do.
Oh, you are most definitely onto something here, Jeff. I can only imagine waking up in the morning to find a Xanex-induced Abominable sleeping on my back porch. If that happens, I’ll take a picture and send it to you.
so comforting! there’s something about cheesy goodness, isn’t it? looks great David!
I totally agree, Manali! Just sit me down with a plate of cheese, and I’ll be one happy camper! 🙂
You mean you haven’t met Bigfoot? I have. Although their name is Niki… 😀
Dude, the texture!! I want to eat my screen. Let’s eat this then go find Atlantis.
Wait…is THAT who I saw running through our backyard last night? I could have sworn it was a Yeti…but maybe it was just Niki? 😉 Haha…I kid. (And Niki, I promise you don’t actually look like a Yeti. Your brother is just a meanie.)
Mac and Cheese is the ultimate everything food! Good luck with the hunting expedition….I think you’ll be searching for a really long time!
Hey, are you saying you don’t have faith in my hunting abilities, Kathy? Rude. 😉
Rich and creamy pasta recipe
You totally have that one right, Priya! Thanks!
Mmmm….So yummy David.
This is something that I and my daughter can finish it up in no time. Lovely sharing BTW. 🙂
Thanks so much, Puja! My wife and I totally finished off this mac and cheese in no time at all. 🙂